A Smarter Way to Upgrade: PG&E’s Clean Energy Calculator Guiding Homeowners in 2026

Home upgrades rarely happen on our schedule.  In my case, an unexpected warning from my free HomeIntel energy coach — my water heater is nearing the end of its life — sent me down the path of researching replacements.  

I had been considering switching from gas to electric appliances in my home and knew I wanted to look at a heat pump water heater. And with PG&E’s new Clean Energy Calculator, I was able to get personalized cost and savings estimates, along with resources to help find rebates, incentives, contractors, and explore rate plan options to maximize savings. 

The free online tool is fast and user-friendly. After logging into my PG&E online account, I chose the number of people in my home and the product I’m considering buying. In under a minute, the calculator gave me a personalized analysis based on my energy usage trends over the last 12 months so I could make the best choice for my family and budget. 

Here's what I found: a heat pump water heater could lower my water heating costs over time. According to the PG&E Energy Action Guide, customers can save an average of $118 annually by switching to a high-efficiency electric heat pump water heater.  

Heat pump water heaters are 3-4 times more efficient than standard electric or gas models, using about 70% less energy to heat water than standard water heaters. They also deliver reliable, steady hot water for everyday use. 

The calculator also estimates average yearly maintenance and operating costs, which helps my family budget for the future.  

There is even a section that breaks down the environmental impact. The calculator showed that using a heat pump water heater can lower my yearly carbon dioxide emissions by about 2,000 pounds. That’s like recycling 77 bags of trash each year instead of throwing them away, or the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed from planting 15 trees and letting them grow for 10 years. Wow! 

The calculator removes the guesswork and stress of choosing new equipment for my home and shows me that electrification isn’t a lifestyle overhaul. It's upgrading what I would have to replace anyway and potentially saving money and helping the planet at the same time. 

About the author 

 Adrienne Moore joined PG&E’s Marketing and Communications team in 2023. A busy mom of two boys, she is passionate about helping customers save energy and money, sharing energy efficiency tips and tools, and making bill support programs easy to understand and accessible for all. Her goal is to ensure customers feel supported when managing their energy needs.