Jon’s commentary today featured the new coalition of small businesses that have formed to combat the ridiculous and dangerous energy policies being imposed upon Californians by the California Energy Commission. The coalition, Californians for Smart Energy, held a press conference in Sacramento today to discuss how the CEC’s latest limits on our energy consumption are further hurting our economy. The press conference mostly covered a lot of the details Jon mentioned in his commentary: the new limits on TV electricity usage would essentially ban big screen TVs in our state. Looks like Super Bowl Sunday will become a major travel day in California as citizens visit friends or family in other states who are allowed to have their big screen.

During the press conference, Bill Dombrowski, President of the California Retailers Association noted, how “it’s ironic that the CEC is going after one of the few bright spots in retail/economy.  TVs are an affordable and convenient entertainment option for cash-strapped families.” Indeed, California legislators keep puzzling over the fact that tax revenues continue to decrease, thus increasing the budget deficit with each passing month. Is it any wonder tax revenues are decreasing when citizens are escaping a state that won’t even let them own a large television? And small businesses certainly have no incentive to remain in a state that penalizes them and their customers for their energy usage.

It was also pointed out that, “When you ask consumers what item in the house gives you the most enjoyment, TVs will always be number one.” As more and more families tighten their belts due to the weak economy, the TV will become their main source of entertainment. Yet nanny government regulations will prevent them from even enjoying entertainment in their own homes.

Charlie Martinez, President of Elk Grove Home Theatre explained that the CEC is going to drive more business out of the state: “This is going to cause consumers to buy online and across state lines.  I’ve been through this once before: I used to have my business along the Oregon/California border and moved it to Sacramento because too many customers were going to Oregon to avoid sales tax.” Shawn Worst, President of Evolution Home Theatre, Inc., expressed the frustration felt by so many of his fellow business owners: “I wish the state would help remove barriers to business growth, not keep adding more.  For example, my payroll taxes went up 20% this year alone – that’s money I could have spent hiring a new employee.” Want to increase tax revenues, Sacramento? Stop regulating citizens and businesses out of the state.

Apparently CEC did have a few of their spokespeople hanging around the conference, where they tried to misinform the media about their policies, claiming TV use 10 percent of a home’s energy. In fact, TVs use about 4 percent of a home’s energy, depending on that particular home’s usage. 

Leon SooHoo, President and CEO of Paradyme Sound & Vision, stated conveyed the fundamental problem with more government regulation: “This is the worst kind of regulation – harmful to California’s economy and unnecessary. The consumer electronics industry, working with successful federal programs like ENERGY STAR, is ahead of the curve and working tirelessly to create new products that are more energy efficient. For example, 20 percent of flat panel TVs in 2008 had green features, and this number is expected to rise to 70 percent by 2012 – without regulations. Bottom line? Innovation, consumer demand and technological advancements lead to increased energy efficiency – not harmful regulations.”

Help stand against the CEC’s outrageous regulations by supporting Californians for Smart Energy on Twitter and Facebook. Save our Big Screen TVs!

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 12th, 2009 at 12:00 am and is filed under Blog Posts.