California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly BillNo. 213


Introduced by Assembly Member Ridley-Thomas

February 2, 2015


An act to add Section 25402.12 to the Public Resources Code, relating to energy.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 213, as introduced, Ridley-Thomas. Energy efficiency: light emitting diode (LED) lighting products.

Existing law requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to prescribe energy efficiency standards, including standards applicable to lighting products.

This bill would prohibit the commission from adopting a color rendering index (CRI) value greater than the CRI value set forth in the United State Environmental Protection Agency Energy Star program, as of January 1, 2015, as a part of energy efficiency standards for lighting products, unless the commission makes certain findings.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

P1    1

SECTION 1.  

(a) The Legislature finds and declares both of
2the following:

3(1) Historically, the energy efficiency standards prescribed by
4the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development
5Commission pursuant to Section 25402 of the Public Resources
6Code have reduced energy consumption, saved consumers money,
P2    1and promoted adoption of advanced technology. The commission’s
2efforts have led the nation in energy conservation.

3(2) However, the commission’s recent and pending regulatory
4actions pertaining to light emitting diode (LED) lighting products
5will have the opposite effect by imposing restrictions on those
6lighting products that will needlessly raise the price of lamps,
7reduce energy savings, and retard the adoption of advanced
8technology products by consumers.

9(b) It is the intent of the Legislature to do both of the following:

10(1) Reaffirm its support for progressive energy efficiency
11standards, including those applicable to lighting products, but not
12if those standards make LED lighting products too expensive,
13sacrifice energy savings, and discourage purchase and adoption
14by consumers.

15(2) Adjust modestly standards applicable to LED light products
16to save consumers money, promote energy savings, reduce
17electricity bills, and encourage the adoption of LED lighting
18products by consumers.

19

SEC. 2.  

Section 25402.12 is added to the Public Resources
20Code
, to read:

21

25402.12.  

(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms
22mean the following:

23(1) “Energy Star program” means the United States
24Environmental Protection Agency Energy Star program.

25(2) “LED lighting products” has the same meaning as “LED
26light engine,” “LED light engine with integrated heat sink,” or
27“LED luminaries” as defined in subdivision (n) of Section 1602
28of Title 20 of the California Code of Regulations.

29(b) The commission shall not adopt a color rendering index
30(CRI) value greater than the CRI value set forth in the Energy Star
31program, as of January 1, 2015, as a part of energy efficiency
32standards for LED lighting products, unless the commission makes
33all of the following findings:

34(1) Peer reviewed studies demonstrate that a CRI value greater
35than that required by the Energy Star program will increase the
36rate of consumer adoption and produce greater sales of LED
37lighting products.

38(2) Peer reviewed studies demonstrate that energy efficiency
39gains from consumer adoption of LED lighting products using a
40CRI value greater than that required by the Energy Star program
P3    1will exceed the energy efficiency gains that would result from
2consumer adoption of LED lighting products meeting the standards
3set forth in the Energy Star program.

4(3) Peer reviewed studies demonstrate that consumers are willing
5to pay an increased purchase price for LED lighting products with
6a CRI value greater than that required by the Energy Star program.
7The commission shall determine how much more a higher CRI
8LED lighting product will cost a typical California homeowner as
9compared to a comparable LED lighting product meeting the
10standards set forth in the Energy Star program.

11(4) Peer reviewed studies demonstrate that consumers are willing
12to pay higher electricity bills to use lower efficiency LED lighting
13products with a CRI value greater than that required by the Energy
14Star program. The commission shall determine the average increase
15in electricity costs for a typical California homeowner that would
16result from the use of a higher CRI LED lighting product as
17compared to a comparable LED lighting product meeting the
18standards set forth in the Energy Star Program.

19(c) Subdivision (b) shall apply to all of the following:

20(1) Voluntary performance specifications for LED lighting
21products, including those used by the commission or other public
22agencies in rebate programs.

23(2) Standards prescribed pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section
2425402 for LED lighting products.

25(3) Standards prescribed pursuant to subdivision (a) or (b) of
26Section 25402 for LED lighting products.



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