The US Energy Department will stop regulating hot tubs for energy use

The US Energy Department plans to stop treating portable electric spas as a "covered product." This means the agency will no longer set energy efficiency standards for hot tubs.

For years, the Energy Department has been able to set energy efficiency standards for a wide range of consumer products, from refrigerators to washing machines. This power comes from a law that defines what counts as a "covered product." By withdrawing this classification for hot tubs, the agency is effectively saying it no longer has the legal basis to regulate their energy use. This could set a precedent for other products to challenge their "covered product" status.