Arlington --- As part of a coalition of high-tech and manufacturing trade associations, EIA today delivered a letter to Majority Leader Daschle, Senator Jeff Bingaman, Chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and members of the Committee, voicing their support for the sensible and positive standby power provisions in the Energy Policy Act of 2002. 

The high technology and manufacturing communities want to ensure that any standby language included in comprehensive energy legislation does not hinder the innovation, product performance or features of their products.

Standby power is defined differently by product category, but generally refers to the power used by a product when not performing its “active” functions.  For example, when a television is “off,” it is really in standby mode.  In this instance, standby power allows the television to have “instant-on” capability from a remote control.  Stringent, inflexible limits on standby power can affect features such as “instant-on,” as well as the usability and future development of a variety of household products. 

The stand-by power language in S. 1766 allows the Department of Energy (DOE) to carefully investigate whether energy conservation standards for battery chargers and external power supplies are appropriate. The provisions also instruct the DOE to determine whether there are other products for which standby mode standards should be promulgated. This approach offers the best chance for DOE to analyze the complexities of standby power before deciding whether standards are warranted.

Letter sent to Daschle, Bingaman supporting sensible and positive stand-by language in S. 1766

Dear Majority Leader Daschle and Chairman Bingaman:

We are writing to express our industry’s support for Section 928 of S. 1766, the Energy Policy Act of 2002, as introduced on December 5, 2001.  We support this sensible and positive legislative language designed to address the issue of standby power in electrical and electronic products. We believe that the approach embodied in section 928 of S. 1766 effectively promotes the goal of energy conservation without hindering technological innovation or limiting consumer choice.

For years, the high tech industry has been at the forefront in using technology to achieve greater economic productivity out of the energy we consume. Our members have achieved significant advances in product mobility, usability and sophistication, all the while reducing costs and increasing energy efficiency. Moreover, the use of our products in everyday lives has allowed our nation to achieve substantial energy savings through telecommuting, computer-aided home heating/cooling controls and other time- and energy-saving innovations.

Because of this energy saving potential, and because of the rapid pace of technological change, innovation, and improved product performance and features of many high tech products, it is critical that any energy conservation regulations affecting these products undergo careful consideration within the Department of Energy (DOE).   We believe that the standby power provisions in section 928 afford the Secretary of Energy the necessary flexibility to determine whether potential regulations are appropriate or even necessary for products that, in most cases, are already covered by government energy efficiency programs, such as Energy Star. Such flexibility is particularly relevant to the thousands of smaller businesses we represent and to the evolving technologies we are developing.  It is also critical that a unified US market be maintained.

As S. 1766 makes its way through the legislative process, our support for these provisions is predicated on the assumption that the substantive principles of the current version will not change.

We look forward to continuing to work with you and your staff.

Sincerely,

William T. Archey, President-AeA

 Jonathan Zuck , President-Association for Competitive Technology

Joseph M. McGuire, President-Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers

 Gary Shapiro, President-Consumer Electronics Association

 Dave McCurdy, President-Electronic Industries Alliance

 Rhett Dawson, President-Information Technology Industry Council

 Malcolm O’Hagan, President-National Electrical Manufacturers Association

 Glyn Davis, President-The Transformer Association

CC: Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee