HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2503-4453CITY OF PALO ALTO
Climate Action and Sustainability Committee
Friday, May 02, 2025
Agenda Item
3.Single-Family Electrification Program Update; CEQA Status – Not a Project Late Packet
Report, Staff Presentation
Climate Action and Sustainability Committee
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: ACTION ITEMS
Lead Department: Public Works
Meeting Date: May 2, 2025
Report #:2503-4453
TITLE
Single-Family Electrification Program Update; CEQA Status - Not a Project
RECOMMENDATION
This is an informational item and no Committee action is requested. Staff is providing a
presentation on the status of the City’s single-family electrification programs and is prepared to
answer any Committee questions.
APPROVED BY:
Brad Eggleston, Director Public Works/City Engineer
Agenda Item 3: Single-Family Electrification Update
Climate Action and Sustainability Committee
May 2, 2025 Acting Now for a Resilient Future
Single-Family Electrification Progress
cityofpaloalto.org/ClimateAction 2
The table below shows completed installs and (installs in progress in parentheses)
Heat Pump or
Other Electric
Water Heaters
Heat Pumps
(replacing
Furnaces)
Other
Electrification
(e.g no gas)
Rebate programs 230 (10)2 (21)Disconnect gas
meter 1 (4)
Full-service program 418 (5)(not active yet)(not active yet)
Emergency program 19 N/A N/A
New Construction 332+332+332+
TOTAL 1000+334+333+
% of single-family homes >6%>2%>2%
Single-Family Electrification Progress
cityofpaloalto.org/ClimateAction 3
Successes and Challenges
cityofpaloalto.org/ClimateAction
Successes
•Achieving about 20% of annual water heater
turnover – highest in region
•Full-service program has unique information
re: projects that do not move forward - this supports regulatory actions
Challenges
•Moving beyond green-minded early adopters (more cost-sensitive, lower conversion rate)
•Tariffs, changes in Federal policies
4
Moving Beyond Early Adopters
cityofpaloalto.org/ClimateAction
•Analytics show responsiveness to prices
under $3500 or so for a HPWH
•Creating a sense of urgency also matters
•Discount campaigns shown to be successful
•Other upcoming outreach:
•Giveaway campaign, referral campaign
•Lawn signs, overpass banners
•Water heater emergency stickers
•Toolkits for youth and adult community partners
•Price sensitivity will also need to be accounted for in future program designs
5
Future Efforts
cityofpaloalto.org/ClimateAction
•Whole Home Program Phase 2:
•if approved by Council, this will add full-service option for other
technologies than water heaters
6
•New efforts on financially scalable
program models
•Partnering regionally on strategies
like financing to help Palo Altans
comply with Air District Zero NOx regulations
•Zero NOx water heater regulations
become effective Jan 1, 2027