Community, industry and government join forces to help Canberra ‘Go Electric’

A new partnership between Rewiring Australia, community group Electrify Canberra, energy services company Electric Future and technical delivery partner enX Consulting will deliver the $40 million Go Electric pilot program, helping up to 1,000 households in Banks and surrounding suburbs switch to an all-electric home.

The pilot runs from 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2028 and is backed by the Australian Government, through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), and the ACT Government.

“This will help families in Canberra make the switch to all-electric homes and start saving on their energy bills at a time when many are feeling the pinch,” said Kristen Macdonald, Director of Strategic Programs at Rewiring Australia.

“Go Electric is a direct result of the work Rewiring Australia has been doing with communities, industry and governments to show what’s possible when we make it easier for households to electrify. We’ve seen through our pilot projects that when families get the right support, whole-home electrification can deliver healthier, more comfortable homes with lower energy bills.

“We’re thrilled to see that work now being translated into a program that will reach 1,000 Canberra households. What we learn from Go Electric, alongside our other pilots, will help build a practical model for communities across Australia and ultimately help millions more households make the switch.”

WHY IT’S NEEDED

Electrifying a home is one of the most effective ways to cut household energy bills, and depending on the home, savings range from hundreds to thousands of dollars a year. But those behind the program say the barrier has rarely been the technology.

“Australia’s energy transition happens one home at a time. Solar works. Batteries work. Efficient electric heating, hot water and induction cooking all work. What is still hard is knowing where to start,” Electric Future Managing Director Nathan Brown said.

There was a time when gas was the cheaper option. That time has passed. Heat pumps, induction cooking, solar and batteries mean the cheapest home to run is now usually the all-electric one — especially in Canberra, where winter heating can account for half a household’s energy bill.

“Electrifying a home today means getting multiple quotes, coordinating trades, working out which rebate applies and hoping it all lines up. Electric Future replaces that with a curated service — one organisation arranges it, and one organisation is accountable,” Mr Brown said.

Moving from gas and older appliances to efficient electric technology can help a household:

1. cut energy use and running costs;
2. make better use of power generated by its own rooftop solar;
3. store cheaper renewable electricity in a battery for use when it is needed;
4. avoid ongoing gas supply charges once the home is fully electric;
5. improve the comfort and efficiency of heating, cooling and hot water; and
6. reduce household emissions.

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REGISTER NOW

Households in Banks and neighbouring suburbs, and trades wanting to be part of the program, can register at www.electrifycanberra.org.au/goelectric.

A PILOT FOUR YEARS IN THE MAKING

The pilot program began with Electrify Canberra, a local community organisation whose volunteers have spent four years talking to households, government, industry and experts to build the case for a program like this. Electric Future has been developing the pilot with them for 18 months and is leading the rollout in partnership with Rewiring Australia and Electrify Canberra.

“This program began with people. Electrify Canberra volunteers listened to households asking what they should change first, what it would cost, what support was available and who they could trust. We took all these insights and advocated for a program that could make the switch easy and affordable for Canberrans,” said Sarah Reid, Electrify Canberra volunteer.

“This pilot provides a great opportunity to demonstrate the benefits of bringing community, small business and government together to help people save money and feel more comfortable in their homes.”

“Electric Future is proud to bring together the organisations and expertise needed to take that community ambition and deliver it at scale, home by home, street by street,” Mr Brown said.

Mr Brown also acknowledged Rewiring Australia for its role in putting household electrification on the national agenda and demonstrating what becomes possible when a home is treated as an integrated energy system.

HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS

A household registers through Electrify Canberra and is then referred to Electric Future, which provides one point of contact for quotes, rebates, and coordination of trades and installation. After installation, Electric Future provides an app so homeowners or renters can see their electricity use in real time.

Support is tiered across three eligible household groups, so households with the least capacity to pay to switch receive the most help:

- Most eligible households will receive a 20% installation rebate; plus, concessional finance may be available at 3% on the first $20,000 of works.

- Eligible concession card holders may be able to access a 0% interest rate on the first $10,000, plus a rebate on selected electrification products.

- Households in severe financial hardship may be eligible for upgrades fully funded by the ACT Government.

Participation criteria and the level of support available to individual households will be confirmed as part of the program. Installations are expected to begin around the end of this year, and registering an interest does not commit a household to taking part.

LOCAL TRADES AND SUPPLIERS

The program also needs local trades to support installation, including electricians, plumbers, solar and battery installers, and HVAC providers, who are invited to register to be part of the two-year program of work.

“This is two years of steady, coordinated work in one part of Canberra, with the quoting and paperwork handled and prompt payment on completion. We want good local trades on this,” Mr Brown said.

THE ACT GOVERNMENT’S ROLE

The ACT Government has led on climate and energy policy for more than a decade. The Territory has committed to moving away from fossil-fuel gas by 2045, and since December 2023 has prevented new gas network connections across most residential, commercial and community-facility areas.

For this pilot program, households may be eligible to access existing ACT Government rebates, finance schemes and support programs. The ACT Government is also participating in program governance and sharing insights and data to inform program design.

WHY CANBERRA

Canberra’s cold climate and high gas use mean households here stand to save more than most. The program is also designed to answer a question the rest of the country needs settled: whether whole suburbs can electrify without overloading the local network. The pilot will demonstrate how batteries, smart EV charging and flexible loads can absorb that shift and will publish what it finds.

“The real test of the energy transition is not whether the technology exists. It is whether ordinary households can access it, afford it and feel confident using it. That is what we are here to solve,” Mr Brown said.

ENDS

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