San Francisco Bay Area regulators vote to phase out natural gas furnaces, water heaters

San Francisco Bay Area air quality regulators voted to phase out gas furnaces and water heaters over time starting in 2027. 

The Air District Board of Directors last week amended district rules to only allow water heaters in the Bay Area to be installed or sold if they do not produce nitric oxide or nitrogen dioxide, by 2027.

By 2029, the only furnaces that can be sold or installed in the Bay Area are those that do not use natural gas. By 2031, the regulations will expand to no longer allow the sale or installation of large commercial water heaters fueled by gas.

While about two-thirds of Bay Area homes use natural gas appliances, the new regulations "would apply only to new appliances and do not mandate the immediate change out of existing appliances, nor will they apply to appliances used for cooking, such as gas stoves," officials said.

The regulators said the plan would prevent up to 85 premature deaths annually and avoid up to $890 million in health impacts due to air pollution.