TV manufacturers and energy-efficiency groups are expanding a North American voluntary agreement that could change how many new televisions use power. The update, announced on September 16, 2026, adds on-mode efficiency targets for LCD and OLED sets, broadens participation to cover all major TV brands, and projects about $1.8 billion in annual consumer electricity-bill savings once the program is fully implemented.
That headline does not mean every television will suddenly cost less to run, and the agreement is not a federal regulation. It does mean participating manufacturers have committed to making efficiency a portfolio-wide target while preserving screen size, picture quality, pricing and feature competition.
What changes for TVs in 2028
Beginning on April 1, 2028, each manufacturer signatory commits that at least 90% of its new televisions sold in the United States or Canada will meet the agreement’s first-tier on-mode power limits. “On mode” is the power a TV uses while displaying content, so this part of the agreement reaches beyond the smaller amount of electricity consumed while a set is waiting in standby.
The manufacturer list includes Hisense, LG, Roku, Samsung, Skyworth, Sony, TCL and Vizio, plus Best Buy and Walmart for television brands sold under their control. Google is a commercial signatory, while the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance and Pacific Gas & Electric participate as energy advocates.
Why LCD and OLED TVs use different measurements
The program does not apply one blunt wattage ceiling to every screen. Backlit LCD televisions are evaluated with a formula tied mainly to viewable screen area, while non-backlit televisions such as OLED models use a formula that also considers light output, resolution and standard- and high-dynamic-range picture modes.
That distinction matters because a 75-inch backlit LCD and a self-emissive OLED do not produce an image in the same way. A technology-aware approach is intended to encourage lower consumption without treating brightness, HDR capability or a larger screen as automatic failures. Testing uses the ANSI/CTA-2037-D method, which is designed to reflect real-world viewing conditions more closely than a single static test pattern.
How much energy could the agreement save?
CTA and its partners estimate the new on-mode commitments will save about 2 terawatt-hours of electricity during the first seven years. They say that is in addition to a projected 10 terawatt-hours of annual savings from standby commitments adopted earlier.
Under the standby provision, 90% of televisions sold by each participating manufacturer must use no more than 2 watts in standby beginning on April 1, 2026. The combined program is projected to reduce consumer electricity bills by roughly $1.8 billion per year once fully implemented. Those are industry-wide projections, not a guaranteed dollar amount for any one household; an individual bill depends on TV size, picture settings, daily viewing time and local electricity rates.
What TV buyers should check now
Shoppers do not need to wait until 2028 to compare energy use. The yellow EnergyGuide label and ENERGY STAR information can help distinguish models that are similar in size and features. A very large or extremely bright TV can still use more electricity than a smaller model even when both are efficient for their class.
- Compare the estimated annual energy use on similarly sized models.
- Check whether an energy-saving or eco picture mode preserves the brightness and color you want.
- Disable quick-start or always-listening features if you do not use them and they increase standby power.
- Measure an existing TV with a Kill A Watt electricity usage monitor if you want real household data instead of an estimate.
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What the voluntary agreement does not guarantee
The commitment is measured across each manufacturer’s sales portfolio, not as a pass-or-fail rule for every individual model. A company may still sell power-hungry flagship televisions as long as its overall sales mix meets the 90% target. The agreement also allows a process for new features that consume meaningful power and were not anticipated by the existing formulas.
Oversight comes from a steering committee, annual reports and an independent administrator. Energy advocates may independently test reported models, and the agreement specifies a 10% tolerance for verification testing. That structure adds accountability, but readers should still treat the $1.8 billion figure as a forecast and compare the actual energy information for the TV they plan to buy.
The bottom line
For buyers, the practical result should be a broader selection of efficient TVs rather than a new badge that instantly identifies every compliant model. The 2028 target gives manufacturers time to redesign power management, display electronics and default picture settings. Until then, the best approach is to compare televisions of similar size, check annual energy estimates, and choose settings that balance picture quality with power use.
Sources
Consumer Technology Association announcement
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance summary
Full television energy-efficiency voluntary agreement