In April of 2001, in response to the California energy crisis, the California Legislature and Governor Davis passed and signed Senate Bill 5X (Senate First Extra Session - Bill No. 5, Statutes of 2001) which were authored by Senator Byron Sher. This bill established authority in PRC Section 25402.5 (3) (c) for the California Energy Commission to adopt lighting standards for outdoor lighting.

The California Energy Commission is conducting a project to develop lighting standards for all outdoor lighting applications. This website contains information developed during the pre-rulemaking phase of the Outdoor Lighting Standards project. It contains information about the scoping of the project, measures proposed for consideration, cost effectiveness and technical evaluation of potential Standards changes, workshop and other public comment about potential Standards changes, and initial drafts of the potential Standards. This phase of the project is complete. For more information about this phase of the project, see the Background Information page. For information about the proposed updated Standards and the formal rulemaking proceeding, which will culminate in Commission adoption of the proposed updated Standards, see the2005 Building Energy Efficiency Standards Rulemaking page.