California’s Senate Bill 49 (SB 49), set to take effect in September 2025, represents a significant advancement in energy management, particularly for residential pool equipment. This innovative piece of legislation, enacted by the California legislature, is part of broader statewide efforts aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving grid reliability, and promoting the use of renewable energy resources.

What is Califonia’s Senate Bill 49?

Specifically, Senate Bill 49 mandates that residential pool controls and related equipment incorporate advanced flexible demand technologies. These technologies will enable pool equipment to dynamically adjust their energy usage automatically in response to real-time grid conditions, such as fluctuating electricity prices, demand peaks, or renewable energy availability. 

The primary objective of Senate Bill 49 is to reduce California’s overall greenhouse gas emissions by optimizing energy consumption patterns. By encouraging appliances, specifically pool controls and pumps, to operate during off-peak hours, the legislation will help balance the grid’s energy load more efficiently. This balance is crucial for maintaining grid stability, especially as California increases its reliance on renewable energy sources, like solar and wind, whose generation can fluctuate throughout the day. Additionally, SB 49 aims to deliver financial benefits directly to consumers by shifting electricity use away from expensive peak-demand periods to cheaper, off-peak periods, thereby lowering energy bills and incentivizing sustainable energy practices. 

California’s Senate Bill 49 and demand flexibility 

Demand flexibility refers to the capability of appliances to modify their energy usage based on grid signals, such as electricity pricing or demand response events. Under SB 49, pool controls must be designed to operate during periods when electricity is more affordable and generated from cleaner sources. This approach not only benefits the environment but also provides financial advantages to consumers by lowering their energy bills.  

Technical implementation: Integrating OpenADR and CTA-2045 standards 

To comply with Senate Bill 49, manufacturers need to integrate one from a selection of communication protocols into their pool equipment. These protocols facilitate clear, standardized, and automated communication between pool equipment and the electrical grid, ensuring efficient and timely responses to changing grid conditions. 

  • OpenADR (Open Automated Demand Response): This open standard facilitates automated communication between energy providers and appliances, allowing for real-time adjustments in energy consumption. Implementing OpenADR ensures that pool equipment can respond to grid signals without manual intervention.  
  • CTA-2045: This standard defines a physical interface that enables appliances to connect seamlessly with demand response networks. By incorporating CTA-2045, manufacturers can ensure their products are compatible with various demand response programs, enhancing interoperability.  
  • Others: There are a number of other standards, such as IEEE 2030.5 that are also permissible for achieving this certification. 

Integrating these standards involves both hardware and software modifications. Manufacturers must ensure that their pool controls can communicate effectively with utility signals, adjusting operation schedules to align with periods of lower energy demand and cost.  

You can learn more about key energy standards here.

Regulatory compliance: What are Senate Bill 49’s requirements? 

Compliance with SB 49 entails adhering to several key requirements that manufacturers must carefully address to ensure successful integration, market readiness, and consumer acceptance. These requirements include specific technical standards for communication and interoperability, predefined automated scheduling capabilities that align with off-peak energy periods, cybersecurity measures to protect user data, and clear options for consumer manual overrides and controls. 

  • Default scheduling: Pool controls must have a preprogrammed default schedule that operates equipment during times of low electricity prices and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Consumer consent: While automation is encouraged, consumers must retain the ability to override default settings, ensuring they have control over their equipment’s operation.  
  • Cybersecurity measures: Given the connectivity of these devices, robust cybersecurity protocols are essential to protect consumer data and ensure reliable operation.  

Manufacturers should collaborate with regulatory bodies and testing facilities to certify that their products meet these standards. Engaging with the California Energy Commission (CEC) and utilizing accredited testing laboratories can streamline the certification process.  

Consumer impact: Benefits and considerations 

For consumers, Senate Bill 49-compliant pool controls offer several advantages:  

  • Cost savings: By operating during off-peak hours, consumers can benefit from lower electricity rates, reducing their overall energy expenses.  
  • Environmental benefits: Shifting energy usage to times when renewable sources are more prevalent decreases reliance on fossil fuels, contributing to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.  
  • Enhanced control: While automation simplifies energy management, consumers retain the ability to adjust settings to suit their preferences, ensuring comfort and convenience.  

However, consumers should be informed about the importance of maintaining internet connectivity for optimal operation and the necessity of periodic software updates to ensure security and functionality.  

Real-world example: Demand flexibility in action (pool equipment)

A practical demonstration of demand flexibility’s successful integration into residential pool equipment comes from a comprehensive case study conducted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). In collaboration with leading industry manufacturers, NREL tested the effectiveness of variable-speed pool pumps embedded with CTA-2045 communication interfaces. The results were highly encouraging: pool pumps successfully received and reacted to automated demand response signals, dynamically adjusting their operation schedules to shift energy consumption away from periods of peak electricity demand. This shift not only reduced strain on the grid but also maintained the overall pool performance and consumer comfort without noticeable compromise. 

Further analysis by NREL indicated that widespread adoption of this flexible demand technology could lead to significant system-wide energy savings, ultimately benefiting both consumers and utilities by reducing electricity costs and contributing to California’s ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets. The study concluded that CTA-2045-equipped pool equipment offers a reliable and user-friendly solution, clearly demonstrating the feasibility of large-scale integration of demand flexibility technology within residential pool systems. 

This practical evidence underscores the value and real-world applicability of SB 49’s requirements, serving as an instructive model for manufacturers seeking effective pathways toward regulatory compliance. 

Your roadmap to SB 49 compliance: Simple actions to take now 

Preparing for SB 49 requires a comprehensive approach that encompasses technical integration, regulatory compliance, and consumer engagement. By proactively addressing these areas, manufacturers can ensure their products meet the new standards, offering consumers energy-efficient and environmentally friendly pool equipment. 

Need help getting your business ready for California’s SB 49? Join Codibly and the OpenADR Alliance for an informative webinar exploring California’s new requirements for demand flexibility. We’ll break down SB 49 and show you exactly what steps to take now to ensure your pool equipment is fully compliant ahead of the September deadline.