The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) voted 5-0 today to approve the first market transformation initiatives (MTIs) developed by CalMTA. The cost-effective MTIs feature two technologies that would help further California’s efficiency and decarbonization goals. The technologies include induction cooking products, with attention to 24” 120V models that fit in smaller kitchens, and 120V window heat pumps tailored for California’s climate and buildings. Both represent missing pieces that are vital to electrification of Californian’s single- and multi-family homes.
The Room Heat Pumps MTI is approved for immediate implementation while the Induction Cooking MTI is conditionally approved and will move to implementation after some redevelopment and submission via a Tier 2 advice letter to the CPUC. The vote was a crucial step in forming a market transformation portfolio for California that makes efficiency technologies more accessible and affordable to consumers.
As the Decision says, “. . . market transformation strategies in general offer the opportunity to provide customers with more cost-effective energy efficiency actions to help them reduce the cost burden of their energy bills over the long term. An emphasis on emphasizing market transformation initiatives is even more important at a time when customers are facing rising energy costs, because these initiatives have a long-term focus on reducing upfront costs and developing mature markets for the delivery of energy efficiency options to consumers.” (See page 21 of the Decision, linked below.)
The CalMTA team is grateful to the parties that supported our application, our MTAB members, and all the other stakeholders who lent their voice in support of CalMTA’s efforts to advance California’s efficiency and decarbonization goals through market transformation. More details on next steps to come.
The Request for Proposals for the Room Heat Pump MTI will be issued in the coming weeks. Sign up for our notices to stay up-to-date: https://calmta.org/subscribe/
Read the Decision: https://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PublishedDocs/Published/G000/M586/K910/586910497.PDF
Background
Market transformation delivers lasting energy efficiency at scale, but unlike the more transactional approaches of traditional efficiency programs, market transformation takes time. CalMTA’s approach is based on the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance’s (NEEA) work over the last two decades — a proven track record of working higher in the supply chain with manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to change the way markets work thus creating lasting change that provides high-value benefits.
Summary of the Room Heat Pump Initiative
Summary of the Induction Cooking Initiative (this MTI will be updated per the CPUC’s direction)
