California’s Gas Appliance Regulations: What San Luis Obispo & Santa Maria Homeowners Need to Know About Electrification

California’s Gas Appliance Regulations: What San Luis Obispo & Santa Maria Homeowners Need to Know About Electrification

Posted by Elect Electric | Serving San Luis Obispo County & Santa Maria

California is leading the charge toward a cleaner, all-electric future, with policies like the planned phase-out of certain gas appliances reshaping how homeowners power their homes. In San Luis Obispo County and Santa Maria, this shift means big changes—and opportunities—for safer, more efficient electrical systems. At Elect Electric, we’re here to guide you through gas appliance regulations & electrification, from upgrading outdated electrical panels to preparing for heat pumps. Here’s what these regulations mean for you and how we can help.

What Are the Gas Appliance Regulations?

California’s approach to reducing emissions involves a combination of statewide regulations and local ordinances:

• Statewide Ban (2030): The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has approved a regulation to ban the sale of all new natural gas-fired space heaters and water-heating appliances by 2030. This move aims to reduce ozone pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

• Local Rules in San Luis Obispo: The City of San Luis Obispo had adopted an ordinance requiring all-electric new construction, effectively banning gas hookups for furnaces, water heaters, and stoves. However, enforcement of this ordinance has been paused following a federal court ruling that impacted similar regulations in other cities.

• Santa Maria Trends: While Santa Maria hasn’t mandated gas bans, regional electrification initiatives, such as those by Central Coast Community Energy (3CE), are promoting the adoption of electric systems in new developments.

These policies aim to cut pollutants like nitrogen dioxide, linked to asthma, and support California’s 2045 carbon-neutral goal. For homeowners, this means transitioning from gas to electric appliances, which often requires electrical upgrades.

Why Electrification Matters for Your Home

Electrifying your home—replacing gas furnaces, water heaters, or stoves with electric alternatives like heat pumps—offers benefits but also challenges. Here’s what’s at stake in San Luis Obispo County and Santa Maria:

• Safety & Health: Gas appliances emit carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide, which can worsen indoor air quality. Electric appliances, like heat pumps, eliminate these risks, creating healthier homes.

• Efficiency: Heat pumps are up to three times more efficient than gas furnaces, potentially lowering energy bills over time.

• Future-Proofing: With gas bans in place, electrified homes comply with regulations and avoid costly retrofits later.

Challenges: Electrifying older homes (common in San Luis Obispo, pre-1970s) may require electrical panel upgrades to handle new loads (e.g., 20-50A for heat pumps). Costs can vary, and PG&E’s grid reliability raises concerns, especially during heat waves.

How Elect Electric Can Help

At Elect Electric, we specialize in making electrification seamless for San Luis Obispo and Santa Maria homeowners. Our services, including panel upgrades and heat pump preparation, ensure your home is ready for California’s all-electric future. Here’s how we help:

Electrical Panel Upgrades

Many homes in San Luis Obispo County and Santa Maria have outdated 100A or Zinsco panels, which can’t support modern electric appliances. We upgrade to 200A panels to power heat pumps, EV chargers, and induction stoves safely. Our expertise ensures your system is reliable, even with PG&E’s grid challenges.

Heat Pump Installation Prep

As we train to offer heat pump installations through licensed subcontractors, we’re your one-stop shop for electrification. We install 240V circuits and upgrade panels to support heat pumps for heating, cooling, and hot water, meeting San Luis Obispo’s all-electric standards. Our subcontractors handle HVAC-specific tasks, ensuring code compliance and efficiency.

Rebate Guidance

Electrification can be costly, but rebates make it more affordable. We guide you to:

• TECH Clean California: Offers incentives for heat pump water heaters and electrical panel upgrades. Note that as of early 2025, some rebates have been fully reserved or paused due to funding constraints.

• Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) & The Tri-County Regonal :Energy Network (3CRen) Provide

Image From https://www.3c-ren.org

rebates for electric appliances and home batteries in San Luis Obispo and Santa Maria.

• PG&E Incentives: Additional savings for electrification projects may be available; we can assist in identifying applicable programs.

Battery Storage & Smart Panel Solutions for Limited Capacity Homes

Not every home can easily accommodate a 200A panel upgrade—especially older homes with space or budget constraints. That’s why Elect Electric offers alternative solutions to help you electrify without overloading your existing electrical system.

Home Batteries with Load-Shifting Capability

We install battery storage systems like Tesla Powerwall and FranklinWH, which do more than just back up your home—they help manage when and how electricity is used. By storing energy during low-demand hours and powering appliances during peak loads, batteries can reduce the strain on your panel and help avoid expensive upgrades.

Smart Panels for Smarter Power Use

Smart electrical panels (like Span) allow for circuit-level control of your home’s power use. This means you can prioritize essential appliances and manage loads dynamically, making your existing 100A or 125A panel go further—especially when adding heat pumps, EV chargers, or induction cooking.

Benefits of Batteries & Smart Panels:

• Avoid or delay costly panel upgrades

• Reduce demand charges and manage time-of-use billing

• Enhance backup power for outages

• Track energy use in real time from your phone

We design custom solutions that balance your current electrical capacity with your electrification goals. Whether you’re installing a heat pump, planning for EV charging, or simply trying to future-proof your home, we’ll help you make the most of your existing system with modern, flexible technology.

Custom Solutions

Whether you’re in Los Osos, Pismo Beach, or Santa Maria, we assess your home’s electrical needs, from panel upgrades to EV charging prep, ensuring compliance with local codes and grid reliability.

Why Act Now?

The shift toward electrification is already influencing the housing market in San Luis Obispo and Santa Maria. Acting now can help you:

• Avoid Higher Costs: Delaying panel upgrades or heat pump preparation may increase retrofit expenses as gas appliances age out.

• Ensure Compliance: New construction and replacements must meet all-electric rules, especially in areas with existing or pending regulations.

• Enhance Grid Readiness: Upgrading now ensures your home maximizes PG&E’s capacity, avoiding future bottlenecks.

Elect Electric: Your Electrification Partner

We understand concerns about costs and grid reliability in San Luis Obispo County and Santa Maria. Our team, backed by subcontractors, delivers tailored solutions to make electrification affordable and reliable. From replacing Zinsco panels to wiring for heat pumps, we ensure your home is safe, efficient, and future-ready.

Ready to Electrify?

• Schedule Today: Visit www.electelectric.com to book a panel upgrade or heat pump consultation.

• Call Us: Reach our team at [insert phone number] for expert advice.

• Learn More: Follow us on [Instagram/Facebook] for electrification tips and updates.

Don’t let outdated electrical systems hold you back. Elect Electric is here to power San Luis Obispo and Santa Maria into California’s all-electric future!

About the Authors:

This blog post was originally written by Grok 2 and/or ChatGPT prompted by Daniel Ehinger, an experienced electrician dedicated to promoting electrical safety and best practices. The content was edited and enhanced by Daniel Ehinger, who provided valuable insights and improvements to ensure accuracy, clarity and readability.