Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Even though the Vampire Slayer has a funny name, it has a serious goal

The Vampire Slayer Act of 2006 has been approved by the California Assembly. AB1970, a bill proposed by Assemblyman Lloyd Levine, would force companies to put labels on devices that tell consumers how much energy is being used while the device is in standby mode. AB1970 supporters claim that the average household will pay an additional $200 per year due to electronics on standby. However, not everyone is pleased with the Vampire Slayer Act — the Consumer Electronics Association, Electronic Industries Alliance and the American Electronic Association believe the bill will ultimately confuse consumers.

With the popularity of electronic gadgets increasing in the United States, it may not be surprising to hear future stories that discuss wasted power due to items on standby.

California is no stranger to power problems. In fact, the power situation in California is so dire that PG&E is thinking about implementing a "smart meter" in businesses around the state. The smart meter system is designed to allow PG&E to charge more for electricity that is being used during the middle of the day, which is when the least amount of power is available.