Oppose South Coast Air Quality Management District Proposed Amended Rules 1111 and 1121 - AD74

June 4, 2025

Chairwoman Vanessa Delgado
South Coast Air Quality Management District

21865 Copley Drive
Diamond Bar, CA 91765

Dear Chairwoman Delgado:

Thank you and your colleagues for the work you are doing to improve air quality in the Southern California Region. However, on behalf of state legislators representing counties that you serve, we write to you in opposition to the South CoastAir Quality Management District Proposed Amended Rules 1111 and 1121.

While the latest rule concept attempts to move in the right direction, we believe the prioritization of an electrification mandate will have a number of costly and burdensome consequences for millions of hardworking California residents.

Beyond the initial cost of new appliances, the amendments do not account for the substantial retrofit and infrastructure upgrade costs that owners of older homes will have to bear to accommodate the new technology, construct spaces for bigger devices, and rewire for new electronic designs. Water heaters and furnaces are not luxury items; they are necessities.

We support efforts to improve air quality. However, the proposed rules have not shown that they will make substantive changes for residents. Another increased financial hardship on residents will be the requirement to pay for electricity, which can cost two or three times more than gas. All of these increased costs together could amount to tens of thousands of dollars, placing an undue financial burden on homeowners, renters, and business owners—many of whom can least afford it.

Additionally, we are concerned about the added strain these rules will place on an already aging electrical grid. This grid not only relies on nonrenewable sources, such as natural gas, to generate power, but is also ill-equipped to handle excessive new demand, posing a significant public safety risk. Residents have endured frequent blackouts and service interruptions, and since 2015, electric power lines have caused six of the 20 most devastating wildfires in our community. Furthermore, numerous residential and commercial projects are currently on hold due to a lack of available power.

We are facing a housing shortage and affordability crisis. Now is not the time to mandate new, expensive, and rushed regulations on millions of hardworking California residents. Many Southern California families are already struggling with high living costs, and this proposal disproportionately impacts lower-income households.

While we understand and support the Air District’s efforts to improve air quality, the proposed amendments would impose an undue and significant burden on homeowners, renters, and small businesses.

Thank you for your time and consideration. We respectfully urge the Board to explore alternative approaches that balance air quality improvements with economic feasibility for all residents.

Sincerely,