What's happening
This bill updates the definition of televisions and requires New York to adopt California’s energy efficiency standards for televisions.
Why it matters
Expands the definition of "television". to include not only standard TVs, but also combination units (with built-in DVD/VCR, etc.), component televisions (multi-piece systems sold as a TV), and television monitors (TV display with no tuner). This broadens what products must meet energy standards, potentially affecting more devices on the market.
Removes outdated exclusions and language,. aligning New York's legal definitions with current technology trends—such as streaming and internet-connected devices—ensuring that newer TV types cannot bypass energy efficiency requirements.
Mandates that New York keep pace with California’s energy standards for TVs,. which are considered among the strictest in the nation. This could drive manufacturers to produce more energy-efficient products for the New York market, reducing household electricity usage and associated emissions.
May influence the broader appliance market. by signaling that large, influential states are harmonizing on tougher efficiency standards, potentially leading manufacturers to adopt higher efficiency across all products—even in states without such requirements.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Set TV Energy Standards
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 26
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to energy and telecommunications
- Referred to energy and telecommunications
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2336
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 24, 2019
Introduced by Sens. KAVANAGH, SERRANO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Energy and Telecommunications
AN ACT to amend the energy law, in relation to increasing the energy efficiency of televisions
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 16-102 of the energy law is amended by adding three new subdivisions 7-a, 10-a and 33-a to read as follows:
7-a. "Combination television" means a system in which a television or television monitor and an additional device or devices including, but not limited to, a DVD player, an HDD player or a VCR, are combined into a single unit and included in the television casing.
10-a. "Component television" means a television composed of two or more separate components (e.g. separate display device and tuner) marketed and sold as a television under one model or system designation. The system may have more than one power cord.
33-a. "Television monitor" means a television that does not have an internal tuner, receiver, or playback device.
§ 2. Subdivision 33 of section 16-102 of the energy law, as added by chapter 431 of the laws of 2005, is amended to read as follows:
33. "Television (TV)" means [a commercially available electronic product consisting of a tuner/receiver and a monitor encased in a single housing, which is designed to receive and display an analog or digital video television signal broadcast by an antenna, satellite, cable, or broadband source. "Television" does not include multifunction TVs which have VCR, DVD, DVR, or EPG functions] an analog or digital device designed primarily for the display and reception of a terrestrial, satellite, cable internet protocol TV (IPTV) or other broadcast or recorded transmission of analog or digital signals. Televisions include
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02476-01-9
S. 2336 2
combination televisions, television monitors, component televisions, and any product that is marketed as a television.
§ 3. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 2 of section 16-106 of the energy law, as added by chapter 431 of the laws of 2005, is amended to read as follows:
(a) On or before June thirtieth, two thousand six, the secretary, in consultation with the president, shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of this article establishing: (i) energy efficiency performance standards for new products of the types set forth in paragraphs (a) through [(n)] (s) of subdivision one of section 16-104 of this article, with the exception of such paragraph (g) (incandescent reflector lamps); (ii) procedures for testing the energy efficiency of the products covered by paragraphs (a) through [(n)] (s) of subdivision one of section 16-104 of this article; (iii) procedures for manufacturers to certify that products covered under this article meet the energy efficiency standards to be promulgated under this article; and (iv) such further matters as are necessary to insure the proper implementation and enforcement of the provisions of this article. With respect to incandescent reflector lamps, included in paragraph (g) of subdivision one of section 16-104 of this article, the secretary, in consultation with the president, shall conduct a study to determine whether an energy efficiency performance standard for such product should be established, taking into account factors including the potential impact on electricity usage, product availability and consumer and environmental benefits. If it is determined based on this study that such a standard would reduce energy use and would not be preempted by the federal law, the secretary, in consultation with the president, shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of this article establishing energy performance standards for such product on or before January first, two thousand eight. With respect to televisions included in subdivision thirty-three of section 16-102 of this article, the secretary, in consultation with the president, shall adopt energy efficiency performance standards that conform to appliance efficiency standards for such products established by the California Energy Commission.
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment, or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the timely implementation of this act on or before its effective date is hereby authorized to be made.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the energy law, in relation to increasing the energy efficiency of televisions
Purpose
To establish energy efficiency guidelines for televisions, which would mandate greater energy efficiency in television manufacturing, and reduce consumer energy costs, carbon dioxide emissions, and the burden placed on the power grid.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: Adds three new subdivisions to section 16-102 of the energy law to define combination television, component television, and tele- vision monitor.
Read the full memo (766 words)
Section 2: Amends subdivision 33 of section 16-102 of the energy law to update the definition of television (TV).
Section 3: Adds new section 16-106 to the energy law to mandate new energy efficiency standards for televisions. The applied standards conform to appliance efficiency standards for such products established by the California Energy Commission.
Section 4: Provides the effective date.
Justification
With the growth of the television industry as well as high-definition, plasma, liquid crystal display (LCD), and other technological inno- vations, there has been a rapid increase in the number of large tele- visions on the market. The average number of televisions per household and average time spent watching television has increased markedly over the past few years as well. Many of these newer models consumes three times as much energy as do older cathode ray tube televisions. On aver- age, this new technology has increased energy consumption from 3% to 10% of home energy use. Moreover, according to the California Energy Commis- sion (CEC), some plasma television sets manufactured in 2008 drew more power than a typical large refrigerator did, even if the television was only used a few hours a day.
The combination of these factors has translated to a large increase in the typical energy consumption of televisions by the average household. There is a strong need, therefore, to regulate the energy efficiency of televisions to encourage energy reduction, save taxpayer money on energy bills, curb carbon emissions, and reduce the stress placed on the power grid. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, new standards will make new TVs 30-50 percent more efficient and.will meaningfully reduce carbon emissions (NRDC http://www.nrdc.org/media/2009/091118.asp). Similar legislation has passed in California and been introduced in Massachusetts, signaling the start of a national trend toward more rigorous energy efficiency stand- ards. There are already over 1000 televisions on the market that meet these standards, with many more to come, due to the CEC's approval of new regulations. This bill would parallel regulations currently placed on devices such as air conditioners and refrigerators. It would also ensure that New York remains at the forefront of energy efficiency and environmental innovation by encouraging energy reduction in television manufacturing.
With the adoption of these measures, New York consumers would save billions of dollars and conserve energy while their freedom to purchase any size or type of television would also be preserved.
According to the California Energy Commission, the standards have no effect on existing televisions and would not force consumers to replace their current devices.
Legislative history
2018: S7124 - REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS 2017: A8563 - stricken 2016: S3426/A5868 - REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS/ advanced to third reading cal. 397 2015: S3426/A5868 - REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS/ advanced to third reading cal. 155
Fiscal impact for state and local governments
None.
Impact on regulation of businesses and individuals
No person shall sell, offer for sale, or install in New York any new television that does not comply with the energy efficiency standards established by this bill.
Impact on fines, imprisonment, forfeiture of rights, or other penal sanctions
Any person who issues a certification that a television complies with the energy efficiency standards established by this bill, knowing that such television does not comply, shall be liable for a civil penalty not more than $10,000 for each such product certified and not more than $10,000 for each day during which such violation continues. Any person who sells, offers for sale, or installs a new television that does not meet the energy efficiency standards established in this bill shall be liable for a civil penalty of not more than $500 for each such violation and an additional civil penalty of not more than $100 for each day during which such violation continues.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment, or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the timely implementa- tion of this act on or before its effective date is hereby authorized to be made.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.