CEA Slams California TV Energy-Use Mandates
Trade Group Says State's ‘Bad Policy' Will Threaten Consumer Choice
By Todd Spangler -- Multichannel News, 11/18/2009 4:50:21 PM
The Consumer Electronics Association said it was "extremely disappointed" by the California Energy Commission's decision to set new energy efficiency standards for TV sets sold in the state.
The five-member California Energy Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to require new TV sets with screen sizes 58 inches and smaller to reduce electricity consumption 33% by 2011 and 49% by 2013.
The new efficiency standards will save consumers statewide more than $8 billion over 10 years, CEC commissioner Julia Levin said, according to Dow Jones Newswires.
"We would not move forward with this rule if we believed it was not cost effective," Levin said. "It will spark new innovation, new industries and new jobs in California."
But the CEA said the rules will endanger jobs, innovation and consumer choice.
"Simply put, this is bad policy -- dangerous for the California economy, dangerous for technology innovation and dangerous for consumer freedom," CEA's senior vice president of industry affairs Jason Oxman said in a statement. "Instead of allowing customers to choose the products they want, the commission has decided to impose arbitrary standards that will hamper innovation and limit consumer choice. It will result in higher prices for consumers, job losses for Californians, and lost tax revenue for the state."
According to the CEA, the California Energy Commission has "repeatedly rebuffed" attempts from the consumer-electronics industry to provide input on the regulations.
CEA claimed that "energy efficiency is a shared concern for all parties" but that said that "rather than build on these efforts, the CEC chose to create a new regulatory regime and micromanage the design and development of future televisions."
The California regulations could set a precedent for other states. Massachusetts is exploring television-efficiency legislation that is largely based on California's new standards, while Washington and Oregon are expected to take up the issue, according to the San Jose Mercury News.
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States shouldn't set power laws for consumer products. There is already a federal EngergyStar program. Now we can just go to another state and buy what we want for less. California loses tax money and CA busineses lose sales. CA keeps trying to drive business away.
David A Eccles - 11/20/2009 10:56:51 PM EST -
I'll always compare prices from California to those in Las Vegas, Nevada. If it's cheaper over there; then California politicians are as stupid as they sound. Let's vote them all out in 2010, we need politicians who know how to balance a budget.
Steven Chimol - 11/20/2009 2:17:48 PM EST -
I invite California Residents to make a short drive to Nevada and buy the TV of their hearts desire. In fact, I invite them to become residents of our great state. (no I am not a politician)
Charles W Davis - 11/19/2009 4:52:20 PM EST -
This is simplistic reporting that just provides no proof to either side while actually just saying that CA and CEA disagree. Working just from this article, you can't say anything else.
It would be more helpful if it gave some facts, sources and reasoning for their viewpoints. Then I could make a judgment on their argument.
Michael F Kelly - 11/19/2009 2:32:12 PM EST -
Leave it to California bureaucrats to again move forward with another piece of business killing / anti-consumer regulation under the false pretense of energy efficiency. We don't have an energy shortage in CA, just antiquated ways of distributing it and knuckleheads in Sacramento who have no clue as to how to solve for it and instead pass window dressing legislation like this.
Mike - 11/19/2009 1:39:00 PM EST
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