Renew: Switching to an all-electric home is a powerful move
Australia is a world leader in rooftop solar with more than four million installed around the country, yet only one in 40 households has installed batteries.
The high upfront cost of batteries means they have been out of reach for many households and businesses.
But that's all changing right now. Last week, Chris Bowen announced that 20,000 new batteries were installed in July 2025.
That is three times the rate of last year, and is largely due to the Federal Government's much anticipated 30% Cheaper Home Batteries Program which kicked in on 1 July, making batteries more affordable for more households.
For those of us who have solar panels, investing in a battery means our home appliances will likely be free to run. Instead of buying relatively expensive electricity from providers, we will be using our solar stored energy when we need it most, such as at dinner time or for air-con in the evenings and overnight.
Renewable energy technology continues to develop, and electricity has become the cheapest way to power our homes. You'll find some of your neighbours already have all-electric homes, and quite soon, other alternatives will be too expensive or no longer available.
While it can be hard to find independent advice, this is where a community network like Renew can help.
We are an independent, not-for-profit organisation that does not benefit or receive commission from anyone.
We have experts and resources to point you in the right direction so you don't get lost. You can find out how to add a battery to your home at renew.org.au/go/just-add-batteries.
A few months ago, Rewiring Australia published a report showing that Australia has reached the electrification tipping point.
What this means is that when it's time for us to replace an appliance, it is now better value to buy an electric one than the fossil fuel alternative, even when you include the cost of purchase and installation.
According to Rewiring Australia, the average fossil fuel home could save $4400 per year if switched to all-electric.
If you are building a new house, it makes economic sense to go all-electric from the start. If you have an existing home, you can replace gas appliances one by one as needed to suit your priorities and budget. The energy savings you make by replacing one appliance can help pay for the next one.
For instance, when your gas hot water goes cold, don't just replace it with the same. Times have changed since you last looked - hot water heat pumps have joined traditional solar hot water as one of the most reliable and efficient hot water systems.
If your gas hob is fried, get an electric induction cooktop. It's fast and efficient, and easy to clean. In our household, we don't know how we ever managed without one - I couldn't cook before, and now I can boil an egg perfectly!
Above all, keep an eye on available rebates and incentives; they change frequently, and some are for limited times only. Make changes that are beneficial to your situation, as every household has different uses and needs.
If you'd like to know more about this topic, talk to your local Renew branch about your home energy needs.
A great opportunity to meet us is coming up this Friday, as I am coordinating the Newcastle leg of the Faster and Fairer Tour with Dr Saul Griffith, one of Australia's leading advocates on home electrification. As chief scientist at Rewiring Australia, Dr Griffith will discuss the importance and inevitability of all-electric homes. Local members will share their home electrification journeys.
Come join us for a drink from 5pm this Friday, August 15, 2025, at 'The Station' in Newcastle. Tickets $10, bookings: renew.org.au/go/faster-and-fairer
Ewa Meyer is the Convenor of Renew's Hunter Region Branch. hunterregion@renew.org.au
We hear a lot about moving to renewable energy, installing rooftop solar or getting off gas. But saving the planet is not a priority for those of us desperate to save money on our energy bills. And yes, you can do both!
Australia is a world leader in rooftop solar with more than four million installed around the country, yet only one in 40 households has installed batteries.
The high upfront cost of batteries means they have been out of reach for many households and businesses.
But that's all changing right now. Last week, Chris Bowen announced that 20,000 new batteries were installed in July 2025.
That is three times the rate of last year, and is largely due to the Federal Government's much anticipated 30% Cheaper Home Batteries Program which kicked in on 1 July, making batteries more affordable for more households.
For those of us who have solar panels, investing in a battery means our home appliances will likely be free to run. Instead of buying relatively expensive electricity from providers, we will be using our solar stored energy when we need it most, such as at dinner time or for air-con in the evenings and overnight.
Renewable energy technology continues to develop, and electricity has become the cheapest way to power our homes. You'll find some of your neighbours already have all-electric homes, and quite soon, other alternatives will be too expensive or no longer available.
While it can be hard to find independent advice, this is where a community network like Renew can help.
We are an independent, not-for-profit organisation that does not benefit or receive commission from anyone.
We have experts and resources to point you in the right direction so you don't get lost. You can find out how to add a battery to your home at renew.org.au/go/just-add-batteries.
A few months ago, Rewiring Australia published a report showing that Australia has reached the electrification tipping point.
What this means is that when it's time for us to replace an appliance, it is now better value to buy an electric one than the fossil fuel alternative, even when you include the cost of purchase and installation.
According to Rewiring Australia, the average fossil fuel home could save $4400 per year if switched to all-electric.
If you are building a new house, it makes economic sense to go all-electric from the start. If you have an existing home, you can replace gas appliances one by one as needed to suit your priorities and budget. The energy savings you make by replacing one appliance can help pay for the next one.
For instance, when your gas hot water goes cold, don't just replace it with the same. Times have changed since you last looked - hot water heat pumps have joined traditional solar hot water as one of the most reliable and efficient hot water systems.
If your gas hob is fried, get an electric induction cooktop. It's fast and efficient, and easy to clean. In our household, we don't know how we ever managed without one - I couldn't cook before, and now I can boil an egg perfectly!
Above all, keep an eye on available rebates and incentives; they change frequently, and some are for limited times only. Make changes that are beneficial to your situation, as every household has different uses and needs.
If you'd like to know more about this topic, talk to your local Renew branch about your home energy needs.
A great opportunity to meet us is coming up this Friday, as I am coordinating the Newcastle leg of the Faster and Fairer Tour with Dr Saul Griffith, one of Australia's leading advocates on home electrification. As chief scientist at Rewiring Australia, Dr Griffith will discuss the importance and inevitability of all-electric homes. Local members will share their home electrification journeys.
Come join us for a drink from 5pm this Friday, August 15, 2025, at 'The Station' in Newcastle. Tickets $10, bookings: renew.org.au/go/faster-and-fairer
Ewa Meyer is the Convenor of Renew's Hunter Region Branch. hunterregion@renew.org.au
We hear a lot about moving to renewable energy, installing rooftop solar or getting off gas. But saving the planet is not a priority for those of us desperate to save money on our energy bills. And yes, you can do both!
Australia is a world leader in rooftop solar with more than four million installed around the country, yet only one in 40 households has installed batteries.
The high upfront cost of batteries means they have been out of reach for many households and businesses.
But that's all changing right now. Last week, Chris Bowen announced that 20,000 new batteries were installed in July 2025.
That is three times the rate of last year, and is largely due to the Federal Government's much anticipated 30% Cheaper Home Batteries Program which kicked in on 1 July, making batteries more affordable for more households.
For those of us who have solar panels, investing in a battery means our home appliances will likely be free to run. Instead of buying relatively expensive electricity from providers, we will be using our solar stored energy when we need it most, such as at dinner time or for air-con in the evenings and overnight.
Renewable energy technology continues to develop, and electricity has become the cheapest way to power our homes. You'll find some of your neighbours already have all-electric homes, and quite soon, other alternatives will be too expensive or no longer available.
While it can be hard to find independent advice, this is where a community network like Renew can help.
We are an independent, not-for-profit organisation that does not benefit or receive commission from anyone.
We have experts and resources to point you in the right direction so you don't get lost. You can find out how to add a battery to your home at renew.org.au/go/just-add-batteries.
A few months ago, Rewiring Australia published a report showing that Australia has reached the electrification tipping point.
What this means is that when it's time for us to replace an appliance, it is now better value to buy an electric one than the fossil fuel alternative, even when you include the cost of purchase and installation.
According to Rewiring Australia, the average fossil fuel home could save $4400 per year if switched to all-electric.
If you are building a new house, it makes economic sense to go all-electric from the start. If you have an existing home, you can replace gas appliances one by one as needed to suit your priorities and budget. The energy savings you make by replacing one appliance can help pay for the next one.
For instance, when your gas hot water goes cold, don't just replace it with the same. Times have changed since you last looked - hot water heat pumps have joined traditional solar hot water as one of the most reliable and efficient hot water systems.
If your gas hob is fried, get an electric induction cooktop. It's fast and efficient, and easy to clean. In our household, we don't know how we ever managed without one - I couldn't cook before, and now I can boil an egg perfectly!
Above all, keep an eye on available rebates and incentives; they change frequently, and some are for limited times only. Make changes that are beneficial to your situation, as every household has different uses and needs.
If you'd like to know more about this topic, talk to your local Renew branch about your home energy needs.
A great opportunity to meet us is coming up this Friday, as I am coordinating the Newcastle leg of the Faster and Fairer Tour with Dr Saul Griffith, one of Australia's leading advocates on home electrification. As chief scientist at Rewiring Australia, Dr Griffith will discuss the importance and inevitability of all-electric homes. Local members will share their home electrification journeys.
Come join us for a drink from 5pm this Friday, August 15, 2025, at 'The Station' in Newcastle. Tickets $10, bookings: renew.org.au/go/faster-and-fairer
Ewa Meyer is the Convenor of Renew's Hunter Region Branch. hunterregion@renew.org.au
We hear a lot about moving to renewable energy, installing rooftop solar or getting off gas. But saving the planet is not a priority for those of us desperate to save money on our energy bills. And yes, you can do both!
Australia is a world leader in rooftop solar with more than four million installed around the country, yet only one in 40 households has installed batteries.
The high upfront cost of batteries means they have been out of reach for many households and businesses.
But that's all changing right now. Last week, Chris Bowen announced that 20,000 new batteries were installed in July 2025.
That is three times the rate of last year, and is largely due to the Federal Government's much anticipated 30% Cheaper Home Batteries Program which kicked in on 1 July, making batteries more affordable for more households.
For those of us who have solar panels, investing in a battery means our home appliances will likely be free to run. Instead of buying relatively expensive electricity from providers, we will be using our solar stored energy when we need it most, such as at dinner time or for air-con in the evenings and overnight.
Renewable energy technology continues to develop, and electricity has become the cheapest way to power our homes. You'll find some of your neighbours already have all-electric homes, and quite soon, other alternatives will be too expensive or no longer available.
While it can be hard to find independent advice, this is where a community network like Renew can help.
We are an independent, not-for-profit organisation that does not benefit or receive commission from anyone.
We have experts and resources to point you in the right direction so you don't get lost. You can find out how to add a battery to your home at renew.org.au/go/just-add-batteries.
A few months ago, Rewiring Australia published a report showing that Australia has reached the electrification tipping point.
What this means is that when it's time for us to replace an appliance, it is now better value to buy an electric one than the fossil fuel alternative, even when you include the cost of purchase and installation.
According to Rewiring Australia, the average fossil fuel home could save $4400 per year if switched to all-electric.
If you are building a new house, it makes economic sense to go all-electric from the start. If you have an existing home, you can replace gas appliances one by one as needed to suit your priorities and budget. The energy savings you make by replacing one appliance can help pay for the next one.
For instance, when your gas hot water goes cold, don't just replace it with the same. Times have changed since you last looked - hot water heat pumps have joined traditional solar hot water as one of the most reliable and efficient hot water systems.
If your gas hob is fried, get an electric induction cooktop. It's fast and efficient, and easy to clean. In our household, we don't know how we ever managed without one - I couldn't cook before, and now I can boil an egg perfectly!
Above all, keep an eye on available rebates and incentives; they change frequently, and some are for limited times only. Make changes that are beneficial to your situation, as every household has different uses and needs.
If you'd like to know more about this topic, talk to your local Renew branch about your home energy needs.
A great opportunity to meet us is coming up this Friday, as I am coordinating the Newcastle leg of the Faster and Fairer Tour with Dr Saul Griffith, one of Australia's leading advocates on home electrification. As chief scientist at Rewiring Australia, Dr Griffith will discuss the importance and inevitability of all-electric homes. Local members will share their home electrification journeys.
Come join us for a drink from 5pm this Friday, August 15, 2025, at 'The Station' in Newcastle. Tickets $10, bookings: renew.org.au/go/faster-and-fairer
Ewa Meyer is the Convenor of Renew's Hunter Region Branch. hunterregion@renew.org.au
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