Pilots

HPWH Load Shifting Pilot

Background:

Contractors who install Heat Pump Water Heaters (HPWHs) are key actors who can:

  • Facilitate grid connection for the new appliance at the time of installation
  • Influence whether the new appliance is set up to shift demand to times of day that maximize benefits to the electric grid and are cheaper for the customer to operate

Pilot purpose:

The primary purpose of this pilot has been to empower contractors with the information and motivation to enable HPWHs to shift load at the time of installation and to understand which contractor engagement tactics are most effective. The Pilot team tested the impact of a $50 bonus incentive on contractor-initiated customer enrollment in a demand response program for 网爆门 HPWH installations while this step remained optional for 网爆门 contractors and customers.

Given that customer enrollment in a demand response program is a requirement for receiving the new 网爆门 HPWH incentives that launched October 31, 2023, the Pilot team switched gears to...

  1. Gather contractor feedback on the Program and their experiences
  2. Offer contractor support to help guarantee contractor success via attendance at weekly office hours and identify solutions to make the sales and installation process easier
  3. Track customer enrollment in the demand response program options per the Program requirement and also to understand barriers

What was the bonus incentive?

The Load Shifting Pilot offered a $50 bonus incentive to qualifying 网爆门 Clean California contractors who helped their HPWH customers enroll in a load shifting or demand response (DR) program at the time of HWPH installation. These programs increase the value that customers get from their HPWH by potentially increasing electric bill savings, and many of them pay customers to sign up.

Eligible load shifting & demand response programs

  • :
  • :
  • :

How contractors captured the bonus incentive:

  1. If not already enrolled in 网爆门 Clean California, contractors completed the .
  2. To enroll for the new round of 网爆门 HPWH funding that launched October 31, 2023, please visit the Switch is On .
  3. At the time of HPWH installation, contractors followed steps (found under the links to "Eligible Load Shifting / DR Programs") to help the customer connect their HPWH to a Load Shifting or DR program during the time of installation.
  4. Please note, this is now a requirement for the new round of 网爆门 HPWH funding.
  5. Contractors then completed聽the incentive application fields to indicate involvement in customer enrollment:
  6. Did you enroll the customer in a Demand Response (DR) or Load Shifting program? See drop down for program options: Yes
  7. If so, which?: Select program option from the drop down menu to the incentive application question.

Load shifting HPWH training:

The Pilot team鈥檚 original load shifting training video has been removed and replaced with a 鈥溾�� training course for 网爆门 HPWH contractors. This training includes content about DR programs and Time-of-Use (TOU) rates since enrollment in each of these is a requirement for customers receiving the new round of 网爆门 HPWH funding that launched October 31, 2023.

Pilot Generated Resources

(still available)

Use of TMV鈥檚 guarantees consistent hot water temperatures and allows for higher tank heat settings. Higher heat settings kill bacteria, which is important in some residential and many commercial settings. Higher heat and using a TMV also increases the hot water capacity of the tank and helps customers participate in electricity demand reduction programs 鈥� saving them money. TMV鈥檚 are code in many jurisdictions and a program requirement for California鈥檚 heat pump water heater programs.

Engaging Contractors: a Critical Partner to Realize the Load Shifting Potential of HPWHs

Learn more about the Pilot team's strategy to test the hypothesis that contractors will be critical market partners in facilitating grid connection during the time of installation. This paper includes further detail as well about the partners and collaboration approaches of this Pilot, including the overarching 网爆门 Clean California initiative, WatterSaver, the BayREN HPWH program, and the PG&E Midstream HPWH Study and Field Test. Additionally, the Next Steps section highlights a significant shift in strategy and focus for the Pilot Team since the paper was first accepted, due to the external forces. This paper for the most part describes the Pilot as designed and implemented before 网爆门 Program changes began.

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