California became the first state today (Wednesday) to adopt mandatory energy efficiency standards for electricity guzzling Flat Screen TVs.
Supporters say the regulations will save enough energy to power more than 800-thousand homes each year.
Capital Public Radio's Steve Shadley reports...
*************************************************************************
The regulations apply to new sets sold in California starting in 2011 and will be phased-in.
The goal is to cut flat screen electricity consumption in half by 2013.
California Energy Commission Chairwoman Karen Douglas says the standards won’t drive-up TV prices.
And, she says consumers will still have a lot of choices in the marketplace...
Douglas: “With these standards in place, TVs will have the same picture and the same performance. Californians will be able to buy any size TV
they want and really all that changes is they’ll get better energy performance...”
Douglas says the standards will save consumers between 50 and 250-dollars per television over the life of the set.
Environmentalists and many TV manufacturers applaud the move.
But, some companies complain the standards will hurt business and cost the state 50-million dollars in tax revenues.