The number and type of products that come with network connectivity continues to increase. No longer do televisions just have an aerial lead for receiving content off-air and maybe a SCART lead for connecting to a DVD player, now they often come with internet access and WiFi. Similarly appliances are being developed to connect to the ‘smart grid’ and/or have other network capabilities.
In 2013 a revision to the Standby Regulation was published to include network standby, with appropriate power limit values. The Commission has not yet issued a Standardisation Request though it is understood that one is being prepared.
As the first set of limits for network standby comes into effect in 2015 it was decided that CENELEC should start preparatory work on this subject in a joint working group formed from the technical committee responsible for domestic appliances and the one responsible for consumer electronics and information technology. This group is under the Convenorship of Richard Hughes from AMDEA.