Electrifying Australia: Putting households at the heart of good climate action

Household electrification has moved rapidly from the margins to the mainstream of Australia’s climate and energy debate.

Rewiring Australia, founded by Dr Saul Griffith, has been central to that shift. It has influenced state and federal policy, shaped subsidy design, and reframed Australian homes as a core piece of Australia’s energy system.

In this session, Rewiring Australia CEO Francis Vierboom will unpack how that change has been achieved and what comes next. Drawing on Rewiring Australia’s research and modelling and policy engagement, Francis will share lessons from Electrify 2515, Australia’s first community-led electrification pilot upgrading 500 homes, and what it reveals about scaling electrification faster and fairer across the country.

The discussion will also tackle the harder questions now facing the sector:

• How do we design electrification policies that work for renters, low-income households and retirees - not just owner-occupiers?
• How can electrification deliver emissions reductions while strengthening the grid, supporting consumers, and navigating political backlash in a transition where fossil fuel interests remain powerful?

This is a practical, policy-literate conversation for people working at the intersection of climate, energy, and implementation.