UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation

Transitioning Los Angeles to 100% carbon-free electricity will make home electrification an ever more valuable climate change mitigation strategy — but how might higher electric rates and increased usage affect households’ energy bills? To answer this question, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) commissioned UCLA researchers to develop the LA Residential Energy Transition (RESET) Tool. The tool uses energy consumption data from the UCLA Energy Atlas, as well as other data and projections, to model how home electrification might affect energy bills for different types of households in Los Angeles. In this report, the researchers examine how seven electrification upgrades affect energy spending outcomes for households in five building types. The authors find that most electrification upgrades lead to ongoing energy savings, while maintaining gas appliances nearly always leads to higher energy spending. While potential savings vary greatly by building type, all have the potential to decrease ongoing spending — especially when installing high-efficiency appliances, which reduce energy spending by much more than less efficient options. Whole-home, high-efficiency electrification is projected to save the average household $282 to $921 per year, and even more when paired with a building enclosure upgrade. The report recommends that electrification incentive programs prioritize high-efficiency appliances, be customized by building type, and provide significant funding to help low-income households electrify.