SFPUC trims temporary laundromat rebate to $1,000, lifts multifamily size restriction

Julie Ortiz, SFPUC water conservation manager, told the commission the commercial clothes washer rebate program was created to help laundromats, commercial properties and multifamily properties replace high‑water‑use washers with Energy Star models.

Ortiz reviewed the program history: the rebate began in February 2004 at $150 per machine and incrementally rose to $500. In 2023 the Board of Supervisors provided a budgetary add‑back that allowed SFPUC to temporarily raise the rebate to $5,000 per qualifying machine; Ortiz said that add‑back aimed to support laundromats and multifamily common‑area laundry while the city addressed housing and economic concerns. Since 2023, Ortiz said staff issued more than 150 rebates (mostly to laundromats) and that the average purchase cost was about $2,300 per machine.

Staff said the 2023 budget add‑back has been fully expended and recommended reducing the rebate to $1,000 per machine (roughly half the typical purchase cost) and removing the prior multifamily size restriction that had limited eligibility to largest multifamily properties only. Ortiz said the $1,000 rebate aligns more closely with other SFPUC rebate programs and should continue to motivate replacements while fitting available budget.

The commission approved the recommended adjustments. Commissioners asked about current and ongoing demand; Ortiz said participation has remained steady since 2004, with demand ebbing and flowing by product availability and outreach efforts.

Ending: staff will continue outreach in multiple languages and manage the program within available funding.