Electrifying Homes and Businesses Crucial to Securing Lower Bills and Energy Stability

CANBERRA - Thousands of dollars' worth of energy bill savings, improved productivity and protection from volatile global fuel price shocks are among the many benefits of electrification for Australia's households and businesses. 

That is the message from a coalition of leading consumer, business, civil society and research organisations at today's launch of the Electrify Australia campaign at Parliament House with Energy Minister Chris Bowen.

The campaign calls for regulation, policy changes and support from federal and state governments to help households and businesses to replace gas, petrol, and diesel powered appliances, manufacturing equipment and vehicles with more efficient electric alternatives powered by cheap, Australian-made renewable electricity.

Efficient electric appliances powered by locally produced renewable energy can save households around $2,000 annually on energy bills, while industrial heat pumps and commercial electric vehicle fleets offer lower total operating costs for businesses.

Rewiring Australia Chief Scientist, Saul Griffith said, "Every household’s next appliance needs to be electric. Swapping out inefficient and expensive gas and fossil fuel systems for appliances powered by cheap, home-grown renewable electricity can save families around $2,000 a year on energy bills, while eliminating indoor health risks like gas-related asthma."

Energy Consumers Australia (ECA) CEO Dr Brendan French said, “Electrification means more predictable energy costs, lower bills, greater fuel security and healthier homes and environments to live and work in. Its benefits are clear, but Australian households and small businesses need two things to enjoy them – clarity and support. 

“ECA’s research shows that most Australians are ready to step up and electrify. Governments and policymakers must now provide strong, unequivocal messaging to all consumers on electrification’s benefits, clear pathways and timetables on the way forward and robust, definitive policies to achieve it. 

“We also need targeted support to consumers, especially renters, those living in social housing, First Nations communities,  low-income households and small businesses, to help ensure electrification’s unquestionable benefits are within everyone's reach.”

Electric Vehicle Council CEO, Julie Delvecchio said, “EVs are one of the single most effective cost-of-living measures available today. Aussies are voting with their wallets - and right now, they're saving $3,000 per year on fuel and maintenance by going electric. While Australians are moving to electric cars in unprecedented numbers, we know that more needs to be done to electrify our freight sector which runs on expensive, imported, polluting diesel. The technology is there, now we need to build on the initial progress with bold policy reforms that improve our economy’s fuel security by electrifying our trucks.” 

Green Building Council of Australia CEO, Davina Rooney said, “Our homes and buildings present one of Australia’s biggest opportunities for electrification. Replacing gas with efficient electric technology can cut energy use and running costs, while making our homes and workplaces ready for a renewable energy future. This is practical technology that exists today and can deliver benefits now.”

Energy Efficiency Council CEO, Luke Menzel said, "We're world leaders at rolling out solar, wind and batteries. Electrification is the final piece of the puzzle that will put all that clean energy to work, by swapping petrol and diesel vehicles with EVs, and replacing gas equipment with efficient, electric alternatives.

“The benefits are huge. Electrification is how we make global energy price shocks a thing of the past, and make sure Aussie households and businesses are powered by affordable, reliable energy for decades to come. Getting the right policies in place will accelerate the rollout of modern electric technologies, and help ensure this transition delivers for all Australians."

Key Policy Priorities

Electrify Australia’s key policy priorities to electrify Australia’s homes, farms and businesses:

• Electrify homes: Provide targeted support for renters, low-income households, First Nations communities, and social housing to access efficient electric appliances - like rooftop solar, batteries and heat pump split-systems.
• Back farmers: Support farmers to replace equipment well suited to electrification, and remove outdated regulatory rules preventing farmers from sharing generated renewable energy across property titles.
• Accelerate electric transport: Incentivise businesses to transition to electric freight vehicles, and introduce an Accessible EVs program to lower the cost for households.
• Reform fuel subsidies: Cap Fuel Tax Credit claims by the largest mining companies and redirect savings towards technologies that reduce diesel use, while protecting farmers and small and medium businesses.
• Electrify industry: Support manufacturers to adopt industrial heat pumps and other technologies, with the right support for jobs and skills 
• Get the grid right: Fund 'Connecting the Suburbs' and 'Connecting  the Regions' programs to speed up network upgrades and grid connections. 
• Electrify commercial buildings: Strengthen finance and procurement settings to encourage businesses to electrify their assets and accelerate disclosure.

With more than 4 million Australian homes already running on rooftop solar, and more than 530,000 home battery systems installed since 1 July 2025, electrification is the missing piece to secure a cleaner, resilient, and lower-cost energy system.

Millions of Australian households and businesses have already cut their energy and fuel bills through electrification, installing more efficient electric appliances or equipment, and purchasing an EV..

South Australian pastoralist and Farmers for Climate Action program manager, Ellen Litchfield said, “Our cattle station in the outback has saved tens of thousands a year by swapping out diesel generators for solar power and batteries. The Federal Government’s battery rebates were a huge help for us in making the switch.”

Canberra home owner, Beth Mitchell said, “Our ambition was to retrofit our home for the clean energy future, along the way we found that climate adaptation was equally important. Our home is comfortable year round and we no longer have an energy bill. Our next step is saving for a battery and eventually an EV.”

Electrify Australia urges federal, state, and territory governments to deliver the clear policy signals, targeted incentives, and modern regulations needed to position Australia for long-term prosperity.

Editor's note:

The Electrify Australia campaign is backed by more than 30 organisations including Energy Consumers Australia, the Energy Efficiency Council, Rewiring Australia, the Green Building Council of Australia, the Electric Vehicle Council, Farmers for Climate Action and Beyond Zero Emissions. For the full membership list please contact us.

Electrify Australia is linked to the global Electrify Now campaign, which was launched in June and backed by the European Commission and 8 governments across five continents, including Australia. 

At the June 2026 UN Climate Meetings in Bonn, the incoming Turkish COP31 Presidency, with support from Australia and COP31 President of Negotiations, Minister Chris Bowen, introduced a headline target for the COP31 Action Agenda: to raise electricity’s share of global final energy consumption from around 20% today to 35% by 2035. 

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