How to create a more electric home

Why go electric?

• Save money: Replacing gas appliances with efficient electric ones can lower running costs, especially if you use your own solar. For example, converting a solar equipped home from gas to electric can save up to $1,000 a year when you maximise daytime solar use.
• Cut emissions: Electric appliances are cleaner and keep getting cleaner as the grid decarbonises.
• Improve comfort and safety: Modern electric heating and induction cooking are fast, precise and safer.

1. Make a plan

Make a plan that prioritises which of your appliances you need to replace over time and within your budget. Consider your household’s needs and any upcoming renovations or a new build, which can be a cheaper and more practical time to upgrade.

Think about:

• which appliances are oldest (10+ years) and likely to be replaced soon
• how your household uses heating, hot water and cooking
• space for indoor/outdoor components
• whether you have solar (or plan to add it)
• small habits to reduce your energy bills.

2. Prioritise your appliances

To save the most money and cut the most gas use, start with the biggest gas users first.

Typical order of highest gas use:

• heating (main living area first, then smaller rooms)
• hot water
• cooktop.

To maximise the use of your appliances and avoid creating additional waste, replace appliances one at a time, as they approach the end of their working life.

3. Know your budget (and factor this into your timelines)

There are upfront costs to going electric, even though running costs are typically lower. If you can afford the out of pocket costs or loan repayments after rebates and incentives, you can start right away. Otherwise, you can plan upgrades over time and channel savings into the next upgrade.

Guide price ranges (purchase + typical installation), indicative, as of February 2025:

• split system reverse cycle air conditioner (single room): $600–$5,000
• ducted reverse cycle air conditioning (whole of home): $9,000–$12,000+
• electric heat pump (hot water): $2,700–$5,900
• electric storage hot water: $500–$2,100
• builtin induction cooktop: $800–$5,000+
• portable plugin induction cooktop (no installation): $50–$400+
• electric oven: $400–$15,000
• electric vehicle: $44,990–$200,000
• electric bike: $1,500–$4,000+

(Installation costs vary. You should get multiple quotes for the same system. Aim for best value, not the cheapest. A system that’s too small can cost more to run.)

4. Set a timeline

How long it takes to go more electric depends on your budget, the age of your existing appliances, and other plans like renovations or building new.

Example staged plan:

5. Select your new appliances

Now the fun part — choosing appliances that suit your lifestyle.

Questions to ask (heating):

• how big are the rooms I need to heat/cool?
• whole of home or single room?
• how much space is available for indoor/outdoor units?

Questions to ask (hot water):

• how many people use hot water at peak times?

Questions to ask (cooking):

• how many pots and pans do I usually have on the cooktop at once?

Do your homework:

• check the energy rating label. More stars = more efficient and cheaper to run
• ask retailers which size and system best fits your home and budget
• get multiple quotes and compare like-for-like
• read reviews (e.g., CHOICE) and talk to friends or family who’ve upgraded
• join local community groups to learn from people who’ve gone electric.

Small habits to reduce your energy bills:

• use appliances when your solar is generating (daytime) to maximise savings
• set efficient temperatures (e.g. 20–22°C for heating in winter)
• seal drafts and improve insulation to reduce heating and cooling loads
• use induction’s precise control and faster boil to save time and energy.

Incentives and support:

• Solar Homes solar PV rebate: up to $1,400 plus an equivalent interest-free loan to reduce upfront costs of installing solar panels.
• Solar Homes hot water rebate plus VEU Hot Water discount: up to $1,960 if you buy and install a locally made hot water system or up to $1,630 if you choose another system.
• VEU heating and cooling discount: up to $1,610 when you replace a gas heater or up to $5,530 when you replace a gas ducted heater.
• VEU induction cooktop discount: up to $140 to replace a gas cooktop.
• VEU Weather sealing and window glazing discount: up to $700 when you install weather sealing products and up to $210 for window glazing products.
• VEU appliance discounts: (clothes dryers, fridges, freezers, televisions): up to $70 when you buy energy-efficient appliances.