Every home should be cheap to run
Efficient electric appliances can save a household around $2,000 a year in energy bills. The Australians who would benefit most are the ones who can't make the switch.
Sector opportunity: The switch starts with the next appliance
Hot water, heating and cooling drive the biggest share of energy bills, especially in homes still running on gas or inefficient electric systems. The fix is proven and ready. Every household's next appliance should be electric.
$2,000
Efficient electric appliances, powered by low-cost Australian-made electricity, can save households around $2,000 a year in energy bills.
$4 billion
The health benefits are clear. The cost of asthma attributable to burning gas in homes is estimated over $4 billion per year.
What's possible
Modelling* shows Australia can power a greater share of households with electricity.
Today
Electricity share of energy use
By 2035
Electricity share of energy use by 2035
Electrifying a whole community
Right now an ambitious project is aiming to electrify a whole community of 500 homes.
The Electrify 2515 Community Pilot is demonstrating what is possible when electrification is tackled at a community scale. Backed by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), the project brings together Rewiring Australia, Brighte and Endeavour Energy to support 500 households in the Illawarra region to replace gas appliances with efficient electric alternatives. The pilot offers subsidies, connects households with trusted installers, and provides smart energy technology to help optimise energy use. Beyond reducing energy bills and emissions, the project is generating valuable real-world data on consumer behaviour, grid impacts, workforce needs and the challenges of electrifying different housing types. By testing community electrification at scale, Electrify 2515 is helping to build a roadmap for faster, smarter electrification across Australia.
The policy ask
An Electrified Households package provides new targeted and conditional Commonwealth funding for states, territories and councils to supercharge the electrification of rental properties, social housing, First Nations and low-income households currently locked out of the switch. Elements of the package should be contingent on states and territories having minimum energy performance standards for rentals that support electrification in place. If minimum requirements for rental standards are in place, the federal package provides time-limited, conditional and targeted financial support for electrification and energy efficiency upgrade programs implemented by states and territories.
Targeted and time-limited finance options to assist landlords in meeting energy performance standards, coupled with stronger protections for renters.
Funding to new or existing state-run energy upgrades programs (i.e. Solar Victoria, NSW Home Energy Saver Program), so states, territories and/or local councils can provide interest-free loans and discounts for low-income households to electrify.
Help locked-out households switch to money-saving appliances
An 'Electrified Households' package that provides new targeted and conditional Commonwealth funding for states, territories and councils to supercharge the electrification of rental properties, social housing and low-income households currently locked out of the switch.
A platform for change
The barriers differ by sector. The answer is the same everywhere — clear policy signals, effective regulation and targeted incentives that reach the people and businesses currently locked out of the switch.
Put around $2,000 a year in savings within every household’s reach.
An Electrified Households package — new targeted and conditional Commonwealth funding for states, territories and councils to electrify rental properties, social housing, and First Nations and low-income households currently locked out of the switch.
Give manufacturers energy costs they can count on.
An Electrified Industry program targeting key subsectors to move to heat pumps for low temperature process heat. Alongside it, legislate a demand-side compliance mechanism into the Domestic Gas Reservation Scheme.
Back the switch already underway on Australian farms.
An Electrified Farming program to give farmers choice to replace equipment that is well suited to electrification. Alongside it, remove the regulatory barriers to on-farm energy sharing that do not exist for liquid fuels.
Stop importing the fuel that moves everything we buy.
Two programs, equally weighted. An Electrified Freight program to cut upfront costs for small and medium businesses. And an Accessible EVs program for new and second-hand cars and charging infrastructure for low-income households.
Signal where the energy system is heading, then build for it.
Issue an Australia’s Electric Future vision statement setting out the central role of electrification in every sector. Alongside it, set up Connecting the Suburbs and Connecting the Regions programs.
Take the tax thumb off the diesel scale.
Cap the diesel Fuel Tax Credit regime to incentivise electrification of mining equipment, while protecting the businesses that depend on it. Farmers and small and medium enterprises stay untouched.
Buildings that cost less to run, for owners and tenants alike.
An Electrified Commercial Buildings program that strengthens finance and procurement settings. Alongside it, accelerate the expansion of the Commercial Building Disclosure program.
Electrify Australia is a growing movement of consumer, business, civil society and research groups advocating for a national effort to accelerate electrification, to secure an affordable and resilient energy future for everyone.
Electrification means swapping gas, diesel and petrol for electric alternatives powered by renewables, so households, businesses and industry run on cheaper energy that's made in Australia.
* Footnote on modelling:
Today” is 2023-24, the latest available data from the Australian Energy Update 2025. 2035 numbers are EEC analysis of a scenario based on Climateworks Centre Centre decarbonisation scenarios 2023: Paris Agreement alignment for Australia. This is consistent with sourcing around 35% of Australia's final demand from electricity in 2035.