You also have to give them all your excess power for free, thanks to deregulation, but they charge you for anything you use. 3 separate meters. Really wrong.

You have to watch out for those governments. Some local governments are now requiring that even if you don't use their gas, electric, water, or sewer you still have to have their hookups with minimum monthly charges to the government services and the utility companies.

Planning ahead. Excellent!

Planning for a cistern, too?

In our first house, we had solar-heated water - I like to take long showers and we had a hot tub. The system included a giant 300 gal. hot water storage tank, and it was GREAT. If it had been a sunny day, you could probably take a 24-hour hot shower.
Now, looking for a new house, I intend to install the same system, and add some amount of photovoltaic panels as well. I'm not comfortable if a government-controlled entity is supplying my gas and electricity - or my hot shower and my coffee.
Yours Sincerely,
Mrs. Gatsby

Hello richrobinson,
Sounds to me like these regulations could get you into hot water.. :)

I replaced my electric tank heater with an on demand gas unit (Rinnai) about 5 years ago. I did not see as much savings as I had hoped for and it takes a bit longer for the hot water to reach the faucet. The upside is that it is an endless supply.
Just more busy body bureaucratic nonsense, although not as bad as low volume flush toilets...
Regards,
O.A.

Mine is a gas unit. It works great.

The hot water is not instant to the tap with the gas as the water does have to travel through the pipes just like a water tank.

As far as energy savings I have not seen much of a difference (5 months now with the new system) so I would not buy it for that reason. I am seeing about a 2% decrease in the gas usage bill compared to last year. Not enough to pay back the difference in cost for the life of the unit.

The savings are in the fact that the unit has a warranty of 24 years rather than 12 years. Wont have to replace it for a long time. Its about 50% more to put in.

Overall I would recommend it (when your current system fails). I like the fact that you can set the temperature of the water. It no longer burns me if I do not mix in some cold in the shower because its at 110 degrees all the time. I also like the extra space in my home to store stuff. The water tank is pretty large, my new water heater is about 2 feet wide by 1 foot tall by 6 inch think hanging on my wall.

I would not replace it till your current system fails. No fixing what is not broken.

I now have an area where I can put furnace filters and other stuff that I would like to store in the utility room rather than having it somewhere else because it does not fit.

Good for you!!! You get an extra hot shower each day for the same cost, too.
Did you install a gas or electric unit? Are you happy with it in terms of performance?
Overseas many hotels have electric tankless hot water systems in each room, and they appear to work well.

I switched to a tankless system when I had to replace mine. No regulatory issues there. I think they are attempting to drive people to the tankless system as they are more energy efficient but more costly to install. Raise the cost of the tank system to where its about where the tankless is and people will by the tankless system to save money on the energy side.

I bought tankless for one reason. I have two teens that both love to use up the hot water in the morning and I got sick of taking a cold shower after my morning workout.

I also have not seen an energy savings. Its about the same (5 months in now) but I never have to take a cold shower now. Purpose achieved.

When we sold our house in Phoenix 10 years ago the buyer insisted that we change the old water heater that was working fine. We offered to cut the sales price and he refused. So we had a new one installed. Within a week after closing it was leaking. HA HA HA HA. Don't fix what isn't broken.

This article sounds like industry reps trying to get suckers to buy existing models now so the industry doesn't have to eat the cost themselves when the new regs are applied. Granted the new regs are economically foolish and unconstitutional (for unconsenting sovereign people.). Don't fix what isn't broken.

I didn't hear that. Typical government over reach.

In addition, unless the regulation has been substiantially changed, you can't sell your house unless these upgrades are all made prior to putting it on the market...in other words, you can't even tell the buyer, "Look, I'll knock $1500 off the price if you'll take care of the heater yourself".