In Dec. 2024, an application was submitted to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) on CalMTA’s behalf which would authorize deployment of the first two Market Transformation Initiative (MTI) Plans for a Room Heat Pumps MTI and an Induction Cooking MTI. This is a process that includes many parties, comments, and briefs to the CPUC in support of or objecting to CalMTA’s work.  

We are appreciative of the support we have received from incredible organizations including CEJA, NEEA, TURN, BayREN, 3C-REN, and CEDMC during this process. We also are grateful for the support of other groups that are not formal parties, particularly from the representatives of environmental and social justice (ESJ) communities and advocacy groups who have conveyed the valuable benefits these MTIs would deliver to those who have not historically been the focus of energy efficiency investment.  

A Sept. 16 letter, which was filed by Earthjustice as written ex parte communication, exemplifies this support. Signed by the Central California Asthma Collaborative, Natural Resources Defense Council, Building Decarbonization Coalition, Rising Sun Center for Opportunity, Rewiring America, and Sierra Club, the letter urges the Commission to approve CalMTA’s application because, in their words, to: 

“. . . advance both equity and affordability by helping make decarbonization accessible to low-income and renter households and by reducing the need for grid upgrades to enable the high levels of electrification necessary to achieve the state’s climate and air quality objectives.”  

Subsequently, on Sept. 23, the CPUC released a Proposed Decision (PD) as well as an Alternate Proposed Decision (APD) on the two MTIs submitted. The PD approves both the Room Heat Pumps and Induction Cooking MTI for market deployment, while the APD greatly reduces the initial scope of deployment in half and only approves the Room Heat Pumps MTI. Realistically, the APD cuts and requirements would greatly restrain the CalMTA program’s progress and overall success.  

CalMTA is now working through this process to clearly convey the importance of adopting the PD, which provides a clear pathway for achieving the intent of legislatively mandated market transformation goals for efficiency and climate action in California. Through this process, we are encouraged and inspired by the voices of parties who continue to support our proposed MTIs. We will continue to keep stakeholders updated as we move through this process. Please sign up to ensure you receive our notices.