BILL NUMBER: AB 1970 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 28, 2006
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 19, 2006
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Levine
FEBRUARY 9, 2006
An act to add Chapter 10.9 (commencing with Section 25945) to
Division 15 of the Public Resources Code, relating to energy
resources.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1970, as amended, Levine Energy resources: California Vampire
Slayer Act of 2006.
Existing law establishes various requirements with respect to
energy resources and energy conservation.
This bill would establish the Consumer Electrical Device Labeling
Program that would require a consumer electrical device, as defined,
sold in California to bear a label indicating electricity use. The
bill would specify how the label is to be displayed.
The bill would require the label to indicate for each device (1)
estimated active and passive electricity use, (2) estimated annual
operating cost, and (3) estimated electricity use relative to similar
products. The bill would exclude from these requirements a device
that meets certain conditions.
This bill would require the State Energy Resources Conservation
and Development Commission, among other things, to determine the
respective labeling obligations of manufacturers, distributors, and
retailers.
This bill would require the manufacturer of an appliance sold in
California to place, in a manner specified, a power content label on
each appliance that shows the energy consumption or energy efficiency
of the appliance. The bill would require that the label also show
the appliance's estimated annual operational cost both when the
appliance is in the "active/standby" mode.
The bill would prescribe requirements on how the label is to be
attached, and also require that same information to be displayed in
any order catalog.
The bill would require the act to be known as the California
Vampire Slayer Act of 2006.
The bill would exempt from these requirements appliances that meet
certain conditions.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no
yes . State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
(a) As new technology increases the number of products that
function in various modes, the required energy to power these
products also increases.
(b) The typical American home has 20 or more electrical appliances
that continue to use electricity by simply being plugged in, even
when the consumer perceives the appliance to be in the "off" mode.
The appliance is actually in what is called the "active/standby" mode
and requires nearly the same power consumption as the "active/on"
mode.
(c) The consumer does not know how much energy these vampire
appliances use, but the combined consumption for many homes exceeds
400 kilowatthours each year, or that of a new refrigerator or 10
percent of the energy required to light an entire home.
(d) Much of the electricity generated in California comes from
fossil fuel power plants, and thus, vampire appliances significantly
contribute to the production of greenhouse gases and other air
pollutants.
SEC. 2. This act shall be known, and may be cited as, the
California Vampire Slayer Act of 2006.
SEC. 3. Chapter 10.9 (commencing with Section 25945) is added to
Division 15 of the Public Resources Code, to read:
CHAPTER 10.9. Appliances
25945. (a) The manufacturer of an appliance sold in California
shall place a power content label on the exterior surface of the
packaging of the appliance that shows the energy consumption or
energy efficiency of the appliance. In addition to the energy
consumption or energy efficiency disclosure, the label shall show the
appliance's estimated annual operational cost when it is in the
"active/standby" mode.
(b) The manufacturer shall attach the label to the exterior
surface of the packaging for the appliance or use a hang tag label
that is attached in a way that is easily viewed by a consumer looking
at the appliance. The information on the power content label shall
also be displayed in any catalog from which the appliance may be
ordered.
25946. An appliance is exempt from the provisions of this chapter
if either of the following applies:
(a) The appliance is subject to the jurisdiction of the Federal
Trade Commission and the Department of Energy with respect to
appliance labeling rules (42 U.S.C. Secs. 6294 and 6315).
(b) The appliance has a standby power mode, as defined by IEC Test
Procedure 62301, that operates during extended periods of inactivity
and consumes no more than five watts when in this mode.
CHAPTER 10.9. CONSUMER ELECTRICAL DEVICE LABELING PROGRAM
25945. A consumer electrical device sold in this state shall bear
a label indicating electricity use, in accordance with the
requirements of this chapter and regulations adopted by the
commission.
25946. (a) The label shall be displayed on the exterior surface
of the device or its packaging so that the label is easily viewed by
the consumer at the point of sale. If the point of sale is a catalog
or Web site, equivalent information shall be displayed with the
device.
(b) The label shall indicate all of the following:
(1) Estimated active and passive electricity use of the device.
Passive electricity use shall include the amount of electricity used
by the device when it is in the "active/standby" mode, or otherwise
plugged in but not actively operating. Electricity use shall be
expressed in both watts and kilowatt-hours per year.
(2) Estimated annual operating cost of the device, based on an
average cost of electricity in this state.
(3) Estimated electricity use relative to similar products.
25947. (a) As used in this chapter, "consumer electrical device"
means a plug-in device that consumes electricity in active and
passive operation, including, but not limited to, battery chargers
and appliances with internal timers, clocks, or other continuously
operating electronic components.
(b) "Consumer electrical device" does not include:
(1) A device that is subject to the jurisdiction of the Federal
Trade Commission and the Department of Energy with respect to federal
appliance labeling rules (42 U.S.C. Secs. 6294 and 6315).
(2) A device that has a stand-by power mode, as defined by IEC
Test Procedure 62301, that operates during extended periods of
inactivity and consumes no more than five watts when in this mode.
(3) A device where the commission determines that the label,
required by this chapter or by regulation, is not likely to assist
consumers in making purchasing decisions or is not economically
feasible.
25948. (a) The commission shall use available standardized
testing methods and data to determine a device's electricity use.
(b) The commission shall determine the most practical and
efficient means to enforce this chapter, including determining the
respective labeling obligations of manufacturers, distributors, and
retailers.