By Rafael Reyes
Senior Director of Energy Programs at Peninsula Clean Energy
Our customers are leading the way in bucking conventional wisdom by demonstrating that accelerated and affordable home electrification is possible—even in older homes.
I recently joined a California Efficiency + Demand Management Council-hosted panel discussion – moderated by Sealed’s Savannah Bertrand and featuring experts Seth McKinney of Resource Innovations and Dylan Sarkisian of Energy Solutions – where a common culprit cited against the feasibility of home electrification projects was seriously challenged.
Here are some key takeaways from the discussion:
Key Takeaway 1: Electrifying with existing 100 Amps
I shared a significant finding from our recent pilot project which fully electrified nine low-income San Mateo County homes: None of the 9 homes required a costly upgrade to their existing 100-amp service panels, a major hurdle commonly cited for electrifying especially older homes in the Bay Area and elsewhere.
Why this matters: Because avoiding costly panel upgrades can make electrification far more accessible – reducing costs and timelines for customers. Importantly, it also reduces unnecessary distribution grid infrastructure – transformers, substation upgrades and more. Distribution grid infrastructure costs are the major driver of soaring rates in the state.
Key Takeaway 2: Electrification can lower monthly bills
Our pilot indicated that electrification, when paired with the right rate plan, can meaningfully lower monthly bills. We saw the same result in the joint analysis of monthly bill effects with Silicon Valley Clean Energy.
Dylan also spoke to the results of the TECH Clean California program with more than 60,000 heat pump retrofits. Homes with preexisting air conditioning (AC) consistently see bill savings. Homes without prior AC average slight increases due to increased electric usage for the added space conditioning services.
Key Takeaway 3: Reducing infrastructure costs remains challenging
Seth highlighted that electrifying homes at gas pipe endpoints offers great potential for reducing infrastructure costs. However, enlisting the participation from all building owners, even a small number of them, remains a significant challenge. Even a single hold-out, for example a resident wanting to retain a gas stove, would require retaining the entire gas distribution pipeline infrastructure.
Looking Ahead to 2026
We are taking lessons learned from our initial whole home electrification pilot project and are now scaling up with a new pilot program involving the full electrification of 100 more homes.
The focus of the recent CEDMC conference – electrification, demand management, and affordability – aligns perfectly with an exciting new reality. We are committed to proving that electrification is not just a way for our customers to be our partner as we decarbonize and improve our shared environment. It can be a real personal economic incentive for them as well.
Check out slides with highlights of the full CEDMC conference
