Indianapolis –
The Custom Electronic Design &
Installation Association (CEDIA) said this week that it is outraged over
the adoption of TV energy-efficiency mandates passed by the California Energy
Commission.
The home-theater installers association called the measure
“unnecessary and harmful,” adding that it and the anti-regulatory advocacy
coalition Californians for Smart Energy had demonstrated for the commission the
damaging ramifications the measure would have on the sale and installation of
flat-panel displays and the businesses in the residential electronic systems
industry.
“CEDIA has worked tirelessly on this issue and is dismayed and
frustrated at the CEC’s decision to pass the ruling,” stated Utz Baldwin, CEDIA
CEO. “From the beginning of the hearings it was evident that the CEC had
already determined the outcome before they started and had no intentions of
factoring in any other viewpoints.”
According to Baldwin, not only does the ruling negatively affect
CEDIA members’ ability to do business, it also minimizes their ability to
provide enhanced energy-efficient solutions to their clients.
“The television is often the first point of entry into the home
for CEDIA members,” said Baldwin “By placing a mandate on the energy usage of
TVs in the home, this ruling is ultimately preventing small-business owners’
ability to provide enhanced energy-saving technologies that go above and beyond
the television.”
“Despite the beliefs of the CEC, their actions will negatively
impact California-based electronic systems contractors as well as the entire
residential electronic systems industry in California,” said Darren Reaman,
CEDIA public policy director. “The CEC’s actions will negatively affect
hundreds of small businesses that employ thousands of people in the residential
electronic systems industry and increase California’s 12 percent unemployment
rate.”
CEDIA said it has fought the proposal for more than a year, providing
examples to the CEC regarding the continuous efforts of electronic systems
contractors who are working without a mandate to meet customers’ desire for
energy-efficient homes to become more energy efficient with numerous solutions.
“This has been an uphill battle since this regulation was
proposed, and CEDIA will continue to invest time and resources in this issue,
not only in the state of California but as the issue is brought up in other
states,”‘ said Baldwin.
