Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Against Energy Department Dishwasher Restrictions

Federal law means the restrictions can only be challenged with an appeals court, the judge concluded.

A woman places items into a dishwasher in this undated file photograph. Under the Department of Energy's regulations, a standard dishwasher can use no more than 3.3 gallons of water per cycle. Andrey Popov/Shutterstock

A federal judge has thrown out a lawsuit against Department of Energy (DOE) regulations restricting water usage by washers and dishwashers.

The DOE issued the new standards in the spring of 2024 under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) of 1975. A nonprofit called the Competitive Enterprise Institute sued, alleging the DOE’s restrictions went beyond the agency’s authority.