Sen. Feinstein urges cable, satellite distributors to buy energy efficient set-tops

Pointing to studies that have found cable set-tops and DVRs consume "astronomical amounts of energy," Sen. Diane Feinstein (D. - Calif.) sent a letter to major cable and satellite distributors in which she calls for the industry to deploy more energy efficient boxes.

Feinstein pushed major distributors to replace "always on" set-tops, or boxes that don't contain a standby or sleep mode, with set-tops that consume less energy when not in use. She pointed to an HD DVR deployed by Sky Broadcasting in the United Kingdom that uses 23 watts when on, 13 watts when in light sleep, and less than 1 watt when in deep sleep mode.

Feinstein sent the letter to 15 major distributors: AT&T (NYSE: T), Bright House Networks, CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL), Charter Communications (Nasdaq: CHTR), Comcast (Nasdaq: CMCSA), Cox, DirecTV (Nasdaq: DTV), Dish Network (Nasdaq: DISH), Earthlink (Nasdaq: ELNK), Mediacom, Northland Telecommunications, Suddenlink Communications, Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC), Verizon (NYSE: VZ) and WildBlue Communications.

Cable operators and technology vendors are already looking at how they could deploy more energy efficient set-tops. The SCTE plans to release drafts for two energy and power management standards at a meeting Thursday in Dallas.

But pressure from Feinstein and other legislators and regulators could prompt the industry to step up the pace of the rollout of more energy efficient set-tops, which could prove costly for both cable and satellite providers.

For more:
- see letter from Feinstein

Related article:
SCTE set to unveil energy management standards