HOUSE BILL REPORT

E2SHB 1017

As Passed House:

February 12, 2014

Title: An act relating to creating new efficiency standards.

Brief Description: Creating new efficiency standards.

Sponsors: House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government & Information Technology (originally sponsored by Representatives Morris, Fitzgibbon, Fey, Liias, McCoy, Hudgins, Farrell, Morrell, Ormsby, Upthegrove and Pollet).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Environment: 1/16/13, 1/31/13 [DPS];

Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government & Information Technology: 2/20/13 [DP2S(w/o sub ENVI)].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 3/6/13, 59-38.

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 2/12/14, 57-41.

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 7 members: Representatives McCoy, Vice Chair; Short, Ranking Minority Member; Farrell, Fey, Morris, Nealey and Tharinger.

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 2 members: Representatives Pike, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Overstreet.

Staff: Scott Richards (786-7156).

Majority Report: The second substitute bill be substituted therefor and the second substitute bill do pass and do not pass the substitute bill by Committee on Environment. Signed by 5 members: Representatives Hudgins, Chair; Dunshee, S. Hunt, Pedersen and Springer.

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 4 members: Representatives Parker, Ranking Minority Member; Buys, Chandler and Taylor.

Staff: Andy Toulon (786-7178).

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;

• pool heaters, residential pool pumps, and portable electrical spas;

• hot water dispensers and mini-tank electric water heaters;

• wine chillers used by individuals;

• tub spout diverters;

• 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 currently addressed in federal law.

The Department of Commerce (Department) may recommend updates to the energy efficiency standards and test methods for products listed under the energy efficiency laws. The Department may also recommend establishing state standards for additional nonfederally covered products. In making its recommendations, the Department must use the following criteria: (1) multiple manufacturers produce products that meet the proposed standard at the time of recommendation; (2) products meeting the proposed standard are available at the time of recommendation; (3) the products are cost-effective to consumers on a life-cycle cost basis using average Washington resource rates; (4) the utility of the energy efficient product meets or exceeds the utility of the comparable product available for purchase; and (5) the standard exists in at least two other states in the United States.

Summary of Engrossed Second Substitute Bill:

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

Minimum efficiency standards for consumer and nonconsumer 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, 2015, may not be sold or offered for sale in the state on or after January 1, 2014, unless the new product meets or exceeds the efficiency standards. Large and small battery charger systems, if manufactured on or after January 1, 2015, may not be installed for compensation in the state on or after January 1, 2016, unless the new product meets or exceeds the efficiency standards.

Small battery charger systems 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 new product meets or exceeds the efficiency standards. Small battery charger systems that are not consumer products, 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. 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 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;

• 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 application;

• battery analyzers; and

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

• used to charge larger industrial motive equipment such as fork lifts, burden carriers, or person carriers.

Efficiency Standards for High Light Double-Ended Quartz Halogen Lamps.

Efficiency standards for high light double-ended quartz halogen lamps (quartz halogen lamp) are established. 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 high light output double-ended quartz halogen lamp, if manufactured on or after January 1, 2015, may not be sold or offered for sale in the state unless the efficiency of the new product meets or exceeds the efficiency standards. A high light output double-ended quartz halogen lamp, if manufactured on or after January 1, 2015, may not be installed for compensation in the state on or after January 1, 2016, unless the efficiency of the new product meets or exceeds the efficiency standards.

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 (Environment):

(In support) The newest electricity in the market place is always the most expensive. Anything we can do to keep us from having to build electrical generation will save us money. These efficiency standards will make the state more economically competitive regionally and internationally. The bill adds efficiency standards for electrical products and water fixtures that are often found in our homes. The measures in this bill address the issue of vampire electrical loads from battery charger systems. These battery charger systems continue to draw electricity even when the electrical product is no longer plugged in the charger. The plumbing standards in addition to saving water, also save energy. By using less water, less energy is used to heat up water, treat wastewater, and pump water in the distribution system. It is the hope of many that the entire west coast will adopt the battery charger system standards, saving significant amounts of energy. Most manufacturers are moving toward this charger standard. These products will save consumers money while improving the environment. There are concerns about the cost of compliance with the quartz halogen light standards. They have not been adopted in other regions and the rules would be costly to establish and implement. There are a few issues that need to be corrected to bring in line the standards with the California electrical efficiency code. The California efficiency code differentiated between consumer and nonconsumer battery charger systems, allowing nonconsumer products to be phased in at a later date. Battery analyzers and a la carte battery charger systems need to be exempted from the standards.

(In support with concerns) By adopting the Green Energy Construction Code, it may be a good way for the state to keep up with the most up-to-date green building codes available.

(With concerns) The Council should be able to look at these standards and come back with recommendations.

(Opposed) The water conservation standards may already be in the State Building Code.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony (Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government & Information Technology):

(In support) This bill has bipartisan support. Other states are already on this system. It is good for the environment and good for the economy and consumers. Households use the same energy amounts as they did 30 years ago because of the amount of rechargeable devices.

(Opposed) Washington Realtors already work with the State Building Code Council to develop and adopt energy codes. This bill should be changed to remove language referencing other states' energy code standards.

Persons Testifying (Environment): (In support) Representative Morris, prime sponsor; Kim Drury, Northwest Energy Coalition; Charlie Stevens, Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance; Al Dietemann, Seattle Public Utilities; Bruce Wishart, Sierra Club; Jim Lazar; Miguel Perez-Gibson, Climate Solutions; Tony Usibelli, Department of Commerce; John Rothlin, Avista; and Michael Brent, Cascade Water Alliance.

(In support with concerns) Kraig Stevenson, International Code Council.

(With concerns) Jeanette McKague, Washington Realtors; and Mark Bare, Motorola.

(Opposed) Bill Stauffacher, Building Industry Association of Washington.

Persons Testifying (Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government & Information Technology): (In support) Kim Drury, Northwest Energy Coalition.

(Opposed) Jeanette McKagne, Washington Realtors.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Environment): None.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government & Information Technology): None.