Gas trade groups just took another big step in their fight against a Biden administration rule that would ban common types of natural gas furnaces and water heaters. On May 20, 2026, the American Gas Association (AGA), the American Public Gas Association, and the National Propane Gas Association filed a final response with the U.S. Supreme Court. They want the highest court in the country to cancel the rule entirely.
Surprisingly, the government now agrees with them. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently told the Supreme Court that the Biden-era rule was based on a flawed reading of federal law. The DOE has officially asked the Court to throw out the rule and send it back to the agency so they can look at it again. Both sides agree that a lower court made a mistake when it interpreted the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, which is supposed to protect consumer access to standard gas appliances.
The gas groups argue the ban would hurt regular people by forcing them to buy expensive new equipment or switch to electric heating.
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“Retaining access to natural gas appliances for Americans has always been about protecting affordability, consumer choice and the ability of Americans to use the energy systems that work best for their homes and families,” said Karen Harbert, president and CEO of the American Gas Association. “We appreciate that DOE has acknowledged the legal flaws in the prior administration’s rule and joined our call for the Supreme Court to intervene. Americans should not be forced into costly home retrofits or denied access to the appliances they rely on every day because of unlawful federal overreach.”
Gas Pipeline
The groups warn that if the Supreme Court ignores the case, it could open the door for more sweeping bans on gas appliances. They point out that federal law explicitly stops the government from creating efficiency rules that completely wipe out products that consumers rely on.
Data from the government’s own energy department shows the rule would hit vulnerable groups the hardest. The numbers show the ban would negatively impact 30% of senior-only homes, 26% of low-income families, and 27% of small businesses. For people living in mobile homes with gas furnaces, 39% would face negative financial impacts.
Right now, natural gas is the cheapest way to heat a home in the U.S., costing about 3.5 times less than electricity for the same amount of energy. Government forecasts show gas will stay much cheaper than other fuels through 2050. The gas groups’ effort to stop the ban is backed by the current presidential administration, a coalition of 21 states, and 10 different organizations.
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Gas Groups And Government Agree: Supreme Court Needs To Kill Biden’s Furnace Ban
