California, again

Joseph Somsel asks, "Who Will Control Your Thermostat?"

In California, we have 236 pages of state-mandated standards for building energy efficiency, known as Title 24. ...

A new revision to Title 24 is in the works for 2008 ... .

What should be controversial in the proposed revisions to Title 24 is the requirement for what is called a "programmable communicating thermostat" or PCT. Every new home and every change to existing homes' central heating and air conditioning systems will required to be fitted with a PCT beginning next year following the issuance of the revision. Each PCT will be fitted with a "non-removable " FM receiver that will allow the power authorities to increase your air conditioning temperature setpoint or decrease your heater temperature setpoint to any value they chose. During "price events" those changes are limited to +/- four degrees F and you would be able to manually override the changes. During "emergency events" the new setpoints can be whatever the power authority desires and you would not be able to alter them.

So the state of California has now claimed the authority to control the comfort level of private homes in the state. More nanny nuttery from the left coast.