Harrisburg, Pa. - Tough new power consumption standards for TV's sold in California begin in about a year. Since California is so huge, it will most likely affect TV's sold all over the country.

When customers stop in the TV room of Harrisburg Radio Lab, they're usually talking big. "I'm shopping," said Tom Wertz of Enola, as he looked at the TV's. "I'm looking for probably a 46-inch LCD TV for our family room."

But some big screen TV's may be cut down to size after this week's vote by the California Energy Commission. TV's sold in California will have to meet an energy efficiency standard that's so tough, only a quarter of all TV's on the market now will meet it. California is such a large market that all TV makers will have to meet the standard.

"I personally don't feel that the government should interfere with your personal choices in a lot of matters," Wertz said. "I understand that conserving energy is very, very important."

The Consumer Electronics Association said of the ruling, "Instead of allowing consumers to choose products they want, the commission has decided to impose arbitrary standards that will hamper innovation, limit consumer choice and raise prices for consumers."

The staff at Harrisburg Radio Lab said TV makers were already increasing efficiency of the big screens through technology like LED TV's without government rules.

"A lot of the larger manufacturers, Sony, Samsung, the bigger players on the market, saw this coming in advance. It was something for them to look forward to and prepare for," said Shawn Becthel of Radio Lab.

The first part of the new TV power standards in California start in about a year. The toughest part begins in about two years.

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