Staff: utilities will host HVAC webinar; heat‑pump uptake rising with short‑term promotion

Brad Eggleston, director of Public Works, told the committee the city’s utilities department will run a September webinar for commercial HVAC contractors to explain incentives, permitting and how contractors can be listed on a courtesy contractor list for program participants. "So this session is gonna cover advanced commercial heat pump HVAC program incentives that are available, permitting and planning requirements," Eggleston said during the standing staff report.

Eggleston also presented preliminary residential electrification statistics for the first half of 2025. He said staff initially reported 129 HVAC unit replacements and, after an on‑the‑record correction during the meeting, 72 heat‑pump water‑heater replacements. Staff noted May and June averaged about 15 heat‑pump water‑heater installations per month and said that sustained pace would annualize to roughly 180 units per year.

Committee members pressed staff for clearer public materials comparing 120‑volt and 240‑volt heat‑pump water‑heater options and their tradeoffs for households that might avoid service panel upgrades. One member said, "We need to consider supplementing contractor outreach with our own initiative or communication," and staff replied they would review website content and outreach to contractors to ensure 120‑volt options are visible.

Eggleston also reminded the committee the city is running a $500 discount campaign for heat‑pump water‑heater replacements through the end of October and that the promotion aligns with regional community choice aggregator efforts to coordinate outreach.

What happens next: staff said they will update online materials about 120‑volt options, follow up on contractor outreach and provide corrected monthly and April figures as part of routine reporting.