Label or cess?

California wants to get tough on power-hungry LCD and Plasma TVs, telling retailers that they can only sell energy efficient models starting in 2011.

State regulators are starting to draft the first set of rules that would give energy sucking LCDs and Plasmas the boot from California retail stores, reports the TreeHugger. The regulations are expected to pass in mid-2009.
At any peak viewing time, it has been calculated that TVs draw 40 percent of the power generated by the nuclear power station in the state and electricity bills make 10 percent of the consumer’s monthly bill.

Efficiency standards for household appliances have been put in place by the Energy Commission and many television makers are meeting these standards.

According to the Wall Street Journal, a 42-inch plasma set can consume more electricity than a full-size refrigerator. While the old CRT (cathode ray tube) models use up 100 watts, the LCD uses between 100 and 200 while the plasma TV can draw up to 600 watts.

In India, our efficiency standards have been restricted to the BEE’s labeling for few items like refrigerators, ACs, electric motors up to 100 KW, distribution transformers, etc. These have been chosen based on their energy intensity and usage, as also contribution to peak demand and potential for savings (as their website says). Minimum energy performance standards are also to be specified. How good are these minimum standards?

Why are televisions being left out? Given their wide usage? And of late, there is the trend to go for plasma TVs and LCDs. Is there any monitoring of their efficiencies?

Would merely labeling help in India? Are people really energy conscious? Is it a better idea to put a cess on the high-end gadgets?