• Los Angeles Times, Tuesday, January 6, 2009 9:45 AM

California regulators plan to curb the growing power use of TV sets by drafting the nation's first rules requiring retailers to sell only the most energy-efficient models, starting in 2011. The consumer electronics industry opposes the regulations, expected to pass in mid-2009, claiming they could remove some TVs from store shelves and slightly boost sticker prices.

But the California Energy Commission is looking for ways to relieve the strain on the power grid. Officials say the standards would reduce the state's annual energy needs by an amount equivalent to the power consumed by 86,400 homes. Don't be surprised to see other states follow with similar rules.
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Sales of television sets are growing by 4 million a year, the vast majority of the new TV sets are flat-panels. These LCD sets use 43% more electricity, on average, than conventional tube TVs.

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