COMMON household appliances like water heaters and furnaces face a phaseout under new smog rules.
Sellers who continue to offer natural gas models will pay fees as well.
The South Coast Air Quality Management District is set to decide on new rules this Friday that aim to encourage manufacturers to offer a greater number of heating units that produce zero emissions in the Los Angeles region.
Under the proposed plan, starting in 2027, at least 30% of the water heaters and heating systems sold must be zero-emission.
The rules apply to the four-county Los Angeles basin, where home appliances are a major source of smog-causing pollution.
Homeowners, however, won’t have to swap out their current gas appliances right away.
But when it’s time to replace any broken heaters, only zero-emission heat pumps will be encouraged.
The district estimates that about 200,000 furnaces and 300,000 water heaters will be replaced yearly in the region.
Although the initial investment in switching to electric heat pumps might be higher – approximately $2,000 more for water heaters and up to $8,000 more for furnaces – the overall cost of replacing an entire HVAC system could be similar to that of traditional gas units.
Opponents of the proposal, including contractors and developers, are concerned that the additional costs typically covered by manufacturers will now be transferred to residents and businesses, ultimately leading to an increase in the overall cost of living.
“This money is not coming out of thin air,” Brian Johsz of the Los Angeles County Business Federation said.
“It’s a solution in search of a problem in a lot of ways. It’s just putting the financial burden on residents when we are already seeing they have such a hard time trying to make ends meet right now.”
SoCalGas also criticized the plan, warning it limits choices and increases costs.
“Over time, the public will be forced to pay hundreds of dollars more to replace their gas appliances,” Kevin Barker, SoCalGas senior manager, wrote in a letter to the district, per the Santa Monica Daily Press.
“It is not in the public interest, especially at a time when consumers are demanding affordable energy solutions.”
Air quality officials counter that electric heaters will save consumers money over time.
What the New Smog Law Means
Appliances impacted:
- Natural gas water heaters
- Central heating systems
- Furnaces
What’s changing:
- Manufacturers must sell more zero-emission models or pay a fee for each gas unit sold
Timeline:
- 30% zero-emission by 2027
- 50% by 2029
- 75% by 2033
- 90% by 2036
Penalties:
- $50 to $500 per gas appliance sold
Consumer impact:
- No immediate replacement required
- Replacing a furnace with a heat pump could cost $8,000 more
- Water heater switch may cost $2,000 more
Goal: Cut nitrogen oxide emissions by 6 tons/day by 2061
Health savings: $59 billion projected between 2027 and 2053
Between 2027 and 2061, residents could save $191 million to $250 million annually on utility bills by switching.
Manufacturers can either sell only zero-emission units by 2027 or pay fees for gas appliance sales.
The collected fees will support incentives for low-income buyers.
Environmentalists say the rules do not go far enough.
“There are still a lot of emission reductions that are being left on the table,” Chris Chavez of the Clean Air Coalition said.
The original plan demanded 100% zero-emission sales by 2031 but was weakened after pushback from gas companies and businesses.
The current draft raises targets gradually: 30% zero-emission sales in 2027, 50% in 2029, 75% in 2033, and 90% in 2036.
Fees for natural gas appliance sales range from $500 down to $50 per unit.
By 2061, 90% of all water heaters and furnaces in the region should be zero-emissions.
REDUCTION PLANS
The district projects the proposal will reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by six tons daily, down from the original 10 tons forecast.
“We’ve seen the Trump administration really waging a war on clean energy,” said Sierra Club attorney Nihal Shrinath.
“The South Coast (district) basically caving to gas lobbying efforts and really weakening a rule they have been working on for years.”
Nitrogen oxides cause smog and trigger asthma, while fine particles increase risks of heart and respiratory diseases.
The district estimates $59 billion in health cost savings from pollution reductions between 2027 and 2053.
Annual benefits include preventing 280 new asthma cases, 44 emergency room visits, and 6,100 lost school days.
The Bay Area already enforces similar zero-emission rules for water heaters and furnaces.
Cities like Los Angeles and Long Beach support the new rules, while other cities like Huntington Beach and Riverside have opposed them.
The South Coast district’s board will hold a public hearing and vote on the measures June 13, 2025, updating emissions rules first enacted decades ago.
