With government policy and incentives supporting the transition from gas to electricity, Energy Consumers Australia have reported that households in the ACT are more than twice as likely to consider the switch.
The latest Energy Consumer Behaviour Survey, published by Energy Consumers Australia, has revealed that a quarter of Canberrans are seriously considering making their homes all-electric compared to just eleven per cent of households nationwide. A further 29 per cent have considered converting from gas but are not yet at the stage of acting.
Energy Consumers Australia CEO, Brendan French, said that the trend has highlighted the role of government action in the energy transition, with the ACT having recently introduced legislation and incentives to encourage households to electrify.
“Consumers and industry deserve certainty – and when they get that certainty from governments like the ACT, they start to move towards action,” Mr French said.
“With Victoria recently announcing a ban on gas in new homes, we hope to see a similar trend in that state in future years.”
The Energy Consumer Behaviour Survey, which was introduced in 2021, provides a comprehensive picture of the attitudes and activity of residential and small business energy consumers – how they use power and associated energy technology, their attitudes to new technology, and how they see the future of energy for themselves and their communities.
Dr French said that Energy Consumers Australia’s research shows there are significant cost benefits for consumers from going all-electric and it is important for consumers to have access to the right information at the right time to empower them to make decisions about how to electrify their homes to suit their unique situation.
“The energy transition doesn’t mean everyone has to go out tomorrow and electrify their house. It means replacing your gas stovetop with electric when your stovetop dies, or getting a heat pump when your gas hot water heater dies.”
However, the organisation’s research also shows that households on low incomes, people living in apartments and renters face barriers to going all-electric.
“We often forget that only 52 per cent of Australian households are owner-occupied, stand-alone homes while the other half must negotiate home upgrades with other tenants and landlords.
“We need all three levels of government to come together and develop a national plan for households to go all-electric that provides the information, funding and support people need, and identifies the policy changes that will ensure no one is left behind.”
