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Rancho Santa Margarita council unanimously adopts resolution opposing proposed South Coast AQMD appliance rules
Summary
The council voted unanimously to adopt a resolution opposing proposed South Coast AQMD amendments to Rules 1111 and 1121 on residential furnaces and water heaters, citing costs, electrical-grid concerns and consumer choice; staff will send a mayor-signed letter to AQMD and update when revised rule language is released.
Rancho Santa Margarita’s City Council voted unanimously to adopt a resolution opposing proposed amendments to South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) Rules 1111 and 1121, which would affect residential furnaces and water heaters.
Cheryl Cuda (staff) explained the AQMD initially proposed phasing out natural-gas furnaces and water heaters and later revised the framework to focus on manufacturers rather than homeowners; the revised language remains pending public release. "Because the final language hasn't been developed yet, it's currently unknown," staff told the council and handed members a revised resolution expressing general opposition to regulations that would limit consumer choice or impose significant costs.
Councilmembers worried about the financial burden for homeowners. "That means ... homeowners bearing the cost of replacing those appliances with electric appliances, but there's a good possibility that a lot of homeowners would also have to upgrade their panels, which costs a minimum of $3,000 on up for a single family residence," Councilmember Figueroa said.
Mayor (identified in the transcript) said the council should take a firm position. He proposed language to more strongly oppose the rules; Mayor Pro Tem moved to approve staff’s recommendation with the mayor’s amendments and a councilmember seconded. The council then voted unanimously to adopt the resolution.
Council members cited California’s relatively high electricity rates and questioned whether the emission benefits of the revised framework justify the cost to residents. Several councilmembers urged people concerned about the issue to participate in the AQMD’s next public consultation on March 6.
The resolution directs staff to prepare and send a letter under the mayor’s signature to the AQMD and to revisit or refine the council’s position after the agency posts the revised rule language.
Motion and vote: the motion to approve staff’s recommendation with the mayor’s amendments passed unanimously; the council did not record individual roll-call votes in the public transcript beyond the unanimous voice vote.
