1. What ruling did the California Energy Commission make this week?

2. What is the reason for the ruling?

3. a) How could California's ruling affect people in other states?
b) Why have California's energy laws affected the rest of the country in past?

4. a) What is the Consumer Electronics Association?
b) Why does the Consumer Electronics Association oppose the Energy Commission's ruling?

5. Consider the following from an Associated Press report (from 11/18/09 by Samantha Young) and then answer the questions:

• Energy commissioners say TVs account for about 10 percent of a home's electricity use. The concern is that the energy draw will rise by as much as 8 percent a year as consumers buy larger televisions, add more to their homes and watch them longer.
  An energy-efficient TV would save a household roughly $30 a year ($2.50 a month) per set in lowered electricity costs. If all 35 million TVs watched in the state were replaced with more efficient sets, Californians would save $8.1 billion over 10 years, according to the Energy Commission report.
• Some manufacturers say implementing a power standard will cripple innovation, limit consumer choice and harm California retailers because consumers could simply buy TVs out of state or order them online.
  Industry representatives have said the standards would force manufacturers to make televisions that have poorer picture quality and fewer features than those sold elsewhere in the U.S.

a) If electronics companies are not able to produce the same size and quality TVs that use less power (if they are not able to comply with the new state standards), is it more important to you to reduce power use in California, or to be able to purchase the products you choose? Explain your answer.
b) Should California have considered building a new power plant to meet the increasing consumer demand for power? Explain your answer.
c) Ask a parent the same questions.