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Australia is increasingly moving towards all‑electric homes to promote lower energy bills and emissions for an overall more sustainable future.
‘Electric appliances, especially modern heat pumps and induction cooktops, are far more energy efficient [than their gas counterparts], and when paired with rooftop solar panels and a home battery, they can result in significant savings in the long run,’ says Hilton Garcia, product lead home electrification at AGL.
‘We have some of the best solar and wind resources in the world. When homes are fully electric, they can be powered increasingly by renewable electricity generated locally, cutting household emissions, and supporting national net‑zero targets.’
What does going ‘all-electric’ actually mean?
Going all-electric or electrification simply means replacing all gas appliances with modern electric alternatives.
This includes:
- Replacing or opting for a heat pump hot water system over a gas hot water systems
- Installing reverse‑cycle air conditioning instead of gas heating
- Having an induction cooktop instead of a gas cooktop
- Installing solar panels and a home battery to harness to generate and store your own energy
Switching to all-electric appliances doesn’t have to be an all-at-once thing, especially if you’re living in an existing house with gas appliances that are still in perfect working order. A good approach is to replace appliances gradually as they wear out, or as finances allow.
What are the cost benefits?
Large gas appliances such as heating and hot water systems are more expensive to run than electric counterparts, such as reverse-cycle air conditioners, which can cost as little as one-third the cost of gas to run, or one-fifth of running standard electric heaters.
When paired with solar or a battery, this cost can be largely offset, although the upfront setup costs can take several years to achieve ‘payback.’
To reduce these upfront costs, the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme provides financial incentives to install some appliances. Rebates and benefits vary by state, but commonly include discounts for heat pump hot water systems, reverse‑cycle air conditioners, induction cooktops, solar and batteries.
There are also low‑interest finance options available through the Household Energy Upgrades Fund, as well as the Cheaper Home Batteries program that launched in 2025.
What are the environmental and health benefits of an all-electric home?
Cooking with gas releases chemicals such as nitrogen dioxide and formaldehyde that can cause inflammation in the airways and may worsen asthma symptoms, according to the National Asthma Council Australia. An induction cooktop eliminates this risk, while also being easy to clean, and minimalist in appearance.
Most electric appliances also produce lower greenhouse gas emissions than their gas counterparts.
What assistance and resources are available to help simplify the process?
In addition to helping identify available rebates, AGL’s Electrify Now™ tool uses your household electricity data to estimate your potential energy savings when you make the switch to electric products. Then, when you’re ready to move from inspiration to action, AGL’s Electrify Now™ tool can also connect you with a trusted installer to help electrify your home in one simple, easy‑to‑navigate experience.
If you’re still feeling overwhelmed, engaging an independent energy consultant or auditor can be a great place to start. These experts can visit your home, observe which appliances you’re using most, and figure out the most energy and cost-efficient ways to replace them.
Learn more about how to electrify your home with AGL’s Electrify Now™ tool. Estimate your potential savings on energy bills or running costs and find out about available rebates, payback periods and more.
