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<ns0:ActionText>INTRODUCED</ns0:ActionText>
<ns0:ActionDate>2026-02-20</ns0:ActionDate>
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<ns0:AuthorText authorType="LEAD_AUTHOR">Introduced by Assembly Member Bennett</ns0:AuthorText>
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<ns0:Name>Bennett</ns0:Name>
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<ns0:Title> An act to amend Section 25402 of the Public Resources Code, relating to energy. </ns0:Title>
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<ns0:Subject>Energy: appliance standards and cost-effective measures.</ns0:Subject>
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<html:p>Existing law requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission) to prescribe, by regulation, standards for minimum levels of operating efficiency, and authorizes the Energy Commission to prescribe other cost-effective measures, to promote the use of energy- and water-efficient appliances whose use requires a significant amount of energy or water. Existing law prohibits the sale, and the offering for sale, of new appliances unless their manufacturers certify that they comply with the standards in effect at the time the appliances are manufactured. Existing law defines “sold or offered for sale in the state” to mean any sale of or offer to sell an appliance for end use in the state, regardless of the seller’s physical location. </html:p>
<html:p>This bill would expand the
above-described provisions to also include the rental, importation, distribution, or lease of, or an offer for the rental, importation, distribution, or lease of, those appliances, as provided.</html:p>
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<ns0:Preamble>The people of the State of California do enact as follows:</ns0:Preamble>
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<ns0:Num>SECTION 1.</ns0:Num>
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Section 25402 of the
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is amended to read:
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<html:p>The commission shall, after one or more public hearings, do all of the following to reduce the wasteful, uneconomic, inefficient, or unnecessary consumption of energy, including the energy associated with the use of water, and to manage energy loads to help maintain electrical grid reliability:</html:p>
<html:p>
(a)
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(1)
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Prescribe, by regulation, lighting, insulation, climate control system, and other building design and construction standards that increase efficiency in the use of energy and water for new residential and new nonresidential buildings. The commission shall periodically update the standards and adopt any revision that, in its judgment, it deems necessary. Six months after the commission certifies an energy conservation manual pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section
25402.1, a city, county, city and county, or state agency shall not issue a permit for a building unless the building satisfies the standards prescribed by the commission pursuant to this subdivision or subdivision (b) that are in effect on the date an application for a building permit is filed. Water efficiency standards adopted pursuant to this subdivision shall be demonstrated by the commission to be necessary to save energy.
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<html:p>
(2)
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Before adopting a water efficiency standard for residential buildings, the Department of Housing and Community Development and the commission shall issue a joint finding whether the standard (A) is equivalent or superior in performance, in safety, and for the protection of life, health, and general welfare to standards in Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations and (B) does not unreasonably or unnecessarily impact the ability of Californians to purchase or rent affordable housing, as determined by taking
account of the overall benefit derived from water efficiency standards. This subdivision does not in any way reduce the authority of the Department of Housing and Community Development to adopt standards and regulations pursuant to the State Housing Law (Part 1.5 (commencing with Section 17910) of Division 13 of the Health and Safety Code).
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<html:p>
(3)
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Water efficiency standards and water conservation design standards adopted pursuant to this subdivision and subdivision (b) shall be consistent with the legislative findings of this division to ensure and maintain a reliable supply of electrical energy and be equivalent to or superior to the performance, safety, and protection of life, health, and general welfare standards contained in Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations. The commission shall consult with the members of the coordinating council as established in Section 18926 of the Health and Safety Code in the development of these
standards.
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<html:p>
(b)
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(1)
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Prescribe, by regulation, energy and water conservation design standards for new residential and new nonresidential buildings. The standards shall be performance standards and shall be promulgated in terms of energy consumption per gross square foot of floorspace, but may also include devices, systems, and techniques required to conserve energy and water. The commission shall periodically review the standards and adopt any revision that, in its judgment, it deems necessary. A building that satisfies the standards prescribed pursuant to this subdivision need not comply with the standards prescribed pursuant to subdivision (a). Water conservation design standards adopted pursuant to this subdivision shall be demonstrated by the commission to be necessary to save energy. Before adopting a water conservation design standard for residential buildings, the Department of Housing and Community Development and
the commission shall issue a joint finding whether the standard (A) is equivalent or superior in performance, in safety, and for the protection of life, health, and general welfare to standards in Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, and (B) does not unreasonably or unnecessarily impact the ability of Californians to purchase or rent affordable housing, as determined by taking account of the overall benefit derived from the water conservation design standards. This subdivision does not in any way reduce the authority of the Department of Housing and Community Development to adopt standards and regulations pursuant to the State Housing Law (Part 1.5 (commencing with Section 17910) of Division 13 of the Health and Safety Code).
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<html:p>
(2)
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To increase public participation and improve the efficacy of the standards adopted pursuant to subdivision (a) and this subdivision, the commission shall, before publication of the notice of proposed action
required by Section 18935 of the Health and Safety Code, involve parties who would be subject to the proposed regulations in public meetings regarding the proposed regulations. All potential affected parties shall be provided advance notice of these meetings and given an opportunity to provide written or oral comments. During these public meetings, the commission shall receive and take into consideration input from all parties concerning the parties’ design recommendations, cost considerations, and other factors that would affect consumers and California businesses of the proposed standard. The commission shall take into consideration before the start of the notice of proposed action any input provided during these public meetings.
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<html:p>
(3)
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The standards adopted or revised pursuant to subdivision (a) and this subdivision shall be cost effective when taken in their entirety and when amortized over the economic life of the structure compared with
historic practice. When determining cost-effectiveness, the commission shall consider the value of the water or energy saved, the impact on product efficacy for the consumer, and the life-cycle cost of complying with the standard. The commission shall consider other relevant factors, as required by Sections 18930 and 18935 of the Health and Safety Code, including, but not limited to, the impact on housing costs, the total statewide costs and benefits of the standard over its lifetime, the economic impact on California businesses, and any alternative approaches and their associated costs.
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<html:p>
(c)
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(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
(A)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
(i)
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Prescribe, by regulation, standards for minimum levels of operating efficiency, based on a reasonable use pattern, and may prescribe other cost-effective measures, including incentive programs, fleet averaging, energy and water consumption labeling not preempted by federal
labeling law, and consumer education programs, to promote the use of energy- and water-efficient appliances whose use, as determined by the commission, requires a significant amount of energy or water on a statewide basis. The minimum levels of operating efficiency shall be based on feasible and attainable efficiencies or feasible improved efficiencies that will reduce the energy or water consumption growth rates. The standards for minimum levels of operating efficiency shall become effective no sooner than one year after the date of adoption or revision, unless the commission adopts a finding of good cause in which case the standards may become effective sooner than one year after the date of adoption or revision. A new appliance manufactured on or after the effective date of the standards or other cost-effective measures shall not be
sold, rented, imported, distributed, or leased, or offered for sale, rental, importation, distribution, or lease,
in the state, unless it is certified by the manufacturer of the appliance to be in compliance with the standards or other cost-effective measures. The standards or other cost-effective measures shall be drawn so that they do not result in any added total costs for consumers over the designed life of the appliances concerned. “Sold, rented, imported, distributed, or leased, or offered for sale, rental, importation, distribution, or lease, in the state” means any sale
of, offer to sell, or other transaction specified in this paragraph, that involves an appliance for end use in the state, regardless of the
seller’s, offerer’s, renter’s, importer’s, distributor’s, or lessor’s physical location, and includes, without limitation, internet, telephone, and mail order transactions. For purposes of this section, the Uniform Commercial Code–Sales (Division 2 (commencing with Section 2101) of the Commercial Code) does not define “sold or offered for sale” or determine where sales or offers for sale occur.
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<html:p>
(ii)
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In making a finding of good cause for purposes of a standard becoming effective sooner than one year after the date of adoption or revision pursuant to clause (i), the commission shall consider, among other things, the following factors:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(I)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The availability of products on the market that meet the proposed standard.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(II)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The impact of an earlier effective date on manufacturers.
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<html:p>
(III)
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The health and safety benefits of an earlier effective date.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(IV)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The impact on innovation resulting from a one-year delay between the date of adoption or revision and the effective date of the standard.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(V)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The concerns raised by comments, provided to the commission pursuant to subparagraph (B), for an earlier effective date.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(B)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
To increase public participation and improve the efficacy of the standards adopted pursuant to this subdivision, the commission shall, before publication of the notice of proposed action required by Section 18935 of the Health and Safety Code, involve parties who would be subject to the proposed regulations in public meetings regarding the proposed regulations. All potential affected parties shall be provided advance notice
of these meetings and given an opportunity to provide written or oral comments. During these public meetings, the commission shall receive and take into consideration input from all parties concerning the parties’ design recommendations, cost considerations, and other factors that would affect consumers and California businesses of the proposed standard. The commission shall take into consideration before the start of the notice of proposed action any input provided during these public meetings.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(C)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The standards adopted or revised pursuant to this subdivision shall not result in any added total costs for consumers over the designed life of the appliances concerned. When determining cost-effectiveness, the commission shall consider the value of the water or energy saved, the impact on product efficacy for the consumer, and the life-cycle cost to the consumer of complying with the standard. The commission shall consider other relevant factors,
as required by Sections 11346.5 and 11357 of the Government Code, including, but not limited to, the impact on housing costs, the total statewide costs and benefits of the standard over its lifetime, the economic impact on California businesses, and any alternative approaches and their associated costs.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A new appliance, except for a plumbing fitting, regulated under paragraph (1), that is manufactured on or after July 1, 1984, shall not be sold, rented, imported, distributed, or leased, or offered for sale, rental, importation, distribution, or lease, in the state, unless the date of the manufacture is permanently displayed in an accessible place on that appliance.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
During the period of five years after the commission has adopted a standard for a particular appliance under paragraph (1), an increase or decrease in the minimum level of operating efficiency required by the standard for that appliance shall not become effective, unless the commission adopts other cost-effective measures for that appliance.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(4)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Neither the commission nor any other state agency shall take any action to decrease any standard adopted under this subdivision on or before June 30, 1985, prescribing minimum levels of operating efficiency or other energy conservation measures for any appliance, unless the commission finds by a four-fifths vote that a decrease is of benefit to ratepayers, and that there is significant evidence of changed circumstances. At least one year before the adoption or amendment of a standard for an appliance, the commission shall notify the Legislature of its intent, and the justification to
adopt or amend a standard for the appliance. Notwithstanding paragraph (3) and this paragraph, the commission may do any of the following:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(A)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Increase the minimum level of operating efficiency in an existing standard up to the level of the National Voluntary Consensus Standards 90, adopted by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers or, for appliances not covered by that standard, up to the level established in a similar nationwide consensus standard.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(B)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Change the measure or rating of efficiency of any standard, if the minimum level of operating efficiency remains substantially the same.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(C)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Adjust the minimum level of operating efficiency in an existing standard to reflect changes in test procedures that the standards require manufacturers to use in certifying compliance, if
the minimum level of operating efficiency remains substantially the same.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(D)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Readopt a standard preempted, enjoined, or otherwise found legally defective by an administrative agency or a lower court, if final legal action determines that the standard is valid and if the standard that is readopted is not more stringent than the standard that was found to be defective or preempted.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(E)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Adopt or amend any existing or new standard at any level of operating efficiency, if the Governor has declared an energy emergency as described in Section 8558 of the Government Code.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(d)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Recommend minimum standards of efficiency for the operation of a new facility at a particular site that are technically and economically feasible. A site and related facility shall not be certified pursuant to Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 25500),
unless the applicant certifies that standards recommended by the commission have been considered, which certification shall include a statement specifying the extent to which conformance with the recommended standards will be achieved.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(e)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Adopt, by regulation, and periodically update, standards for appliances to facilitate the deployment of flexible demand technologies. These regulations may include labeling provisions to promote the use of appliances with flexible demand capabilities. The flexible demand appliance standards shall be based on feasible and attainable efficiencies or feasible improvements that will enable appliance operations to be scheduled, shifted, or curtailed to enhance grid reliability, reduce emissions of greenhouse gases associated with electricity generation, or both enhancement and reduction. The standards shall become effective no sooner than one year after the date of their adoption or
updating.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
In adopting the flexible demand appliance standards, the commission shall consider the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s reliability and cybersecurity protocols, or other cybersecurity protocols that are equally or more protective, and shall adopt, at a minimum, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s Critical Infrastructure Protection standards.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The flexible demand appliance standards shall be cost effective. When determining cost-effectiveness, solely for purposes of this subdivision, the commission may consider, as appropriate, the cost of flexible demand appliances compared to nonflexible demand appliances, the value of increased or decreased emissions of greenhouse gases associated with the timing of an appliance’s use, the life-cycle cost to the consumer from using a product that complies with the standard, and the life-cycle
costs and benefits to consumers, including the ability to conserve energy and better align consumer and electrical system demand. The commission shall consider other relevant factors, as required by Sections 11346.5 and 11357 of the Government Code, including, but not limited to, the impact on housing costs, the total statewide costs and benefits of the standard over its lifetime, the economic impact on California businesses, and alternative approaches and their associated costs.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(4)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The commission shall consult with the Public Utilities Commission, load-serving entities, and local publicly owned electric utilities to better align the flexible demand appliance standards with demand response programs administered by the state and load-serving
entities and local publicly owned electric utilities and to incentivize the deployment of flexible demand appliances.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(5)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The flexible demand appliance standards shall prioritize all of the following:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(A)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Appliances that can more conveniently have their electrical demand controlled by load-management technology and third-party load-management programs.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(B)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Appliances with load-management technology options that are readily available.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(C)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Appliances that have a user-friendly interface and follow a straightforward setup and connection process, such as remote setup by means of an internet website or application.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(D)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Appliances with load-management technology options that follow simple
standards for third-party direct operation of the appliances.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(E)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Appliances that are interoperable or open source.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(6)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
On or before January 1, 2021, and as necessary thereafter, the commission shall include as part of each integrated energy policy report adopted pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 25300) a description of any actions it has taken pursuant to this subdivision and the flexible demand appliance standards’ cost to consumers.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(7)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
For purposes of this subdivision, all of the following definitions apply:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(A)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Flexible demand” means the capability to schedule, shift, or curtail the electrical demand of a load-serving entity’s customer or a local publicly owned electric utility’s customer through direct action by the customer or
through action by a third party, the load-serving entity, or a grid balancing authority, with the customer’s consent.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(B)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Load-serving entity” has the same meaning as defined in Section 380 of the Public Utilities Code.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(C)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Local publicly owned electric utility” has the same meaning as defined in Section 224.3 of the Public Utilities Code.
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