OLR Bill Analysis

HB 6508 (as amended by House "A")*

AN ACT AMENDING REGULATIONS FOR PORTABLE ELECTRIC SPAS AND CERTAIN OTHER PRODUCTS.

SUMMARY:

Current law requires that bottle-type water dispensers, commercial hot food holding cabinets, portable electric spas, walk-in refrigerators, and walk-in freezers sold in Connecticut beginning January 1, 2009 meet energy efficiency standards established by California in January, 2006. Beginning January 1, 2010, residential pool pumps must also meet these standards. This bill requires that these products meet the standards as amended from time to time.

By law, the Office of Policy and Management (OPM), in consultation with the Department of Public Utility Control, must adopt regulations to establish energy efficiency standards for products beyond those covered by statute. OPM can only adopt standards if it determines that (1) doing so would promote energy conservation in the state, (2) they would be cost-effective for consumers, and (3) multiple products meet the standards. The bill requires OPM, in collaboration with the Multi-State Appliance Standards Collaborative, to identify additional appliance efficiency standards. (The collaborative consists of Connecticut, California, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington. ) Within six months after identifying a member state's efficiency standard for a product for which no equivalent Connecticut or federal standard exists, OPM must determine whether the standard meets the above statutory criteria for adopting standards and report to the Energy and Technology Committee regarding this standard.

*House Amendment “A” adds the provision on additional product standards.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage

COMMITTEE ACTION

Energy and Technology Committee

Joint Favorable