The California Energy Commission (CEC) has selected Center for Sustainable Energy (CSE) as one of three regional administrators of a new $567 million program to install energy-efficient electric technologies for low-income households at no cost to homeowners or residents.
The Direct Install Program, part of the CEC’s Equitable Building Decarbonization Program, will fund efficient electric appliances, energy efficiency measures, and related upgrades to reduce carbon emissions and advance energy equity. California’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, the state general fund and the federal Inflation Reduction Act Home Efficiency Rebates (HOMES) Program, are helping to fund the program.
“This precedent-setting program will replace polluting gas appliances in homes in under-resourced communities with clean and efficient electric models,” said Gabrielle Stebbins, director of distributed energy resources markets at CSE. “This not only ensures disadvantaged households have access to clean energy but also helps advance California’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2045.”
CSE was awarded a block grant of up to $108 million to serve under-resourced communities in central California. The region includes the San Joaquin Valley and extends along the coast from Ventura to Santa Cruz and inland from Alpine to Inyo County.
The other program administrators are the County of Los Angeles in the southern region and the Association for Energy Affordability in the northern region.
Each of the regional administrators will be assisted by subcontractors, community-based organizations and vendors in operating the programs, conducting outreach to eligible consumers and installing the equipment. Retrofits are expected to begin in summer 2025.
Eligible retrofit measures may include
Heating and cooling
- Heat pump, duct testing/sealing, smart thermostat, ceiling fan, whole-house fan
Building envelope
- Insulation, air sealing, solar window film
Water and water heating
- Low-flow showerheads and faucets
- Heat pump water heater
Cooking, laundry
- Induction range or cooktop, electric clothes dryer
Air quality, lighting
- Air filtration, LED lights
Electrical and remediation
- Electrical wiring and panel upgrades, remediation and safety
Central Region counties: Alpine, Calaveras, Fresno, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Mono, Monterey, San Benito, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Stanislaus, Tulare, Tuolumne, Ventura
