Commercial Refrigeration and HVAC Statistics for Bay Area Businesses

Home › Research and Data › Statistics

By Cool Aid A/C & Refrigeration · Published November 12, 2026 · Every figure gives its own source and period

In 2025, California’s commercial electricity customers, such as stores, restaurants and offices, paid an average of 26.16 cents per kilowatt-hour, 96% more than the US commercial average of 13.37 cents, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. This page collects that and 33 other dated figures on electricity, food inspections, heat and refrigerant rules for Bay Area businesses, each with its source.

Electricity prices

• California’s commercial electricity customers, such as stores, restaurants and offices, paid an average of 26.16 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2025, 96% more than the US commercial average of 13.37 cents.Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Annual, Table 2.10 (final); 2025
• California’s 2025 commercial average was 2.4% above its 2024 average of 25.54 cents per kilowatt-hour.Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Annual, Table 2.10 (final); 2024 and 2025
• From January to August 2026, the California commercial average was 26.96 cents per kilowatt-hour, up 4.9% from 25.69 cents in the same months of 2025.Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.B, data for August 2026 released October 23, 2026 (2026 preliminary); January to August 2026
• The US commercial average for January to August 2026 was 14.04 cents, so California’s was about 1.9 times as high.Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.B, data for August 2026 released October 23, 2026 (2026 preliminary); January to August 2026
• In August 2026 alone, California commercial customers paid an average of 30.02 cents per kilowatt-hour, against 29.24 cents in August 2025.Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A, data for August 2026 released October 23, 2026 (2026 preliminary); August 2026
• California households paid an average of 31.35 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2025, against a US residential average of 17.23 cents.Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Annual, Table 2.10 (final); 2025

These are statewide averages across all utilities and rate plans; what a business pays depends on its utility, rate schedule and hours of use. EIA’s figures for 2026 are preliminary and can be revised.

Food safety inspections in Santa Clara County

• Inspectors cited hot and cold holding temperatures (code K07) at 5,119 of 20,271 routine inspections (25.3%), more than any other of the 49 violation codes in the file.Source: County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health, food inspection and violation data; October 14, 2024 to October 9, 2026 · From our study: cold-holding violations by city
• 3,359 of the 5,119 K07 citations at routine inspections (65.6%) were marked critical in the county data.Source: County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health, food inspection and violation data; October 14, 2024 to October 9, 2026 · From our study: cold-holding violations by city
• Code K35, equipment and utensils “approved, in good repair, adequate capacity”, was cited at 3,969 routine inspections (19.6%), the third most cited code. It covers all equipment and utensils, not only refrigeration.Source: County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health, food inspection and violation data; October 14, 2024 to October 9, 2026
• 3,490 of the 9,667 food facilities with a routine inspection (36.1%) were cited for K07 at least once.Source: County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health, food inspection and violation data; October 14, 2024 to October 9, 2026 · From our study: cold-holding violations by city
• Where the inspector’s note says which, cold holding outnumbered hot holding about 4.5 to 1: 2,803 notes describe cold holding only and 618 hot holding only (our reading of the notes).Source: County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health, food inspection and violation data; October 14, 2024 to October 9, 2026 · From our study: cold-holding violations by city
• Prep units and prep-table coolers were named in 1,133 of the 2,803 cold-holding citations (40.4%), walk-in coolers and freezers in 485 (17.3%).Source: County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health, food inspection and violation data; October 14, 2024 to October 9, 2026 · From our study: cold-holding violations by city
• 31.7% of routine inspections in June to August cited K07, against 21.4% in December to February.Source: County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health, food inspection and violation data; full months, November 2024 to September 2026 · From our study: cold-holding violations by city
• Among the 14 cities with at least 100 routine inspections, the share citing K07 ranged from 17.5% in Mountain View to 40.5% in Cupertino; San Jose was at 23.9%. This is not a food safety ranking: each city has its own mix of food businesses.Source: County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health, food inspection and violation data; October 14, 2024 to October 9, 2026 · From our study: cold-holding violations by city

Routine inspections only. A K07 citation records food held at the wrong temperature; it does not say whether a unit was faulty, overloaded or left open. The cold and hot split and the units named come from our reading of inspectors’ notes, explained in the study.

Hot days in the South Bay and East Bay

• San Jose International Airport recorded an average of 20.4 days a year at 90°F or hotter over 2016 to 2025 (9 complete years; 2018 left out), up from 15.0 over 1999 to 2008.Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, GHCN-Daily, station USW00023293; 2016 to 2025 · From our study: San Jose hot days, 1999 to 2025
• At San Jose’s airport, year-to-year swings in 90°F days are larger than the rise between the 1999 to 2008 and 2016 to 2025 averages: the straight-line trend over 1999 to 2025, +2.6 days a decade, is not statistically clear (p = 0.20).Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, GHCN-Daily, station USW00023293; our calculation; 1999 to 2025 · From our study: San Jose hot days, 1999 to 2025
• 2024 had 39 days at 90°F or hotter at San Jose’s airport, the most of any year from 1999 to 2025, including 7 at 100°F or hotter; 2005 had 4.Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, GHCN-Daily, station USW00023293; 1999 to 2025 · From our study: San Jose hot days, 1999 to 2025
• September had 119 of San Jose’s 426 days at 90°F or hotter in complete years from 1999 to 2025 (27.9%), more than any other month.Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, GHCN-Daily, station USW00023293; 1999 to 2025 · From our study: San Jose hot days, 1999 to 2025
• Days at 100°F or hotter at San Jose’s airport averaged 2.2 a year over 2016 to 2025, against 0.7 over 1999 to 2008.Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, GHCN-Daily, station USW00023293; 2016 to 2025 · From our study: San Jose hot days, 1999 to 2025
• Livermore Municipal Airport averaged 59.1 days a year at 90°F or hotter over 2016 to 2025, about 2.9 times San Jose’s 20.4.Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, GHCN-Daily, station USW00023285; 2016 to 2025 · From our study: San Jose hot days, 1999 to 2025

Counts from airport weather stations, complete years only. One station is not a whole city, and the study explains which years are left out and why.

Refrigerant rules

• Since January 1, 2025, new stand-alone retail food refrigeration units, such as reach-in coolers and freezers, made or imported in the US must use a refrigerant with a global warming potential (GWP) under 150.Source: 40 CFR 84.54(a)(4) (National Archives, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations); from January 1, 2025 · From our study: California refrigerant rules timeline
• Since January 1, 2026, the same limit applies to self-contained ice machines making up to 1,000 lb of ice a day (batch type) or up to 1,200 lb (continuous type).Source: 40 CFR 84.54(a)(8)(i) (National Archives, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations); from January 1, 2026 · From our study: California refrigerant rules timeline
• From July 27, 2026, a newly installed remote condensing unit in retail food refrigeration, such as a walk-in cooler or freezer with a separate condensing unit, needs a refrigerant with a GWP under 1,400; from January 1, 2032, under 150 or 300, depending on the system.Source: 40 CFR 84.54(c)(11)(i) (National Archives, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations); from July 27, 2026 · From our study: California refrigerant rules timeline
• In EPA’s GWP table, R-404A has a GWP of 3,922, R-410A 2,088 and HFC-134a 1,430.Source: U.S. EPA, Technology Transitions GWP Reference Table; as downloaded November 12, 2026 · From our study: California refrigerant rules timeline
• Since January 1, 2025, newly produced bulk HFC refrigerant with a GWP above 2,200, such as R-404A, may not be sold in California; the limit drops to 1,500 on January 1, 2030, and 750 on January 1, 2033. Reclaimed refrigerant can still be sold.Source: SB 1206 (2022) and AB 663 (2025), CARB summary (California Air Resources Board); from January 1, 2025 · From our study: California refrigerant rules timeline
• Since January 1, 2026, owners of refrigeration equipment holding 15 lb or more of HFC refrigerant must work out the leak rate every time refrigerant is added; for commercial refrigeration, a leak rate above 20% means finding and repairing the leaks within 30 days.Source: 40 CFR 84.106 (National Archives, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations); from January 1, 2026 · From our study: California refrigerant rules timeline
• California has barred R-404A, R-507A and several other HFCs in new remote condensing units and supermarket systems since January 1, 2019. An existing system counts as new if its compressor capacity is increased, or if parts replaced within any three years cost more than 50% of replacing the whole system.Source: Cal. Code Regs., tit. 17, § 95374(a), Table 1 (California Air Resources Board); from January 1, 2019 · From our study: California refrigerant rules timeline
• California’s Refrigerant Management Program covers any facility with a refrigeration system holding over 50 lb of high-GWP refrigerant: it must register, check for leaks and fix leaks within 14 days.Source: Cal. Code Regs., tit. 17, § 95380 and following; CARB summary (California Air Resources Board); in force · From our study: California refrigerant rules timeline
• Food store companies with 20 or more stores in California, and national supermarket chains, must bring the weighted-average GWP of their refrigerant under 2,500, or cut their total greenhouse gas potential by 25% or more below 2019 levels, by December 31, 2026.Source: Cal. Code Regs., tit. 17, § 95374(d), Table 4 (California Air Resources Board); by December 31, 2026 · From our study: California refrigerant rules timeline
• EPA: “There are no requirements to stop using any specific equipment or appliance currently in use.”Source: U.S. EPA, Frequent Questions on the Phasedown of Hydrofluorocarbons; as downloaded November 12, 2026 · From our study: California refrigerant rules timeline
• The exception is the federal leak rule: if repairs do not bring a system holding 15 lb or more of HFC refrigerant below its leak-rate limit, the owner must make and carry out a plan to retrofit the system to another refrigerant or retire it.Source: 40 CFR 84.106(c)(1) and (h) (National Archives, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations); in force · From our study: California refrigerant rules timeline
• Since January 1, 2025, new air conditioning for homes and businesses in California, other than room, window and portable units and variable refrigerant flow systems, must use a refrigerant with a GWP under 750. A system with one condenser and one evaporator counts as new when it gets a new outdoor condenser or condensing unit.Source: Cal. Code Regs., tit. 17, § 95374(c), Table 3, and § 95373 (California Air Resources Board); from January 1, 2025 · From our study: California refrigerant rules timeline

A summary, not legal advice. Each rule has definitions and exemptions; the timeline links the rule text for every date.

Federal efficiency standards for commercial refrigeration

• The U.S. Department of Energy’s efficiency standards for walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers, published December 23, 2024, were withdrawn as of May 20, 2025, after Congress disapproved them, so their new limits will not apply.Source: 90 FR 21391 (Federal Register); May 20, 2025 · From our study: California refrigerant rules timeline
• The U.S. Department of Energy’s efficiency standards for commercial refrigerators, freezers and refrigerator-freezers, published January 21, 2025, were withdrawn as of May 20, 2025, after Congress disapproved them, so their new limits will not apply.Source: 90 FR 21392 (Federal Register); May 20, 2025 · From our study: California refrigerant rules timeline

What this means for Bay Area businesses

• Running costs weigh more here. At about 1.9 times the US commercial price, refrigeration that runs longer than it should costs a California business more than the same waste would cost at the US average price. Our guide to lowering refrigeration energy costs lists the free fixes first.
• Temperature is the inspection finding to plan for. See our health inspection refrigeration checklist and the cold-holding study.
• Check the refrigerant before you buy. Existing equipment can be repaired, but new walk-ins, reach-ins and ice machines face lower limits; the refrigerant rules timeline lists the dates.

Method

What is here. 34 statements, each generated by a script from data, never typed by hand. Electricity prices come from U.S. Energy Information Administration spreadsheets we downloaded on November 12, 2026, and we keep dated copies. The other figures come from our three studies, which each compute their numbers from public records (county inspection data, NOAA weather records, and federal and state rule text) and explain their method and limits.

Independent check. A separate script checked each statement against a second source: EIA’s web versions of the same tables, plus a recomputation of each price from EIA’s revenue and sales tables; the county’s open data portal, queried directly, for the inspection counts; and each study’s own check, which recounts the weather data through NOAA’s Applied Climate Information System and confirms every refrigerant rule against a second official document. Every statement matched.

Sources

• Table 2.10, Average Price of Electricity to Ultimate Customers by End-Use Sector, by State, 2025 and 2024, U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Annual: www.eia.gov/electricity/annual/html/epa_02_10.html
• Table 5.6.B, Average Price of Electricity to Ultimate Customers by End-Use Sector, by State, Year-to-Date, U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly: www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.php?t=table_5_06_b
• Table 5.6.A, Average Price of Electricity to Ultimate Customers by End-Use Sector, by State, by month, U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly: www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.php?t=table_5_06_a
• County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health, food inspection and violation data: data.sccgov.org/d/wkaa-4ccv
• Our study of cold-holding violations, with its sources: 1800coolaid.com/research/santa-clara-county-cold-holding-violations/
• Our study of San Jose hot days (NOAA), with its sources: 1800coolaid.com/research/san-jose-hot-days-trend/
• Our refrigerant rules timeline, with every rule source: 1800coolaid.com/research/refrigerant-rules-timeline-california/

Limits

• Each figure is as of the date or period shown. EIA publishes new data every month, the county inspection data is a rolling window, and rules change, so newer figures may differ.
• Electricity prices are averages for the whole state, not a quote for any business.
• Inspection figures describe Santa Clara County only; the weather figures describe two airport stations.
• Refrigerant rules are summarized. This page is not legal advice.

More research from Cool Aid A/C & Refrigeration