Amended in Assembly April 6, 2015

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 amended, 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,begin delete as of January 1, 2015,end delete 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
P2    1Code have reduced energy consumption, saved consumers money,
2and promoted adoption of advanced technology. The commission’s
3efforts have led the nation in energy conservation.

4(2) However, the commission’s recent and pending regulatory
5actions pertaining to light emitting diode (LED) lighting products
6will have the opposite effect by imposing restrictions on those
7lighting products that will needlessly raise the price of lamps,
8reduce energy savings, and retard the adoption of advanced
9technology products by consumers.

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

11(1) Reaffirm its support for progressive energy efficiency
12standards, including those applicable to lighting products, but not
13if those standards make LED lighting products too expensive,
14sacrifice energy savings, and discourage purchase and adoption
15by consumers.

16(2) Adjust modestly standards applicable to LED light products
17to save consumers money, promote energy savings, reduce
18electricity bills, and encourage the adoption of LED lighting
19products by consumers.

20

SEC. 2.  

Section 25402.12 is added to the Public Resources
21Code
, to read:

22

25402.12.  

(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms
23mean the following:

24(1) “Energy Star program” means the United States
25Environmental Protection Agency Energy Star program.

26(2) “LED lighting products” has the same meaning as “LED
27light engine,” “LED light engine with integrated heat sink,” or
28“LED luminaries” as defined in subdivision (n) of Section 1602
29of Title 20 of the California Code of Regulations.

30(b) The commission shall not adopt a color rendering index
31(CRI) value greater than the CRI value set forth in the Energy Star
32program,begin delete as of January 1, 2015,end delete as a part of energy efficiency
33standards for LED lighting products, unless the commission makes
34all of the following findings:

35(1) begin deletePeer reviewed studies end deletebegin insertStudies end insertdemonstrate that a CRI value
36greater than that required by the Energy Star program will increase
37the rate of consumer adoption and produce greater sales of LED
38lighting products.

39(2) begin deletePeer reviewed studies end deletebegin insertStudies end insertdemonstrate that energy
40efficiency gains from consumer adoption of LED lighting products
P3    1using a CRI value greater than that required by the Energy Star
2program will exceed the energy efficiency gains that would result
3from consumer adoption of LED lighting products meeting the
4standards set forth in the Energy Star program.

5(3) begin deletePeer reviewed studies end deletebegin insertStudies end insertdemonstrate that consumers
6are willing to pay an increased purchase price for LED lighting
7products with a CRI value greater than that required by the Energy
8Star program. The commission shall determine how much more a
9higher CRI LED lighting product will cost a typical California
10homeowner as compared to a comparable LED lighting product
11meeting the standards set forth in the Energy Star program.

12(4) begin deletePeer reviewed studies end deletebegin insertStudies end insertdemonstrate that consumers
13are willing to pay higher electricity bills to use lower efficiency
14LED lighting products with a CRI value greater than that required
15by the Energy Star program. The commission shall determine the
16average increase in electricity costs for a typical California
17homeowner that would result from the use of a higher CRI LED
18lighting product as compared to a comparable LED lighting product
19meeting the standards set forth in the Energy Star Program.

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

21(1) Voluntary performance specifications for LED lighting
22products, including those used by the commission or other public
23agencies in rebate programs.

24(2) Standards prescribed pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section
2525402 for LED lighting products.

26(3) Standards prescribed pursuant to subdivision (a) or (b) of
27Section 25402 for LED lighting products.



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