California families are already facing financial strain due to the high cost of living. Prices for groceries, rent, energy, and other essentials seem to rise daily. Now, a state agency is proposing a rule change that could significantly increase costs for homeowners and renters in our region, potentially burdening them with thousands of dollars in additional expenses.
As your State Senator, I believe it is my job to sound the alarm when government decisions will impact your wallet. That’s exactly what the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) is about to do.
Right now, SCAQMD is moving to amend Rules 1111 and 1121. These changes would force residents and businesses in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties to shift from natural gas to all-electric furnaces and water heaters. If adopted, this rule would begin phasing in as early as 2026.
Here is what it means in real terms: if your heater or water heater breaks down, you’ll have to either pay steep fees to continue using natural gas units or spend tens of thousands of dollars to retrofit your home for electric ones.
A recent analysis by the Cost of Living Council, an alliance of local homeowners, renters, small businesses, and workers, projects that this mandate will cost families in our region $7.7 billion over the next 25 years. Replacing gas systems with electric ones could run $47,800 for a single-family home, or $40,100 for a multi-family rental unit. Even just keeping your current gas appliances could cost an extra $1,510 per replacement in new fees.
And it won’t stop at homeowners. Landlords facing massive upgrade costs will pass them on to renters. Small businesses will see higher operating expenses. Jobs will be lost. And yet, these proposals are being rushed forward without a clear plan to support working families through the transition.
Public Power Safety Shutoffs (PSPS) pose a serious risk to households that rely entirely on electricity. When power is cut, sometimes for hours or even days during fire seasons, homes with all-electric appliances lose access to heating, hot water, cooking, and in some cases, essential medical equipment. For families with young children, seniors, or those with health conditions, this is not just an inconvenience, it’s dangerous.
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Visit the SCAQMD and Cost of Living Council websites to learn more.
The cost of living crisis in California is real and this proposal makes it worse. Your voice has power.
Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh represents California’s 19th State Senate District.
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