While I was reading the story, a bear just killed my pet bearded dragon!…

Some—and possibly most—distributors and retailers may choose to follow the laws anyway. Anyone who would like to ignore them, however, will be free to do so without impunity until at least September 30, 2012.

Assuming EISA’s lighting rules have their intended effect, compact fluorescent bulbs will account for a majority of light bulbs sold in the United States, serving alongside the select halogen incandescent bulbs that meet the updated efficiency requirements. This hard-earned era of dominance, how­ever, may be short-lived.

That’s not to say LEDs are ready competitors to CFLs. There are few lamps on the market, and almost none are 100-plus-watt equivalents. Then there is the price: In the world of LEDs, $20 is a bargain. Fifty dollars is the norm.

Whether the EISA rules achieve their goals remains to be seen. In one way, however, they have already been a failure. The perception of the ban as a regula­tory overreach has merit: It does more than encourage lower energy use; it limits choice in situations where incandescent bulbs might be preferable.

In the end, consumers are best served by ignoring the rhetoric and trying new bulbs for themselves. And while an open mind will find a lot to like in the alien lighting aisle of 2011, don’t worry if you feel the lingering urge to stockpile a box or two of those old-style bulbs—just in case.