A new online tool from Rewiring America called the Personal Electrification Planner (PEP) allows homeowners to view the upfront costs, savings, emissions reductions and health effects of many electrification upgrades such as heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, induction stoves, electric dryers, electric vehicle chargers and rooftop solar panels.

The PEP expands on Rewiring America’s Inflation Reduction Act Savings Calculator, used by more than 600,000 individuals, by integrating federal incentive eligibility and additional information to assist homeowners and contractors in planning and completing all-electric upgrades. 

After entering information on the website about your residence, vehicle, income and tax filing status (for potential federal incentives that may be available), and reasons for electrifying, you can tour the plan.

The plan includes projects that have been completed and those that need to be done. Each details the costs, the effect on your utility bill and the climate, and any potential incentives, rebates and credits. The PEP includes FAQs and links to articles with more information. There is even a guide to local contractors.

This tool provides a starting point for home electrification, which advances discussion about projects with local electrical contractors. Gerardo Rodriguez, a homeowner in Raleigh, N.C., tested the tool before installing a home battery system to address power outages that occur during extreme summer heat.

“In addition to clearly breaking down incentives available to me to make my project more affordable, it empowered me to have informed conversations with salespeople and installers as I shopped for the right contractor for the job,” he said.

For renters, the PEP offers an Electrification for Renters page that include projects renters can do themselves, talking points for meeting with landlords and two Rewiring America courses that enable anyone to become an “electric coach” in their community.

New features are scheduled to be added that will make the tool more accessible to more Americans through language support, starting with Spanish.

The PEP is expected to become even more personalized, with increased support offered to homeowners who have a specific project in mind, and more accurate cost and savings figures based on market data for different home types.

Improvements in matching users with local contractors, rebate programs and other resources are also anticipated.

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