BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 2355
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Date of Hearing: May 7, 2012
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
Wesley Chesbro, Chair
AB 2355 (Gaines) - As Introduced: February 24, 2012
SUBJECT : Energy: appliance efficiency: battery chargers
SUMMARY : Specifies that energy efficiency requirements for
non-USB battery chargers adopted on or before January 1, 2014
will become effective on that date
EXISTING LAW :
1)Requires CEC to adopt regulations describing the standards for
minimum levels of energy efficiency for appliances using a
significant amount of energy.
2)Establishes that CEC require the use of product labeling, not
preempted by federal law, in order to promote the use of
energy efficient appliances so long as it does not result in
added cost for consumers.
3)Authorizes CEC to adopt an administrative enforcement process,
including civil penalties, for violations of its appliance
efficiency standards.
FISCAL EFFECT : Non-fiscal
COMMENTS :
Background : The Warren-Alquist State Energy Resources
Conservation Act requires CEC to adopt regulations describing
the standards for minimum levels of efficiency for appliances
that use a significant amount of energy or water. These
regulations include standards for both federally-regulated
appliances and non-federally-regulated residential and
commercial appliances including water heaters, clothes washers,
dishwashers, traffic signals, lighting, and heat and air
conditioning systems to be sold in California. Regulations
adopted by CEC in this manner aim to achieve significant energy
savings state-wide that are feasible, attainable, and do not
result in added costs to the consumer over the estimated
lifetime of the regulated appliance.
AB 2355
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Prior to January 1 of this year, CEC did not have the authority
to establish administrative civil penalties for violations of
appliance efficiency standards. Chapter 591, Statutes of 2011
(SB 454, Pavley) authorized CEC to establish an administrative
enforcement process. A 2009 survey of appliance efficiency
standards compliance conducted by the Heschong Mahone Group for
CEC found that approximately half of the appliances sold in
California have not been properly certified as meeting the
standards.
On January 12th, the CEC adopted regulations establishing
efficiency standards for consumer and non-consumer battery
charger systems. For most chargers (non-USB chargers), the
standards will go into effect on February 1, 2013. According
to CEC, the standards will reduce energy consumption by an
estimated 2,187 GWh, save California consumers $300 billion in
energy costs, and reduce carbon emissions by 1 billion metric
tons per year.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has proposed regulations for
battery chargers and external power supplies, which, if adopted,
will preempt California's standards. For a variety of
products, including power tools, electric shavers, laptops, cell
phones, and cordless phones, the DOE standards are less
stringent than California's standards. These regulations are
proposed to go into effect on July 1, 2013; however, DOE has
generally extended the implementation date of new standards for
two additional years. CEC is currently working with DOE to
"harmonize" the federal and state standards.
This bill : According to the author, "The final CEC standard
requires a February 2013 effective date for non-USB consumer
product chargers, while allowing an additional 11 months for USB
charger systems. And, since there is no explanation on the
CEC's part to help stakeholders appreciate its conclusion and
the industry has explained that it needs 2 years, we feel
strongly that it could not be based on a lack of information
explaining that all manufacturers require more compliance time
than the proposed amendments afford? Moreover, it cannot be
overstated the degree of effort and cost that manufacturers must
put into the retooling process to adjust to significant
standards changes that in instances require a shift in more
expensive technology. In order to effectively do so for multiple
products made by any one manufacturer requires far more than the
13 months the current proposal would allow."
AB 2355
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REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (sponsor)
California Manufacturers & Technology Association
Phillips Electronics
Opposition
Environmental Defense Fund
Natural Resources Defense Council
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
San Diego Gas & Electric
Sempra Energy Utilities
Sierra Club California
Southern California Gas Company
Analysis Prepared by : Elizabeth MacMillan / NAT. RES. / (916)
319-2092