Equitable Electrification and Transitions Away from Gas
Equitable Electrification and Transitions Away from Gas
To meet emissions reductions targets, governments across the world are considering when and how to move away from gas to non-fossil fuel energy sources, including in Victoria, Australia (see Victoria’s Gas Substitution Roadmap). Electrifying homes can help to lower household energy bills and emissions. However, the cost and effort required to convert from gas to electric appliances is challenging for many households, particularly those on low incomes and renters.
Our research explores the views of households about moving from gas to electricity as home energy sources, the barriers they face and supports they would like, and the implications for policy to achieve equitable solutions.
This research provides both the numbers, stories and lived experience of lower income and vulnerable households to inform policy, regulatory and commercial decision-making.
Through surveys and interviews, this research is capturing real household experiences, concerns, and what matters in this energy transition, including:
Enabling Electrification: Supporting Households to Switch from Gas
The challenge
Many households want to switch from gas to electric appliances to save money and help the environment but face real barriers in making this change.
What we found
Renters often can’t get permission from landlords to upgrade appliances
Homeowners struggle with upfront costs, even though they’d save money over time
Many people don’t know about programs that could help them
Different households need different kinds of support
What we did
We surveyed and interviewed Victorian households experiencing energy vulnerability to understand what’s stopping them from electrifying their homes.
What needs to change
Lower-income households need financial subsidies, better information and advice, rental market reforms, and easier access to solar panels and energy efficiency upgrades to make the switch successfully.
This research was funded by Energy Consumers Australia as part of its grants process for consumer advocacy projects and research projects for the benefit of consumers of electricity and natural gas. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of Energy Consumers Australia.
Gas networks require expensive upgrades and replacements. Households pay for these upgrades through their bills. Victorian gas networks will spend more than half a billion dollars upgrading gas pipelines from 2023-28. These infrastructure upgrades could be redundant within the next 20 years.
An alternate approach?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of planning for entire neighbourhoods or streets to fully electrify in order to avoid replacing and upgrading gas pipelines?
Our research
Understanding the feasibility of and support for electrification at the household and neighbourhood scale from the perspective of lower income and vulnerable households
Understanding what financial and non-financial supports these households actually need to electrify
Understanding households’ support for such an approach, if it should be mandatory or voluntary, and who they think should pay for electrification
This research was funded by Energy Consumers Australia as part of its grants process for consumer advocacy projects and research projects for the benefit of consumers of electricity and natural gas. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of Energy Consumers Australia.
Electri-FAIR-cation: Amplifying the Customer Voice in Electrification
About the program
AusNet, in partnership with Gippsland Climate Change Network, Morwell Neighbourhood House and local businesses, is providing free home upgrades to certain households in Morwell, Victoria. This includes electrification and energy efficiency upgrades.
Participating households receive fully funded upgrades including electric appliances and energy efficiency improvements. These upgrades aim to make homes more comfortable and safer, with potential savings of around $1250 per year.
We are undertaking surveys and interviews with participating households to understand their experience of the upgrades process and program. This independent research will help inform AusNet about the effectiveness of the program, and amplify customer voices and lived experiences of electrification.
The Changing Gas Landscape: Unforeseen Shutdowns
Regional Victoria
What’s happening?
In August 2025, Solstice Energy announced it would close its gas network across 10 regional Victorian towns by mid-to-late 2026. Over 1,000 customers will be affected.
Ten regional towns across Victoria will be cut from the gas network in 2026.
In November 2025, we attended public information sessions in Orbost and Lakes Entrance where customers shared their experiences. For Gippsland residents, disconnection comes as early as July 2026.
A summary of these customer perspectives have been compiled, revealing a complex situation driven by:
In September 2021, the Esperance Gas Distribution Company announced it would stop supplying gas to the town of Esperance in Western Australia. 400 customers were affected, including 312 residential homes. The state-owned electricity utility, Horizon Power, provided financial and non-financial support to help customers transition away from reticulated gas.
9 out of 10 chose a full or partial electrification solution.
The gas network was successfully shut down on March 31, 2023.
Customer satisfaction post implementation was 94%.
