BILL ANALYSIS
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | AB 1561|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 1561
Author: Kelley (R)
Amended: 8/5/02 in Senate
Vote: 21
SENATE ENERGY, U.&C. COMMITTEE : 6-1, 6/11/02
AYES: Bowen, Alarcon, Dunn, Murray, Sher, Speier
NOES: Battin
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : Senate Rule 28.8
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : Not relevant
SUBJECT : Energy efficiency standards
SOURCE : San Diego County Water Authority
DIGEST : This bill requires the California Energy
Commission to establish a water efficiency standard for
residential washing machines that is at least as water
efficient as commercial clothes washers.
ANALYSIS : Current state law requires the California
Energy Commission (CEC) to establish minimum levels of
operating efficiency for appliances in order to reduce the
wasteful consumption of energy. All appliances are
required to be labeled with the amount of energy they
consume and no appliance can be sold unless it complies
with the standards.
Current federal regulations set energy efficiency standards
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for residential washing machines which will take effect on
January 1, 2004, with a higher standard taking effect on
January 1, 2007.
There are no federal regulations relative to water usage in
clothes washers.
This bill requires the CEC to establish by January 1, 2004
a water efficiency factor for residential clothes washers
manufactured after January 1, 2007, that is at least as
efficient as the standard for commercial washing machines
(which is currently 9.5).
This bill requires the CEC to petition the federal
Department of Energy (DOE) by April 1, 2004 for an
exemption from any relevant federal regulations governing
energy efficiency standards.
This bill requires the CEC to report its progress to the
Legislature by January 1, 2005.
Background
The DOE revised its 10-year-old standards for washing
machines last year. The new, higher standards take effect
on January 1, 2004, and an even higher set of standards
will take effect on January 1, 2007. The 2004 standards
require washing machines to be 22% more energy efficient
that the current minimum, while the 2007 standards require
machines to be 35% more efficient. These standards will
result in significant conservation of energy, are
technologically feasible, and economically justified,
according to DOE. The DOE has not set water efficiency
standards.
DOE's analysis of the standard notes that a typical clothes
washer has a price of $421 and costs $115/year in energy
and water bills. To meet the 2004 standard, DOE estimates
the price of the washer will rise 12.6% to $474 with
operating costs decreasing by $15/year (13% annually). To
meet the 2007 standard, DOE estimates the price of the
washer rises to $670 (59% above existing capital cost) with
operating costs decreasing by $48/year (41.7% annually).
DOE estimates that 90% of all consumers purchasing a new
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washer will save money over the life of the machine as a
result of the 2004 standards, with 81% saving money with
the 2007 standards.
Water efficiency is measured by the Water Factor (WF),
which is the number of gallons of water necessary to
complete a single cubic foot of laundry. The lower the WF,
the more water efficient the machine is. According to the
Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE), a non-profit public
benefit corporation promoting the use of energy efficient
products and services whose members include electric, gas
and water utilities and state energy offices, the average
WF for washers sold in 1994 is 13.3 (i.e. 13.3 gallons of
water are needed for each cubic foot of laundry).
Energy efficiency standards are established at the federal
level. The state may act where the federal government has
not acted or, if the federal government has acted, where a
waiver is granted. Since the federal government views
water efficiency as a component of energy efficiency,
California would need a wavier from the federal standards
in order to set water efficiency standards for residential
washing machines.
The CEC has established a water efficiency standard for
commercial washing machines with a WF of 9.5 that will take
effect on January 1, 2007. Since the federal government
doesn't set energy efficiency standards for commercial
machines, the CEC didn't need a waiver in order to set a
water efficiency standard for these machines.
Comments
Energy Standard vs. Water Standard . While it would seem
logical that increasing the energy efficiency of a clothes
washing machine would also increase the water efficiency of
the machine, that isn't always the case. It's possible,
for example, to meet the energy efficiency standards by
using water inefficiently (e.g. using more cold water to
rinse clothes rather than less hot water). Supporters of
this measure note that given the state's water supply
problems, and that clothes washers are the second largest
indoor residential water use (behind toilets), water
efficiency standards should be imposed.
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FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
SUPPORT : (Verified 8/5/02)
San Diego County Water Authority (source)
Central Basin Municipal Water District
East Bay Municipal Utility District
Mono Lake Committee
North of the River Municipal Water District
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment
and Security
Sacramento Municipal Utility District
San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce
Southern California Water Committee
West Basin Municipal Water District
OPPOSITION : (Verified 8/5/02) (Prior to latest
amendments)
Alliance Laundry Systems
Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers
California Retailers Association
Best Buy
Exxcalibur Laundries
GE Appliances
Maytag Corporation
Whirlpool Corporation
NC:cm 8/7/02 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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