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The average plasma TV uses more than three times as much energy as an old cathode-ray tube set, and a 48-inch plasma TV can draw more power than a large refrigerator — even if the set is used only a few hours a day, California regulators said.

Liquid-crystal display, or LCD, TVs guzzle a little less — about 43% more energy than tube sets, according to a study by PG&E. LCDs now account for about 90% of the 4 million TVs sold in California annually.

Rear-projection TVs, which fall between LCDs and plasmas in energy use, also would be covered by the new standards.

Retailers and manufacturers say many newer flat-screen TVs use less power than tube sets, noting that 100 available models already go beyond the standards California wants to reach by 2013. The problem is that the best-quality screens use the most electricity.

Industry leaders also say the proposed standards threaten to limit consumer choice, drive shoppers to the Internet and put specialty retailers out of business. Nearly a quarter of all flat-screen TVs — and all but one plasma TV on the market today — would not be allowed for sale in California once the rules are fully implemented, according to the Plasma Display Coalition.