Report: New appliance standards will lower energy costs for Massachusetts households

Chris Lisinski

The average Massachusetts household can expect to save $163 per year on utility bills under appliance energy efficiency standards implemented by the Biden administration, according to a new analysis.

A series of updated standards for appliances like dishwashers, air conditioners and clothes dryers will roll into effect in the next four years, and a report published Tuesday by the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) and Appliance Standards Awareness Project suggests most Americans will pay less for utilities as a result.

The typical U.S. household will save $107 annually over the next two decades thanks to the finalized efficiency standards, the report said. State-by-state savings projections vary from $67 per year in Utah to $285 per year in Hawaii.

The report alludes to the upfront costs of purchasing more efficient appliances, but says the projected utility bill savings for the products “outweigh any increases in purchase price by more than a factor of three.”

Massachusetts and other New England states are forecast for some of the most significant savings, in part because the region’s electricity prices are nearly twice as high as the national average, according to report authors.

“These updated standards will save consumers money for years to come, just by using more efficient appliances. It’s a clear win for Americans’ wallets,” said Deirdre Cummings, legislative director of MASSPIRG. “For Massachusetts residents and businesses, the prospect of sustained annual utility bill savings is welcome news.”

Analysts also found that the updated standards will trim 291 tons of nitrogen oxide pollution and 16 tons of sulfur dioxide pollution in Massachusetts per year, with similar reductions also stretching across every state.