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 the following:

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.

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 non-federally 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.

Federal law generally allows states to establish minimum energy efficiency standards for electrical products that are not currently addressed in federal law. The National Appliance Energy Conservation Act of 1987 established minimum efficiency standards for many common household appliances. Congress set initial federal energy efficiency standards and established schedules for the U.S. Department of Energy to review and update these standards. The Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct) added standards for some fluorescent and incandescent reflector lamps, plumbing products, electric motors, commercial water heaters, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. EPAct also allowed for the future development of standards for many other products.

California's Appliance Efficiency Regulations include standards for both federally regulated appliances and non-federally regulated appliances. The standards within these regulations apply to appliances that are sold or offered for sale in California, except those sold wholesale in California for final retail sale outside the state and those designed and sold exclusively for use in recreational vehicles or other mobile equipment.

Summary of Bill: Efficiency Standards for Battery Charger Systems, Battery Backup Supplies, and Uninterruptible Power Supplies. Minimum efficiency standards for consumer and non-consumer battery charger systems, battery backup supplies, 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 manufactured after January 1, 2015, may not be sold or offered for sale, or installed for compensation in the state on or after January 1, 2015, unless the new product meets or exceeds the efficiency standards.

Small battery charger systems, battery backup supplies, and uninterruptible power supplies that are not consumer products manufactured 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. These small battery charger systems 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;
that are 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;
that are battery analyzers;
that are voltage independent or voltage and frequency independent uninterruptible power supplies; and
used to charge larger industrial motive equipment such as fork lifts, burden carriers, or person carriers.

Efficiency Standards for Quartz Halogen Lamps. Efficiency standards for high light output double-ended quartz halogen lamps (quartz halogen lamps) 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 6000 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 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 quartz halogen lamp 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.