Albany, Dublin, Hayward, and Pleasanton are changing their default service plans to Renewable 100 in January.
For more informationGet cooking with induction
Induction cooktops heat the pan instantly and deliver twice the thermal efficiency of gas cooktops. They also eliminate the carbon monoxide and other toxins emitted by gas stoves. Learn more about the benefits, considerations of induction cooking, and how to find a local cooktop for a test run.
Get up to $300 for an induction cooktop range when you replace an existing gas appliance.
Faster cooking with more control
An induction cooktop lets you boil water in half the time [1 (PDF)] it takes on a gas or coil cooktop. Induction heats the pan instantly with magnetism. Induction also delivers twice the thermal efficiency [1 (PDF),2] of gas cooktops, (which lose more that half their BTUs to heating the grill top and air in the kitchen). That also means that your kitchen stays cooler.
“The high-power burners on induction ranges are faster to heat water than even the most powerful gas or radiant electric burners.”—Consumer Reports [3]
Professional and home chefs appreciate the precise, steady control, wider temperature range, and quick response time they get with induction cooktops. And since induction heats the entire pan simultaneously, you can avoid problematic hot spots and scorching.
Heat water in half the time
Induction hobs heat cookware directly with a magnetic field, resulting in minimal heat loss. Electric coils and gas burners radiate heat indirectly, and gas cooktops burn fossil fuel and create indoor air pollution.
A safer, healthier home
Induction cooktops eliminate a major source of indoor air pollution—the carbon monoxide and other toxic gases emitted by gas stoves, which can cause serious respiratory problems. Induction is also safer because it doesn’t have an open flame or exposed heating element. That’s important because cooking is the leading cause of home fires [4].
Cook with clean power
In the East Bay, induction stoves run on clean electricity with a low carbon footprint. Gas stoves burn fossil fuels and emit greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. As an EBCE customer, you can make your kitchen free of toxic gases and carbon neutral with an induction cooktop and 100% renewable energy.
Easy clean-up and flexibility
The smooth, durable surface of an induction stove is easy to wipe clean, with no grill top or coils to accumulate grease and food spills. The smooth surface also provides extra counter space when it’s not being used for cooking—a big help in smaller kitchens.
Try it before you buy it!
Interested in trying induction cooking? EBCE has partnered with several cities in Alameda County to offer a free induction cooktop lending program to residents. Due to COVID-19, some cities are delaying their launch of this program. If your city isn’t listed here just yet, fill out the form linked below and we’ll keep you in the loop if things change!
Things to consider
Selecting cookware
Induction works through magnetism, so be sure to use cookware made from magnetic stainless steel, cast iron, or multiple layers of metal. You can easily test cookware by holding a magnet to the bottom. If it sticks strongly, then it is compatible with induction cooktops. Aluminum and copper cookware require an extra steel diffuser plate, which makes the cooktop less efficient.
Some cookware can make a buzz or humming sound as it heats. Minimize noise by using flat-bottom, heavy pots and pans without loose parts.
Cost
Prices for built-in induction cooktops start around $500, and induction ranges start around $1000. Portable induction burners plug into a standard wall outlet and can range from $50-$500, depending on their size and features.
Requirements
Built-in cooktops and ranges with four to six burners typically require a dedicated 240v circuit installed by an electrician.
Switch is On
Learn more about kitchen electrification, including how induction technology works, FAQs, and even connect with contractors at the Switch Is On.
