Bend staff presents electrification cost study; council asks for a lower-fee focus and more validation

Staff presented a consultant’s preliminary cost-to-electrify analysis and sought committee feedback ahead of a Dec. 10 council work session and a planned joint committee launch in January. "A gas house was about $11,000 in equipment costs," the presenter said; by contrast, an all-efficient electric scenario that included heat-pump water heaters and heat-pump dryers totaled roughly $25,000, producing a $12,000–$14,000 upfront premium in the consultant’s quick analysis.