Let’s Think This Through: The Future of Natural Gas

In August of 2022, California regulators announced a ban on the sale of gasoline powered automobiles and small trucks by 2035. Now, this past month, a commissioner for U.S. Consumer Product Safety lamented that gas stoves pose a serious health threat and should be banned.

It is very troubling to me that banning gas stoves is being considered.

The impacts on California’s culture and economic well-being would be draconian and far reaching — especially in light of an aging and underpowered electrical grid.

Now, I’m not assuming regulators intend to come to our units and forcibly remove every offending appliance. Too many private property owners prefer gas over electricity. I personally prefer to prepare my meals using gas appliances, having had less than desirable results with their electric counterparts. As a matter of fact, the only time I ever burned myself on a cooktop was on an induction model! I can neither confirm nor deny whether it was the stove’s fault or my own, but the fact remains.

What is certain is that a ban on gas ranges and ovens would negatively affect renovations, remodels, and new apartment building construction. It doesn’t end there, as increased demand on existing systems would likely trigger supply chain disruptions for replacement parts. Even further down the line, as current infrastructure begins to age and fail, owners and operators of older apartments will more-than-likely have to replace cooktops and ranges with bythen nearly impossible to obtain replacements. This would inevitably lead to replacement of underpowered and overburdened electrical panels. Many older units have only 100-amp electrical panels. The cost to retrofit these panels and upgrade the wiring would be staggering, and such a significant expenditure would inevitably affect business operations and likely also rents.

If gas stoves are on the unwelcome list, it leads me to ask, what gas fired appliances are next? Water heaters? Furnaces?

Sure, I don’t like electric ranges because I burned myself on one, and I don’t like to be all gloom and doom, but, sincerely, California regulators and lawmakers need to consider the implications of banning the use of gas appliances.

Such a ban would be detrimental to their — our society’s — ability to provide affordable rental housing to their constituents.

You can be certain that efforts to expand state regulation (including outright bans) of gas appliances and other devices will continue as progressive lawmakers and regulators flex their policy making muscles in Sacramento. We are fortunate to have AAOC State Legislative Advocate Ron Kingston staying abreast of these efforts and keeping our Legislative Committee and Board of Directors apprised of evolving policy proposals in these areas. Keep reading Apartment News for updates throughout this year’s legislative session.

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