What it costs, what's permitted, and what to ask before you hire.
Last verified: 2026-05-31 · Data building
Likely first step
Get itemized quotes from 2–3 licensed contractors
Panel / electrical
Verify your panel capacity with an electrician
Complexity
Verify locally
Permit likelihood
Confirm with your building department
Rebate sensitivity
Verify current programs
Best first call
A licensed contractor for an itemized quote
Utility impact
Electric & gas delivery: PG&E
Pacific Gas & Electric
As of 2026-05-30, PG&E's default residential electric plan is E-TOU-C, a time-of-use plan with a 4-9 PM peak window. Alternatives include E-TOU-D (5-8 PM peak), EV2-A (whole-home TOU optimized for EV charging, lowest rates 12 AM-3 PM daily), and E-ELEC (a newer flat-rate-style plan for fully-electric and NEM 3.0 solar households, and the default plan when registering new residential solar under NEM 3.0). In March 2026, PG&E restructured residential rates under AB 205's income-graduated fixed charge framework, adding a flat Base Services Charge (~$24/month for non-CARE households; CARE/FERA pay a reduced fixed fee) paired with a per-kWh price cut. Households planning heat-pump HVAC, EV charging, or whole-home electrification may want to compare E-TOU-C, EV2-A, and E-ELEC; verify current rates and plan rules at the provider site.
$500–$4,000 — Typical Bay Area repair-cost band for a residential gas furnace or central AC, covering the most common service categories: blower motor or capacitor replacement, ignition control / hot-surface igniter, condenser fan motor, contactor, low-side refrigerant leak repair + R-410A recharge, and routine maintenance. Excludes full equipment replacement (compare with bay-area-cost-heat-pump-hvac), heat-exchanger replacement (commonly $1,500–$3,500 on its own but typically uneconomic vs. replacement on units >10 years old), and refrigerant transitions to A2L (R-454B / R-32) refrigerants on units installed under the 2025 EPA AIM Act phasedown.