UCD researchers conducted a study to characterize the landscape for residential electrification in Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) territory. Data was collected from SMUD, policy documents, and interviews with numerous industry experts. The potential demand for heat pump water heaters, space conditioning heat pumps, induction stoves, and heat pump clothes dryers is estimated for SMUD territory under several electrification scenarios. Numerous institutional, technical, behavioral, and other challenges were identified that could slow the rate of electrification. While the research concludes that residential electrification in Sacramento (and California) is probably inevitable, the policy landscape for electrification of existing homes in California is complex, uneven, uncertain, and rapidly changing.
Project Partners: UCD Western Cooling Efficiency Center, Ynventive
Sponsor: Panasonic
