CFLs burn out in California?

California utility PG&E Corp. has just learned something about CFLs — they don't work as well as touted. According to a report in today's Wall Street Journal, PG&E's $92 million rebate program for CFL usage during 2006-2008 saved 73% less energy than originally projected by PG&E:

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One hitch was the compact-fluorescent burnout rate. When PG&E began its 2006-2008 program, it figured the useful life of each bulb would be 9.4 years. Now, with experience, it has cut the estimate to 6.3 years, which limits the energy savings. Field tests show higher burnout rates in certain locations, such as bathrooms and in recessed lighting. Turning them on and off a lot also appears to impair longevity. [Emphasis added]

Combined with their inherent mercurial hypocrisy, this new information should add urgency to the House effort to repeal the ban on incandescents.

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