A bill to amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to prohibit the Secretary of Energy from prescribing a final rule amending the efficiency standards for residential non-weatherized gas furnaces or mobile home furnaces until an analysis has been completed, and for other purposes.

SECTION 1. STANDARDS FOR CERTAIN FURNACES.

    Section 325(f)(4) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 
U.S.C. 6295(f)(4)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(E) Restriction on final rule for residential 
                non-weatherized gas furnaces and mobile home 
                furnaces.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Notwithstanding any 
                        other provision of this Act, the Secretary 
                        shall not prescribe a final rule amending the 
                        efficiency standards for residential non-
                        weatherized gas furnaces or mobile home 
                        furnaces until each of the following has 
                        occurred:
                                    ``(I) The Secretary convenes a 
                                representative advisory group of 
                                interested stakeholders, including the 
                                manufacturers, distributors, and 
                                contractors of residential non-
                                weatherized gas furnaces and mobile 
                                home furnaces, home builders, building 
                                owners, energy efficiency advocates, 
                                natural gas utilities, electric 
                                utilities, and consumer groups.
                                    ``(II) Not later than 1 year after 
                                the date of enactment of this 
                                subparagraph, the advisory group 
                                described in subclause (I) completes an 
                                analysis of a nationwide requirement of 
                                a condensing furnace efficiency 
                                standard including--
                                            ``(aa) a complete analysis 
                                        of current market trends 
                                        regarding the transition of 
                                        sales from non-condensing 
                                        furnaces to condensing 
                                        furnaces;
                                            ``(bb) the projected net 
                                        loss in the industry of the 
                                        present value of original 
                                        equipment manufacturers after 
                                        adoption of the standard;
                                            ``(cc) the projected 
                                        consumer payback period and 
                                        life cycle cost savings after 
                                        adoption of the standard;
                                            ``(dd) a determination of 
                                        whether the standard is 
                                        economically justified, based 
                                        solely on the definition of 
                                        energy under section 321); and
                                            ``(ee) other common 
                                        economic principles.
                                    ``(III) The advisory group 
                                described in subclause (I) reviews the 
                                analysis and determines whether a 
                                nationwide requirement of a condensing 
                                furnace efficiency standard is 
                                technically feasible and economically 
                                justified.
                                    ``(IV) The final determination of 
                                the advisory group under subclause 
                                (III) is published in the Federal 
                                Register.
                            ``(ii) Amended standards.--If the advisory 
                        group determines under clause (i)(III) that a 
                        nationwide requirement of a condensing furnace 
                        efficiency standard is not technically feasible 
                        and economically justified, the Secretary 
                        shall, not later than 180 days after the date 
                        on which the final determination of the 
                        advisory group is published in the Federal 
                        Register under clause (i)(IV), establish 
                        amended standards through the negotiated 
                        rulemaking procedure provided for under 
                        subchapter III of chapter 5 of title 5, United 
                        States Code (commonly known as the `Negotiated 
                        Rulemaking Act of 1990').''.

Summary: This bill amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to prohibit the Department of Energy (DOE) from prescribing a final rule amending the efficiency standards for residential non-weatherized gas furnaces or mobile home furnaces until each of the following has occurred: DOE convenes a representative advisory group of interested stakeholders, the advisory group completes an analysis of a nationwide requirement of a condensing furnace efficiency standard, the advisory group determines whether that standard is technically feasible and economically justified, and the determination is published in the Federal Register. If the advisory group determines that the standard is not technically feasible and economically justified, DOE must establish amended standards through the negotiated rulemaking procedure provided for under the Negotiated Rulemaking Act of 1990.