CEDIA Outraged by California Energy Commission's (CEC) Approval of TV Energy-Efficiency Standard.

Ruling Will Negatively Impact CEDIA Members' Businesses in California

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) is outraged by the adoption of the unnecessary and harmful regulation regarding the California TV energy efficiency standard the CEC chose to adopt yesterday.

Despite continued efforts and data outlining the negative ramifications of the ruling provided by CEDIA and the Californians for Smart Energy coalition, the CEC chose to adopt regulations on the energy consumption of televisions sold in California. This regulation will have a significant negative impact 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," said Utz Baldwin, CEDIA chief executive officer. "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 director of public policy. "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% unemployment rate."

CEDIA has worked on this issue for over a year. Throughout the process, CEDIA has provided 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. CEDIA worked closely with the Californians for Smart Energy coalition and other industry stakeholders to inform the CEC about the negative consequences the proposed rule would have on the State of California, and specifically hundreds of small businesses.

"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.

CEDIA supports manufacturer and retailer participation in energy efficiency programs and has established a Green Task Force charged with researching processes and procedures for developing energy-efficient products for consumers.

For more information CEDIA's public policy efforts, please visit www.cedia.org/public_policy.

About CEDIA

CEDIA is an international trade association of companies that specialize in designing and installing electronic systems for the home. The association was founded in September 1989 and has more than 3,500 member companies worldwide. CEDIA members are established and insured businesses with bona fide qualifications and experience in this specialized field. For more information on CEDIA, visit the association's website at www.cedia.org.