The 2025 Energy Code becomes effective on January 1, 2026. The revised regulations include the Energy Code Compliance (ECC) Program. Until then HERS Program regulations will continue to be enforced.
- The ECC Program was developed to continue the field verification and diagnostic testing (FV&DT) provisions given in Title 20 of the California Code of Regulations. Through a rulemaking, the regulations were moved from Title 20 HERS Program regulations into the administrative section of Title 24. Prior FV&DT services will continue without disruption, but there will be changes in program administration, primarily in its identity.
- The ECC Program helps a project demonstrate compliance with the Energy Code through testing and documentation. The ECC Program ensures code compliance and the consumer’s expected quality of installation of efficiency measures.
- This program will be administered by ECC-Providers, who will train and certify ECC-Raters to determine whether an installed energy efficiency measure meets Energy Code requirements.
- When code compliance requires testing of one or more installed energy measures, the installing contractor and an ECC-Rater will perform field verification and diagnostic testing as specified on the project’s certificate of compliance. The results of these tests must be recorded using an ECC-Provider’s residential data registry. If an ECC-Rater determines that a test fails compliance thresholds, the contractor is required to fix the feature or system until it passes compliance. The ECC-Provider ensures that the ECC-raters and ECC-Rater Companies are upholding accurate results.
