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.
Target outcome
Modelling* shows Australia can power a greater share of households with electricity. * Climateworks/EEC
Today
Share powered by electricity today
By 2035
Share powered by electricity by 2032
Electrifying a whole community
Right now an ambitious project is aiming to electrify a whole community of 500 homes.
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.
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.