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Since January 1, 2026, the testing that used to be called HERS testing runs through California’s Energy Code Compliance (ECC) Program. The tests themselves continue. What changed is the program’s name, its rules, and who certifies the raters.
For a homeowner replacing an air conditioner, furnace, heat pump, or ductwork, the practical effect is new names on your paperwork and a few tighter testing rules. For a buyer or seller, it means permit records from different years can use different terms for the same verification.
Key takeaways
- The ECC Program took effect with the 2025 Energy Code on January 1, 2026, and replaces the compliance part of the HERS Program.
- Field verification and diagnostic testing continue. Raters are now called ECC-Raters and are certified by CEC-approved ECC-Providers.
- Projects permitted under the 2022 code or earlier keep the code version and HERS terminology they started with.
- For HVAC changeouts, the registered compliance certificate can be completed after the work, but before the permit is closed.
- Refrigerant charge verification rules tightened. A fault indicator display alone can no longer show compliance.
What HERS was, and what ECC is
Under earlier versions of California’s Energy Code (Title 24, Part 6), certain installed measures had to be field-verified and tested by a third-party HERS rater. Common examples for HVAC were duct leakage testing, refrigerant charge verification, and airflow testing. That function was part of the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Program.
The California Energy Commission moved that testing function out of the HERS regulations and into Title 24, under a new name: the Energy Code Compliance (ECC) Program. According to the CEC, the tests carry on without disruption, but program administration changed.
| Before 2026 (HERS) | 2025 Energy Code (ECC) | |
|---|---|---|
| Program name | HERS Program | Energy Code Compliance (ECC) Program |
| Who tests | HERS rater | ECC-Rater |
| Who certifies raters | HERS Provider | ECC-Provider, approved by the CEC |
| Where the rules live | Title 20 HERS regulations | Title 24, the Energy Code itself |
| Name on compliance forms | “HERS Feature Summary” | “ECC Feature Summary” |
| Whole-house energy ratings | HERS Program | Still under the HERS Program, unchanged |
What changed for HVAC work
Most of the process stays the same: the installing contractor and an ECC-Rater perform the tests listed on the project’s certificate of compliance, and results are recorded in a provider’s data registry. A failed test means the contractor fixes the system until it passes. The CEC lists a few specific changes that affect HVAC projects:
- Refrigerant charge verification. A fault indicator display alone can no longer be used to show refrigerant charge compliance, and the weigh-in method was revised.
- No group sampling for alterations. Sampling, where one tested home could stand in for several, was removed for alterations projects.
- Paperwork for changeouts. Urgent replacements, such as a failed air conditioner, can have the compliance certificate registered after the work, as long as it happens before the permit is finaled.
- Documents for the owner. Completed documentation must be left in the home, and the ECC-Provider must send verification certificates to the homeowner when their contact information is on the registry.
What it means if you are buying or selling a home
Permit and compliance records now span two naming systems. A furnace replaced in 2024 may show HERS verification, while one replaced in 2026 should show ECC verification. Both can be legitimate. What matters is whether the permit was finaled and whether required testing was completed.
- Check whether a permit was pulled and finaled for recent HVAC work. Our LA County HVAC permit guide explains where to look.
- Ask the seller for compliance documents left in the home after the installation.
- If documents are missing, the installing contractor or rater can usually provide them. The CEC does not keep compliance documents for public access.
- If work was not permitted, see why contractors skip HVAC permits, and consider a cost-to-cure report to price the corrections before you negotiate.
What to ask your contractor before a replacement
- Will you pull the permit, and does the job require ECC field verification?
- Which tests are listed for this project, for example duct leakage, refrigerant charge, or airflow?
- Who is the ECC-Rater, and when will testing happen?
- Will I receive the registered certificates and the final permit sign-off?
Good testing also depends on a good design. Sizing should come from a Manual J load calculation, and new systems use new refrigerants. See R-410A to R-454B and R-32 for what that means.
ECC vs a Home Energy Score
These are easy to confuse. ECC verification is required testing tied to a permit. A Home Energy Score is an optional 1-to-10 rating of a home’s expected energy use, with upgrade recommendations. One shows a specific installation met code. The other describes the whole home.
What can change the answer?
- The code version in effect when the project was permitted
- The scope of work, since not every repair triggers verification
- Your city’s or county’s building department procedures
- Whether the system is ducted, ductless, or a heat pump replacing a furnace
Frequently asked questions
Is HERS testing still required in California?
The same kind of testing is still required when a project’s scope calls for it. For projects under the 2025 Energy Code, it is done through the ECC Program by an ECC-Rater instead of being called HERS testing.
Is a HERS rater the same as an ECC-Rater?
Existing HERS raters were recognized as ECC-Raters for the code version they were certified for. To verify 2025-code projects, a rater must complete 2025 certification through an approved ECC-Provider.
Does ECC apply to a project permitted in 2025?
A project keeps the code version that was in effect when it was permitted. A 2022-code project is verified to 2022 rules and may still use HERS terminology.
Does a simple AC repair need ECC testing?
Not every repair does. Verification is required when the project scope includes measures that must be tested, such as many equipment replacements and duct alterations. Your permit and certificate of compliance list what applies.
Where do I find ECC documents for my home?
Completed documentation should be left in the home. You can also ask the installing contractor or rater, since the CEC does not keep compliance documents for public access.
Sources
Not sure your HVAC paperwork adds up?
We review permit history and compliance documents as part of every inspection, so buyers and sellers know what was verified. $595 per system, with photos and a written report.
