Electrification of Bay Area Homes - What You Need to Know

You may have heard that the California Air Resources Board voted to ban the sale of gas heaters and water heaters in the state starting in 2030. What you might not know is that the Bay Area has a more accelerated timeline for phasing out gas fired appliances. If you're a homeowner, it's a good time to start thinking about these new rules, and planning for appliance replacement in the future. 

Here are the basics:

Water Heaters:

The sale and installation of new gas water heaters are banned starting in 2027. 

Furnaces:

The sale and installation of new gas furnaces are banned starting in 2029. 

Stoves:

There is currently no regulation banning the sale of gas stoves. However, some homeowners are choosing to move to electric for health and environmental reasons. 

Existing Appliances:

Homeowners are not required to replace their existing gas water heaters or furnaces. However, new water heaters and furnaces sold and installed in the Bay Area will be required to be electric. 

Goal:

The goal is to reduce air pollution and improve public health by phasing out gas-powered appliances that contribute to climate change and other health issues. 

Starting to plan:

If you're planning to do electrical work or add solar panels to your home in the next year or two, think ahead! Changing to electrical appliances may require a more robust electrical panel or a more powerful solar array. If you're making these upgrades in the next couple of years, make sure to set your home up now for an increased electrical load in the future. 

The San Francisco Environment Department has an extensive list of resources on the benefits and how-tos of electrification of homes. You can view and download their fact sheet below, and visit their website HERE, to find FAQs, recordings of electrical fair workshops, and more resources for homeowners, renters, and investors. 

Brought to you by the top real estate agents at Pacific Edge Real Estate Group