HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2416

As Reported by House Committee On:

Technology, Energy & Communications

Title: An act relating to efficiency standards for consumer products.

Brief Description: Establishing energy efficiency standards for consumer products.

Sponsors: Representatives Morris, Chase, Eddy, Van De Wege, Morrell, Upthegrove, Simpson, Kenney, Hudgins and Ormsby.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Technology, Energy & Communications: 1/18/10, 1/27/10 [DPS].

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 9 members: Representatives McCoy, Chair; Finn, Vice Chair; Eddy, Hasegawa, Hudgins, Jacks, Morris, Takko and Van De Wege.

Minority Report: Without recommendation. Signed by 8 members: Representatives Crouse, Ranking Minority Member; Haler, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Carlyle, Condotta, Hinkle, McCune, Nealey and Taylor.

Staff: Kara Durbin (786-7133).

Background:

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 clothes washers;

• commercial pre-rinse spray valves;

• commercial refrigerators and freezers;

• metal halide lamp fixtures;

• certain incandescent reflector lights;

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

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

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Summary of Substitute Bill:

Minimum efficiency standards are established for the following electrical products manufactured on or after January 1, 2011, that are sold or offered for sale in the state:

• compact audio products;

• digital versatile disc (DVD) players and digital versatile disc recorders (DVRs); and

• state-regulated external power supplies.

The minimum efficiency standards for these products are incorporated by reference to the California Code of Regulations as of the effective date of this bill. Testing methods are also incorporated by reference to the California Code of Regulations.

These products may not be installed for compensation in the state on or after January 1, 2012, unless they meet the efficiency standards.

Televisions with a screen size less than or equal to 1,400 square inches that are manufactured after January 1, 2011, but before January 1, 2013, may not be sold in the state, or installed for compensation in the state on or after January 1, 2012, unless they meet the following standards: (1) use no more than 0.20 times the viewable screen size plus 32 watts in on mode; (2) use no more than 1 watt in standby-passive mode; (3) have a peak luminance in the preset mode designed for typical home use and for the default mode as shipped that is no less than 65 percent of the peak luminance at the brightest setting; and (4) have a minimum power factor of 0.9 when power is greater than or equal to 100 watts.

Televisions with a screen size less than or equal to 1,400 square inches that are manufactured on or after January 1, 2013, may not be sold in the state, or installed for compensation in the state on or after January 1, 2014, unless they meet the following standards: (1) use no more than 0.12 times the viewable screen size plus 25 watts in on mode; (2) use no more than 1 watt in standby-passive mode; (3) have a peak luminance in the preset mode designed for typical home use and for the default mode as shipped that is no less than 65 percent of the peak luminance at the brightest setting; and (4) have a minimum power factor of 0.9 when power is greater than or equal to 100 watts.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The substitute bill removes efficiency provisions for ceiling fans, ceiling fan light kits, low voltage dry-type distribution transformers, and certain types of gas and oil furnaces from the bill. It also corrects the definition of digital versatile disc (DVD) player, adds a definition of DVD recorder, and removes two definitions that are not used in the bill.

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Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill: 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 purpose of this bill is to keep Washington at the forefront in terms of efficiency. This will save consumers and ratepayers money and energy. The standards for digital versatile disc (DVD) players and recorders are the same as standards already adopted by Oregon and California. We support the standards in this bill, and in particular, the standards for televisions. Televisions today use 43 percent more energy than they did in the past. This bill will require televisions up to 56 inches sold in the state to be 30 percent more efficient in 2011. Eighty percent of the models currently sold today meet this standard. We estimate that these efficiency standards, by 2020, could save as much energy as could be produced by 60 large wind turbines, and consumers would save approximately $24.8 million on their energy bills. We agree a national standard would be preferred, but this is not how these standards have been adopted in the past.

(Opposed) There are incentive programs already in place to encourage consumers to buy more efficient products. Washington will soon begin providing incentives under the federal stimulus program to consumers that purchase more efficient appliances. A national approach is preferred to a state-by-state approach. Since 2006, about 15 states have introduced bills similar to this legislation, except for Oregon, which did enact consumer audio and DVD player and recorder standards. California's process for adopting efficiency standards is different; their standards can be adopted by regulation instead of through legislation. The California Energy Commission adopted new television standards last fall, but these standards are still pending approval by the Office of Administrative Law. External power supplies are not needed because of federal regulations already in place. We support a national approach through Energy Star. Consumers are familiar with Energy Star and what it represents. The Energy Star standards for 2010, 2011, and 2012 are more stringent than the standards in this bill. Efficiency standards are not as appropriate for consumer electronics as they are for appliances. Instead of standards, the state could create additional incentives for consumers to purchase more efficient electronics.

Our company has gone to Energy Star 3.0 and has increased efficiency by 30 percent. Television energy consumption is dropping rapidly, especially with the introduction and acceptance of LED backlighting. We are concerned that standards could prevent the introduction of more efficient televisions in the future. California's regulations do not work and one part of their television standards is impossible to meet.

Persons Testifying: (In support) Representative Morris, prime sponsor; and Carrie Dolwick, Northwest Energy Coalition.

(Opposed) Mark Johnson, Washington Retail Association; Charlie Brown, Consumer Electronics Association; Amy Dempster, Consumer Electronics Association; and Jon Fairhurst, Sharp Laboratories of America.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.