US energy department will stop regulating external power supplies
What happened
The US Department of Energy plans to eliminate its rules for how much energy external power supplies can use. This means manufacturers will no longer have to meet federal efficiency standards for these devices.
Why it matters
For years, the US government set minimum efficiency standards for common electronics like phone chargers and laptop power bricks. This ensured that even cheap devices met a basic level of energy efficiency. Removing these rules means manufacturers can now sell less efficient power supplies, potentially increasing energy waste.
The signal
Watch for new, less efficient external power supplies to appear on the market, especially for cheaper electronics, and whether states or other countries step in with their own regulations.