In a unanimous 5-0 vote, the California Energy Commission Thursday approved the United States' first energy efficiency standards for televisions.

The standards, to be implemented in 2011, require that new TVs sold in California consume 33% less electricity by 2011 and 49% less electricity by 2013. The standards affect only those TVs with a screen size 58 inches or smaller.

The standard was encouraged by a finding that TVs account for as much as 10% of home electricity use, up from 3 to 4% in the 1990s, thanks to consumer adoption of LCDs and plasma TVs.

The commission estimated that after 10 years the regulations will save $8.1 billion in energy costs and save enough energy to power 864,000 single-family homes.

"The real winners of these new TV energy efficiencies are California consumers who will be saving billions of dollars and conserving energy while preserving their choice to buy any size or type of TV," said Energy Commission Chairman Karen Douglas in a statement. "Californians buy four million televisions each year and they deserve the most energy-efficient models available."

To be true, some electronics industry groups are not championing the state's actions as positive ones. The CEA (Consumer Electronics Association) has adamantly taken a stand against such regulations since the commission began working on its TV energy-efficiency standards in January 2007. The CEA has consistently argued that such requirements would lead to higher prices on TVs, as well as store closings, increased unemployment, and lost tax revenues because a significant share of TV models would have to be pulled off retail shelves.

¡°CEA is extremely disappointed in the CEC¡¯s [California Energy Commission's] decision to regulate TV energy use," Jason Oxman, CEA¡¯s senior VP of industry affairs, said in a separate statement. "Simply put, this is bad policy¡ªdangerous for the California economy, dangerous for technology innovation and dangerous for consumer freedom. Instead of allowing customers to choose the products they want, the commission has decided to impose arbitrary standards that will hamper innovation and limit consumer choice. It will result in higher prices for consumers, job losses for Californians, and lost tax revenue for the state."

Oxman said that the consumer electronics industry has been focused on lowering power consumption and in the last two years has improved energy efficiency of televisions by 41%. "But rather than build on these efforts, the CEC chose to create a new regulatory regime and micromanage the design and development of future televisions," he said.

According to the commission, more than 1,000 TV models on the market today already meet the 2011 standards and cost no more than less-efficient sets. Retail stores will not be prohibited from selling existing stock of older televisions after the standards go into effect, the commission said.

LCD TV maker Vizio, as well as several environmental groups and gas and electric companies, have supported the standards.

By: DocMemory
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