HOUSE BILL REPORT

SHB 1100

As Passed House:

February 12, 2015

Title: An act relating to creating new appliance efficiency standards.

Brief Description: Creating new appliance efficiency standards.

Sponsors: House Committee on Technology & Economic Development (originally sponsored by Representatives Morris, S. Hunt, Hudgins, Ormsby and Fey).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Technology & Economic Development: 1/20/15, 1/29/15 [DPS].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 2/12/15, 50-47.

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 7 members: Representatives Morris, Chair; Tarleton, Vice Chair; Fey, Hudgins, Ryu, Santos and Wylie.

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 3 members: Representatives Smith, Ranking Minority Member; Harmsworth and Nealey.

Minority Report: Without recommendation. Signed by 2 members: Representatives Magendanz and Young.

Staff: Nikkole Hughes (786-7156).

Background:

Efficiency Standards for Electrical Products.

Washington law sets minimum energy efficiency standards for several categories of electrical products sold, offered for sale, or installed in the state, including:

• automatic commercial ice cube machines;

• commercial refrigerators and freezers;

• certain incandescent reflector lights;

• commercial hot food holding cabinets; and

• bottle-type and point-of-use water dispensers.

Federal law generally allows states to establish minimum energy efficiency standards for electrical products that are not addressed in federal law. Once a federal energy efficiency standard is established for an electrical product, the federal standard will preempt existing state standards unless the state is granted a waiver of federal preemption.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) may recommend updates to the energy efficiency standards and test methods for products listed under the state energy efficiency laws. Commerce may also recommend establishing state standards for additional non-federally covered products. In making its recommendations, Commerce must use criteria established in statute, including that:

• multiple manufacturers produce products that meet the proposed standard at the time of recommendation;

• products meeting the proposed standard are available at the time of recommendation;

• the products are cost-effective to consumers on a life-cycle basis using average Washington resource rates;

• the utility of the energy efficient product meets or exceeds the utility of the comparable product available for purchase; and

• the standard exists in at least two other states.

Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute.

The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) is the global trade association representing manufacturers of heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, refrigeration, and water heating equipment. The AHRI provides a certification program for heating, water heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and commercial refrigeration equipment.

American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), founded in 1894, develops industry standards in the areas of heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, and refrigerating.

American National Standards Institute.

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a not-for-profit organization that produces voluntary consensus standards and conformity assessment systems for a variety of industry sectors.

Summary of Substitute Bill:

Efficiency Standards for Battery Charger Systems, Battery Backup, and Uninterruptible Power Supplies.

Efficiency standards for battery charger systems, battery backup, and uninterruptible power supplies are established. The minimum efficiency standards for these products are incorporated by reference to the California Code of Regulations Title 20, section 1605, as of the effective date of the bill.

Large and small battery charger systems, if manufactured on or after January 1, 2017, may not be sold or offered for sale in the state unless the efficiency of the new product meets or exceeds the efficiency standards. Large and small battery charger systems, if manufactured on or after January 1, 2017, may not be installed for compensation in the state on or after January 1, 2018, unless the efficiency of the new product meets or exceeds the efficiency standards.

Certain battery charger systems are exempt from meeting the efficiency standard for battery charger systems. They include battery charger systems:

• used to charge a motor vehicle powered by an electric motor drawing current from rechargeable storage batteries, fuel cells, or other portable sources of electrical current;

• used in certain medical devices approved for human use under the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and listed and approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration as a medical device;

• used to charge a battery or batteries in an illuminated exit sign;

• designed for certain stationary power applications;

• that are battery analyzers; and

• that are voltage independent or voltage and frequency independent uninterruptible power supplies.

Battery backup and uninterruptible power supplies that are not consumer products, if manufactured on or after January 1, 2017, may not be sold or offered for sale in the state unless the efficiency of the new product meets or exceeds the efficiency standards.

Efficiency Standards for State-Regulated LED Lamps, High Light Output Double-Ended Quartz Halogen Lamps, and Small Diameter Directional Lamps.

Efficiency standards for state-regulated light emitting diode (LED) lamps, high light output double-ended quartz halogen lamps (quartz halogen lamp), and small diameter directional lamps are established.

Effective January 1, 2018, a state-regulated LED lamp must meet the minimum efficiency standard of 60 lumens per watt and a minimum color rendering index of 80. 

Upon determination by the Department of Commerce (Commerce) that the standards meet certain criteria, a quartz halogen lamp must meet minimum efficiency standards of: (1) 27 lumens per watt for lamps with a minimum rated initial lumen value greater than 6,000 and a maximum initial lumen value of 15,000; and (2) 34 lumens per watt for lamps with a rated initial lumen value greater than 15,000 and less than 40,000. 

A small diameter directional lamp, if manufactured on or after January 1, 2017, must meet the minimum efficiency standards of: (1) 60 lumens per watt; (2) a power factor of 0.7 or greater; and (3) a rated life of 10,000 hours.

Test Methods for Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning Air Filters.

Test methods for heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) air filters are established. Appliance performance criteria for the HVAC air filters must be tested with the following methods promulgated by the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigerating Institute (AHRI) and American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) (shown in parentheses):

• air filter pressure drop (AHRI 680-2009);

• air filter particle size efficiency and minimum efficiency reporting value (AHRI 680-2009 or ASHRAE 52.2-2012); and

• dust holding capacity (AHRI 680-2009 or ASHRAE 52.2-2012).

Department of Commerce.

By January 1, 2017, Commerce must determine whether the minimum efficiency standards for a quartz halogen lamp meet the following criteria for recommendation:

• that multiple manufacturers produce products that meet the proposed standard at the time of recommendation;

• that products meeting the proposed standard are available at the time of recommendation;

• the products are cost-effective to consumers on a life-cycle basis using average Washington resource rates;

• the utility of the energy efficient product meets or exceeds the utility of the comparable product available for purchase; and

• the standard exists in at least two other states.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) must submit its determination electronically in a report to the Legislature by January 31, 2017. If Commerce determines that the standards meet the criteria for recommendation, the standards will go into effect 90 days after submission of the determination to the Legislature.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) The standards contained in this bill will curb energy waste and allow Washington ratepayers to receive the full value of the electricity they are purchasing. Energy savings resulting from the energy efficiency standards in the bill would be the equivalent of heating 18,000 homes per year. Existing efficiency standards are already working in Washington, and the state is at the forefront of adopting standards that are not preempted by the federal government. When the federal government adopts standards in this area, it typically models them after existing state standards in order to assure consistency in the market for these products.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: J.J. McCoy, Northwest Energy Coalition; and Tony Usibelli, Department of Commerce.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.