Report on the BECS Committee Meeting of January 14-15, 2026, in San Diego, California.
Thanks to everyone who attended in-person or participated virtually in this week’s very productive, BECS Committee Meeting of January 14-15, 2026, held at Sempra Headquarters in San Diego California. The draft minutes of the meeting will be sent out in the near future. All presentation material made at the BECS meeting will be posted on the BECS Committee site. This includes the slides and presentations on the Codes and Standards Issues Discussion, a GTI Technology Development update and the NGV Perspectives, The Transport Project.
AGA Questions on Code and Intent of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC).
On January 13, 2026, AGA staff was notified that the attached 4 Questions on Scope and Intent of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) were officially submitted to the relevant IECC Committee Chairs and the ICC Board of Directors. The AGA submitted the Questions on Scope and Intent concurrent with similar public comments to further clarify the ICC ‘s official interpretation of the IECC Scope statements. Some provisions that have been added to the draft 2027 IECC do not address energy efficiency at all but instead are clear efforts to promote electrification. These include items like appendix provisions that promote “electric ready” installation, EV ready or systems inclusions, etc. Others such as demand-side management, seek to address grid stabilization. Therefore, AGA is seeking further guidance from the ICC Board of Directors to determine if the IECC is an energy conservation code or will be permitted to be used to address issues traditionally outside of its scope.
ICC Proposes Splitting the IECC into Two Documents to Eliminate Controversial Provisions in the Code – Comments Due to AGA by February 1.
Ironically, yesterday the ICC issued a call for comments in a Notice of Building Safety Journal (BSJ) article relating to the 2030 and beyond IECC / IECCX strategy. According to the announcement, the “ ICC Board has established a new framework for developing the 2030 International Energy Conservation Code® (IECC®) that moves its content into two documents, the IECC and IECC Expanded. This split ensures that ICC continues to develop energy codes that meet the varied needs of jurisdictions in the U.S. and around the globe. The intent of the IECC is to establish minimum requirements for the energy-efficient design and construction of buildings, focused on initial construction costs and the operational energy performance of the building. The intent of the IECC Expanded (IECCX) is to provide additive requirements that provide market-driven, enforceable requirements that achieve a reasonable level of energy efficiency that is safe, technologically feasible, and life cycle cost effective, considering economic feasibility, including potential costs and savings for consumers and building owners, and return on investment. The IECC Expanded may include optional or mandatory provisions incorporating additional energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction resources and provisions that lead to achievement of zero energy buildings. The IECC Expanded will provide reasonable compliance options for all energy sources in common use, while allowing requirements to reflect evolving technologies and practices. ” To view the proposed 2030 IECC/IRC Chapter 11/IECC Expanded (IECCX) Scope and Intent draft document, click here. According to the announcement, the ICC is requesting comments on the proposed 2030 IECC/IRC Chapter 11/IECC Expanded (IECCX) Scope and Intent draft document through this form by 11:59 pm Pacific Time on February 15, 2026.
AGA BECS staff is in the process of reviewing the IECC / IECCX strategy and the Expanded (IECCX) Scope and Intent draft document and assess whether or not the new documents address any or all of the concerns we expressed in our 4 questions on Scope and Intent discussed in the above article and will provide our assessment in a timely manner. BECS Committee members are also requested to review the proposal and provide us with feedback by February 1, 2026.
State Codes Activity Update.
Attached is a weekly feature of the “Friday Update” covering state code calendar activities as presented by the online utility “Fiscal Note,” which is sponsored by APGA and AGA Code and Standards. Please review the update and determine if there are state code activities that impact your service territory or organization.
The American Gas Association represents more than 200 local energy companies committed to the safe and reliable delivery of clean natural gas to more than 73 million customers throughout the nation.
2026 – 2027 BECS Committee Meeting Schedule
May 13-14, 2026, Portland, Maine Hotel TBD
September 16 -17, 2026, Wilmington, NC Hotel TBD
January 15-16, 2027, Austin, Texas Hotel TBD