HOUSE BILL REPORT

ESHB 1100

As Passed House:

June 28, 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.

Third Special SessionFloor Activity:

Passed House: 6/28/15, 57-40.

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.

Department of Commerce.

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.

Summary of Engrossed 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 golf carts;

• 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;

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

• that are used to charge larger industrial motive equipment such as fork lifts

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.

Department of Commerce.

Beginning December 31, 2015, Commerce must prepare an annual report on Washington's national rating as an energy efficient state. The report must include recommendations for retaining a top ten presence on a national energy efficiency rating list.

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.