Taxable Talk

Proposition 92 is one of seven propositions on the February ballot. (I just received a supplemental voters guide from the Secretary of State and my sample ballot.) Proposition 92 limits fee hikes at community colleges (what used to be called “Junior Colleges”). It also changes how California’s education dollars are allocated, increasing the amount that goes toward community colleges.

Surprise, surprise: Community college leaders are for the proposition. Lining up against the proposition are the California Chamber of Commerce, the California Taxpayers’ Association, and some K-12 teachers. They claim that Proposition 92 gives a “blank check” to fund community colleges, lack accountability, and California is facing a budget deficit.

Make up your own mind, and remember to vote on February 5th.

The last time I checked I lived in a (relatively) free society. But California regulators are about to make this part of the old Soviet Union.

The California Energy Commission has just issued its proposed 2008 regulations for Building Energy Efficiency Standards. While much of this 236 page book of regulations deal with items that are prosaic (e.g. joists) there’s a whopper that the Commission has put in.

For new residential construction, “tThermostats. All hHeating systems shall be equipped with thermostats that meet the Programmable Communicating Thermostat (PCT) requirements of Section 112(c).” (Section 151, 9; page 207) What does this mean?

Well, for that you have to go to Section 112(c) on page 63 of the report:

(c) Thermostats. All unitary heating and/or cooling systems including heat pumps that are not controlled by a central energy management control system (EMCS) shall have a Programmable Communicating Thermostat (PCT) that is certified by the manufacturer to the Energy Commission to meet the requirements of Subsections 112(c)(1) and 112(c)(2) below:
1. Setback Capabilities. All PCTs shall have a clock mechanism that allows the building occupant to program the temperature set points for at least four periods within 24 hours. Thermostats for heat pumps shall meet the requirements of Section 112(b).
2. Communicating Capabilities. All PCTs shall be distributed with a non-removable Radio Data System (RDS) communications device that is compatible with the default statewide DR communications system, which can be used by utilities to send price and emergency signals. PCTs shall be capable of receiving and responding to the signals indicating price and emergency events as follows.

So what will happen? You have to go to page 64 to find out:

A. Price Events. The PCT shall be shipped with default price-event offsets of +4°F for cooling and -4°F for heating enabled; however, customers shall be able to change the offsets and thermostat settings at any time during price events. Upon receiving a price-event signal, the PCT shall adjust the thermostat setpoint by the number of degrees indicated in the offset for the duration specified in the signal of the price event. The PCT shall also be equipped with the capability to allow customers to define setpoints for heating and cooling in response to price signals as an alternative to temperature-offsetting response, as described in Reference Joint Appendix JA5.
B. Emergency Events. Upon receiving an emergency signal, the PCT shall respond to commands contained in the emergency signal, including changing the setpoint by any number of degrees or to a specific temperature setpoint. The PCT shall not allow customer changes to thermostat settings during emergency events.

So the bureaucrats will soon control thermostats on all new construction in California.

Now, I realize that California does have current issues with electricity, but central control and planning don’t work. Many customers of various power companies voluntarily join a program allowing their air conditioners to be cycled during summer months. That’s fine. And increasing prices during an emergency is fine—that’s letting the free market work. But this proposal is an abomination.

Of course, most people live in existing construction and aren’t impacted by these regulations. But if the bureaucrats have their ways it will only be a matter of time before existing construction will have to comply. I expect that once these regulations are implemented, they’ll be required as part of the permitting process when you do major work on your home.

If you’re a Californian and think these new regulations make it look like we’ve just moved to the Soviet Union it’s time to let your legislators and the Commission know.