“The Guay family sensibly started with a home energy audit to assess their home’s envelope and equipment and to identify available rebates. To their surprise, the $400 assessment didn’t uncover major problems. But then, another surprise: They learned that equipment that displaces natural gas with electricity, such as an air-source heat pump, is not eligible for rebates and incentives for energy-efficient equipment offered by their utility, Pacific Gas and Electric Company.
What did it matter to PG&E, Guay wondered, if he was swapping gas for electricity? PG&E sells both; he’d still be an electricity customer. It turns out the California Public Utilities Commission, which regulates PG&E and the state’s other investor-owned utilities, does not permit the utilities to encourage fuel-switching.”
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