Spotlight's on energy hogs: TV sets

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — That 52-inch, flat-screen television on the family room wall might have a terrific picture, but there's a big drawback: It's an energy hog.

California regulators are preparing to curb the growing power gluttony of TV sets by drafting the nation's first rules to require retailers to sell only the most energy-efficient televisions starting in 2011.

The consumer-electronics industry opposes the new regulations, expected to pass in mid-2009, and claims they could force some TVs to be removed from store shelves and slightly boost sticker prices.

But the California Energy Commission is looking for ways to relieve the demand on the power grid. Officials said the proposed standards, once in place, would reduce the state's annual energy needs by the same amount of power consumed by 86,400 homes.

During peak viewing times, the state's TV sets collectively suck up the equivalent of 40 percent of the output generated by the San Onofre nuclear-power station in San Diego County. Televisions account for about 10 percent of the average Californian's household monthly electricity bill.

The regulations could create a gray market, sending consumers intent on buying power-hungry models to Amazon.com and other Internet retailers based outside the state.

Television sales are growing by 4 million a year, and the majority are flat-panels. LCD — liquid crystal display — sets on average use 43 percent more electricity than conventional, picture-tube TVs, and larger models proportionately more.

Plasma TVs, which command a relatively small piece of the market, need more than three times as much power as old-style sets.

The regulations would phase in over two years, with a first tier taking effect Jan. 1, 2011, and a more stringent second tier Jan. 1, 2013. Purchasers of Tier 1-compliant TVs would shave an average of $18.48 off a residential electric bill in the first year of ownership, the Energy Commission estimated. Tier 2 sets would save an additional $11.76 a year.

Over the years, California has pioneered similar tough standards for appliances, home insulation and food-service equipment that eventually were adopted by the federal government and promoted to consumers with utility rebate programs.

"I think this is basically doable," said energy-panel commissioner Arthur Rosenfeld, an international leader for more than three decades in finding ways to save energy by boosting the efficiency of household appliances.

"Refrigerators and air-conditioner manufacturers have grown up with standards, and, now, they are generally considered successes." he said. "But this is a new wrinkle for the TV industry."

Television manufacturers, wholesalers and national electronics chains said they are committed to making energy-frugal products and are moving as quickly as they can to respond to consumers' desires for energy-efficient televisions. But they aren't enthusiastic about the California plan, which they say will limit customer choice.

"The passion is correct. The proposal is not," said Doug Johnson, senior director of technology at the Consumer Electronics Association in Arlington, Va. "We can accomplish this without regulation as a result of innovation and voluntary approaches."

Mike McMaster, president of Wilshire Entertainment, worries imposing TV efficiency standards "would be basically the end of our business." His two Southern California locations employ 54 people and specialize in sales and installation of custom home-theater systems centered on extremely large TVs.

"It would kill dealerships because people would buy on Amazon and have them shipped in and maybe not pay sales tax," he said.

Increasing TV energy efficiency would provide a triple benefit to California by boosting the economy, lowering electricity bills and by helping the state meet its goals of reducing greenhouse-gas emissions by 15 percent by 2020, said Duane Larson, director of customer energy efficiency at Pacific Gas & Electric, the state's largest investor-owned utility. "Every dollar spent on energy efficiency returns $2 in savings," he added.

Rosenfeld, the energy commissioner, noted that a number of television makers already produce models that meet the proposed efficiency standards, and 87 percent of current stock complies with the planned 2011 threshold.