Title 24 the Building Standards Code has an update scheduled to publish in July of 2025 with code effective dates of January 1, 2026. The Pool and Hot Tub Alliance PHTA has wonderful weekly Webinars. They had Nick Brown from BuildSmartGroup.com give a great summary of the changes that are coming.

Residential Controllers
​A residential controller is referred to a system that allows you to plug in and control and automate all aspects of your pool and spa. Your pump, heater, chlorinator, lights and all kinds of water features.

The new Title 20 section 1693 - Appliance Specific Standards and Requirements ... (b) pool controls (1)...manufactured on or after September 29, 2025. ...(6)Communication. ...(B)Pool controls shall communicate with entities outside the device using open standards for all communication layers for the customer and consumer consent functions listed in section 1694...

For those of us in California we are familiar with flex power consent. They are taking steps to be able to flex power in the pool systems. This doesn't mean that starting in September they will be able to turn off your pool appliances as they need to flex power usage. But it is the beginning in heading to that direction. As the new regulation states all controllers manufactured on September 29, 2025 will have the capacity to communicate with Energy Authorities or Third Party Entities. 

With the amount of pools in California I can see how this can be an easy way to flex a large amount of power especially during peak hours to avoid blackouts.

I don't see a Commercial application to this new regulation. In Commercial when referring to controllers it is more of a water chemistry management. Not an overall Energy Consumption monitor.

Pool and Spa Heating Sources and Sizing >Section 110.4(c)
"The 2025 Energy Code allows for five different options for pool and spa heating systems, applicable to both new pools and spas and existing pools and spas with new heating systems. Compliant choices include heat pump pool heating and/or solar heating systems."

This is a push to move away from Gas. Applying to both Residential and Commercial applications. We have the temporary reprieve stated as "New Construction and Alteration project scopes are typically scopes of work that will trigger requirements of Title 24, Part 6, Title 20 or both. Repairs do not trigger these requirements."
But I wouldn't wait too long in looking forward, because if these are the new regulations it means that manufactures will focus on complying with new regulations and the non-compliant options may disappear.

Which is what happened to the 3rd Big change in regards to pool pump motors. In California we have been complying with the following regulations since 2021. Almost all single speed motors disappeared from the market. Pentair did manage to produce an approved 1hp single speed pump that works great for our Port-a-Vac's.

 "Automated Aquatics LLC filed as a Domestic in the State of California on Monday, March 22, 2021."

We incorporated this year. With all of the struggles in the pool industry these past two years it allowed us to realize we can survive almost everything. With that being said we have acquired a growth mindset. 

A big part of growing in the digital age is, well, to go digital.

So here we are - we look forward to providing you with knowledge and support for all of your water maintenance needs.

Ted Beck - Owner
Sonia Valdez - Ops Mgr
Jose Luevano - Field Mgr