Breaking Barriers to Electrification: Lessons from the Low-Income Leveraging Pilot
January 5, 2026
The TECH Clean California Low-Income Leveraging Pilot set out to tackle a critical challenge: making home electrification accessible for low-income households. By partnering with existing energy efficiency programs, the pilot provided supplemental funding for heat pump retrofits and home repairs, helping 520 households across California overcome cost barriers. The final report offers valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of electrification in low-income communities.
Key takeaways
High costs for remediation and repairs remain a significant challenge, with an average of $5,893 in supplemental funding needed per home – and even higher costs for mobile homes and older properties. In disadvantaged communities, costs averaged $7,505, requiring prioritized support to ensure equitable access to electrification. Efforts to simplify these processes, such as streamlining rules and providing technical assistance, proved essential in reducing the complexity of stacking incentives for contractors and homeowners. This simplification reduces administrative costs and avoids having to pay out more substantial incentives to encourage participation in multiple programs.
The pilot also revealed a greater need for contractor training, as many are not yet familiar with heat pump technology and the unique challenges of electrification projects. Hands-on training and ongoing support are critical to building the skilled workforce necessary to meet the state’s electrification goals.
Beyond energy savings, the pilot delivered life-changing benefits to participants, restoring access to essential systems like air conditioning and water heating. These improvements enhanced health, comfort, and safety—especially during extreme weather conditions. The lessons taken from this pilot provide a roadmap for future programs by showing how targeted funding, streamlined processes, and equity-minded strategies can help California achieve its electrification and decarbonization goals.
Learn more about the Low-Income Leveraging Pilot at techcleanca.com/pilots/low-income-fuel-switching.
