Energy rules reshape pool equipment and heating

By Jesse Sanchez. 

New state and federal regulations are reshaping pool equipment power and connectivity with lasting impacts. 

California and federal regulators are moving forward with a set of energy-focused rules that will significantly influence how pool equipment is manufactured and installed, according to reporting from AQUA. While the changes arrive on different timelines and apply at different levels, together they point toward a future built around efficiency, connectivity and reduced reliance on traditional gas systems. 

One of the earliest changes arrives with California’s Title 20 Flexible Demand Appliance Standards. The regulation is designed to address the state’s longstanding electricity demand challenges by enabling certain pool equipment, particularly pumps, to communicate with utilities. Pool pumps are among the largest residential electricity consumers, and advances in variable-speed technology have made more flexible scheduling possible. 

The concept behind the rule is flexible demand, which allows utilities to reduce strain on the grid during peak usage hours. By avoiding operation during high-demand periods, typically late afternoon and evening, participating pool owners may also benefit from lower energy costs through avoided surge pricing. Importantly, the state is not initiating widespread remote control of pool equipment this year. Instead, it is establishing the technical framework so future programs can exist once more compatible products are in place. 

For builders, service professionals and retailers, there is little immediate action required. Manufacturers will certify that compliant equipment can communicate wirelessly, operate on a default daytime schedule and support two-way user control. Broader adoption is expected to take years, but California’s history suggests similar approaches could eventually appear elsewhere. 

Another major shift comes January 1, 2026, when gas heating will no longer be permitted for new pool and spa heating installations in California. Gas heaters are not being banned outright. Existing gas heaters can still be replaced with gas units. However, new pools or previously unheated pools adding a heater for the first time must rely on solar thermal, heat pumps or heat recovery systems. 

At the federal level, a long-anticipated U.S. Department of Energy rule targeting dedicated-purpose pool pump motors took effect September 29, following an extended period of regulatory review. The regulation aims to close a loophole that has allowed inefficient single-speed replacement motors to remain on the market. If implemented as planned, manufacturers will phase out non-compliant motors over two stages beginning in 2025 and concluding in 2027, effectively shifting the market toward variable-speed solutions. 

Taken together, the regulations reflect a steady push toward energy efficiency and smarter infrastructure, with manufacturers bearing the immediate responsibility and service professionals preparing for gradual change. 

Learn more about how these regulations could affect equipment choices, installations and long-term planning across the pool industry!