PG&E’s Powerhouse Shows Benefits of EV Charging, V2G, Induction Cooking, Heat Pumps and More

At EVinfo.net, we are obviously talking a lot about the many benefits of EVs. But did you know that EVs are only the tip of the iceberg in the ways people can save money and the planet at the same time? Fully electrifying your house is the answer.

On April 17, 2026, Pacific Gas and Electric Company introduced the PG&E PowerHouse, a fully electric model home and technology demonstration lab located at its Applied Technology Services facility in San Ramon, California. The project is designed to simplify electrification by testing and showcasing real world solutions that reduce both cost and complexity for customers.

The PowerHouse serves as a hub where PG&E and its partners evaluate and integrate clean energy technologies, including bidirectional EV charging, smart electric panels and meters, heat pumps, battery storage, and induction cooking. By bringing these systems together in one environment, the company aims to reduce uncertainty and make electrification more accessible.

Built as both a model home and a living laboratory, the PowerHouse allows customers, contractors, policymakers, and industry partners to experience how an all electric home performs in everyday conditions. This includes energy management, comfort, and resilience during outages.

Electrification can be challenging for many households due to concerns about cost, system upgrades, and compatibility. The PowerHouse addresses these barriers by demonstrating solutions that allow customers to add electric appliances and EV charging without major panel upgrades, manage energy usage more efficiently, improve resilience with backup power options such as EVs, and transition gradually rather than all at once.

PG&E has also introduced tools to support decision making, including the Clean Energy Calculator powered by GridX, which helps customers estimate costs and savings over time. Additional efforts include collaboration with SPAN on upcoming PanelBoost offerings, designed to expand home electrification capacity without expensive infrastructure upgrades.

The PowerHouse features a range of integrated technologies, such as bidirectional EVs capable of supporting home energy needs and the grid, smart panels for load management, high efficiency appliances that replace gas systems, and intelligent EV charging solutions that balance cost and convenience. These initiatives align with PG&E’s work with Itron on grid edge intelligence through ChargeBoost.

Many of the technologies demonstrated at the site are supported by California’s Electric Program Investment Charge, which funds projects aimed at improving safety, reliability, affordability, and sustainability.

More than a showcase, the PG&E PowerHouse is intended to turn innovation into practical guidance. By validating technologies in a real home setting, PG&E can develop programs and solutions that are proven, scalable, and easier for customers to adopt. The facility will host tours, demonstrations, and collaborative efforts focused on advancing electric living and helping customers better understand the path to electrification.

See PG&E’s website for more information.