Sick of expensive electricity?

How California energy policy is holding back heat pump deployment

Author

Shreyas Sudhakar
August 09, 2025

The California Heat Pump Partnership — a public-private alliance that includes the California Energy Commission, heat pump manufacturers and Pacific Gas & Electric Co. — is beating the drum about thousands of dollars in federal, state and county rebates and tax credits still available while publicizing the benefits of heat pumps, which are up to four times more efficient than a gas furnace.

So, with all that efficiency, you’ll also pay less for energy, right?

Alas, guess again.

Shreyas Sudhakar & Katherine Ellison

Expensive electricity is the single biggest roadblock to decarbonizing buildings and deploying heat pumps at scale.

We can solve these problems, but it’ll take public awareness, outrage, and policy changes.

I teamed up with the brilliant Katherine Ellison to write an op-ed about it in the San Francisco Chronicle today. Katherine is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author who writes about climate change and renewable energy.

If you haven’t seen her previous piece in the Washington Post documenting her experience electrifying her home, it’s a great read.

I’d also recommend my earlier piece about heat pump operating costs if you missed it.

Check out the op-ed here and let me know what you think!

ICYMI - Heat Pump Group Buy

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