California Bans Energy-Hogging TVs

(AP)  Power-hungry TVs will be banned from store shelves in California after state regulators Wednesday adopted a first-in-the-nation mandate to reduce electricity demand.

On a unanimous vote, the California Energy Commission required all new televisions up to 58 inches to be more energy efficient, beginning in 2011. The requirement will be tougher in 2013, with only a quarter of all TVs currently on the market meeting that standard.

The commission estimates that TVs account for about 10 percent of a home's electricity use. The concern is that the energy draw will rise by as much as 8 percent a year as consumers buy larger televisions, add more to their homes and watch them longer.

Commissioners say energy efficiency standards are the cheapest and easiest way to save electricity.

"We have every confidence this industry will be able to meet the rule and then some," Energy Commissioner Julia Levin said. "It will save consumers money, it will help protect public health, and it will spark innovation."

TVs larger than 58 inches, which account for no more than 3 percent of the market, would not be covered by the rule, a concession to independent retailers that sell high-end home-theater TVs. The commission is expected to regulate them in the future.

Environmental groups supported the tougher standards and hoped they will prompt manufacturers to make new energy-efficient models for the rest of the nation. They said the rules would cut California's power bill by $1 billion a year, avoiding the need to build a 500-megawatt power plant.

Some manufacturers said implementing a power standard will cripple innovation, limit consumer choice and harm California retailers because consumers could simply buy TVs out of state or order them online.

Industry representatives also have said the standards would force manufacturers to make televisions that have poorer picture quality and fewer features than those sold elsewhere in the U.S.

As an example of the new standards, all new 42-inch television sets must use less than 183 watts by 2011 and less than 116 watts by 2013. That's considerably more efficient than flat-screen TVs placed on the market in recent years.

A 42-inch Hitachi plasma TV sold in 2007 uses 313 watts — slightly more than the power consumed by five 60-watt light bulbs — while a 42-inch Sharp Liquid-crystal display, or LCD, TV draws 232 watts, according to Energy Commission research. LCDs now account for about 90 percent of the 4 million TVs sold in California annually.

Some televisions already meet the early standards imposed under the rule approved Wednesday. About three-quarters of the TVs — more than 1,050 models — sold today comply with the 2011 California standards, and more than 300 comply with the 2013 standard, according to the Energy Commission.

California has previously led the nation in setting efficiency requirements for dishwashers, washing machines and other household appliances as a way to address the state's growing electricity demand.

Utilities and environmental groups say the TV standards should head off steep increases in home electricity use and rising electric bills.

Each energy-efficient TV would save a household roughly $30 a year in lowered electricity costs. If all 35 million TVs watched in the state were replaced with more efficient sets, Californians would save $8.1 billion over 10 years, according to the Energy Commission report.

Televisions account for about 2 percent of California's overall electricity use. Requiring them to be more energy efficient would save enough electricity to power 864,000 single-family homes a year in California by 2023. That's enough for Anaheim, Burbank, Glendale and Palo Alto combined.

The electricity savings could help California meet the goals of its 2006 global warming law, which calls for the state to cut greenhouse gases 25 percent by 2020.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger praised the commission's action as another signal of California's leadership on environmental matters. He noted that the state's per-capita electricity consumption has remained flat over the last three decades while energy consumption nationwide has increased.

"I applaud the commission for its hard work to enact these and other cost-effective energy efficiency standards that are not only great for the environment, but also good for consumers," the governor said in a statement.

[RedWings_ninety_one]

Another way to stimulate the economy, make people have to buy things. Or if they can't afford it, there's the old fasioned radios. Or even outdoor activities. There's no need to sit on the couch all day.

[barbaram99]

I have to say even as a legally blind person I could not use a hugh TV. 26 inch is fine.

[Sloughfoot]

(Exempt) "TVs larger than 58 inches, which account for no more than 3 percent of the market, would not be covered by the rule, a concession to independent retailers that sell high-end home-theater TVs"

Those that the "Rich and Famous" can afford.

The lower end television accounts for the majority of entertainment for the poor. Their cost just went higher. Nuff said

[askagain]

California is a great example of a state government that runs amuck. High taxes force corporations to leave California and to take jobs with them. California had to issue "I owe yous' because it can't pay its bills. Instead of worrying about TVs, why don't they improve their schools and police forces. Crime and gangs run wild while the state regulators worry about how much electricity people use for their TVs. Give us a break!

[retiredgustav]

Obviously you know nothing about the power generation business and/or did not read the article. It is cheaper to push for conservation than build more units. I'll bet you will be the first one to screem if they need too build a new high line in your back yard. For the record I spent 42 years in the power industry.

[cockroachcrusher]

What corporations are leaving California? Many are constantly looking to establish and do establish divisions here. Any business that leaves California is one that is in trouble anyway. I sure wouldn't invest in one that would. Duh.

[askagain]

The nation should follow California's lead? What foolishness. California is virtually bankrupt yet the rest of the nation should follow its lead. Perhaps California regulators and politicians should spend their efforts on solving California's financial problems and leave consumers alone. Corporations have been fleeing California because of its high taxes.

[stupidrules3]

They would save a lot more if they would encourage timers on electric water heaters. It is one of the things I have done to reduce my electric bill and it saves me about $14 a month. It cost $24 and took 25 minutes to install. I only have the water heater on about 3 hours a day and, if I need to, I can override it if I have to wash several loads of clothes during the day on the weekend. I do not think that the government should be mandating energy standards on manufacturers. This is a totally backward approach to saving energy and it will never work. It will just drive the customers elsewhere as the price of tvs will go up in California. If the people of California stand for this, then they deserve what they get.

[wyodutch]

Jeezus.... The politicians in Cauliflowerinia can't even balance the state checkbook and you people are gonn let 'em dictate what TV you buy? .
I got one word for you... WIMPS!!!!

[DSR_57]

I just love how everyone of you think this is a good Idea, Why don't you go a head and get you a bar code tattooed on you neck so the the govt can track you??? I mean you already track your kids with GPS on their phones and LOW JACk their cars, what else do you need to make your selves feel like you want technology to raise your kids for you. Try being old school and actually RAISE your kids . Bunch of punk B Itches

[seafang]

Bunch of Ignorant busibodies. Refrigerators and freezers consume far more electricity than TVs and they are on all day all year long.

Flat screen TVs don't use anywhere near the power of old tube TVs of the same screen size.

Well I have a 26 inch flat screen; two of them actually; one is also a computer screen.

Mind your own business CA; if you paid more attenetion to the State's miserable economy because of your policies, we would be able to afford plenty of electricity. So just how much electricity are all those electric cars you mandated going to chew up; you people ar criminally insane.

[leeanna59]

I hope the police in California get a search warrants for everyone's home to go in and confiscate over-sized TV's. That is certainly a worthwhile effort on the part of the government.

[DSR_57]

Yeah, right up until they take something you like. Do you REALLY want the Govt telling you want you can and can't buy OR have? Isn't that why we left England ???