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Unlike many retirees, Steve and Diane don't worry about their energy bills. They heat their home when they want to and run the air conditioning without hesitation. They prioritise their comfort because their annual energy bill is now just $150 a year.
It didn't start that way.
For decades, their home ran on gas - gas heating, gas hot water, the kind of setup most Australians don't think twice about. They didn't set out to electrify their whole home. It happened gradually, one decision at a time, as systems aged and better options became available.
It began with solar panels, about eight years ago, as energy bills climbed and retirement came into view. Then ducted air conditioning replaced their old and polluting gas heating. Then came a more efficient and easier to clean induction cooktop, followed by a technologically superior heat pump hot water system to replace their aging gas system.
Last year, more solar panels and a home battery through the federal subsidy scheme and with it, the final piece fell into place.
The numbers tell part of the story. From $2,400 a year in energy costs a decade ago, they're on track to pay around $150 this year.
But Steve and Diane will tell you the thing that matters most isn't on a bill. It's that they never think twice about staying warm or cool (depending on the season). Their home is now not only comfortable but also healthy. As Steve puts it, they're "no longer poisoning ourselves with wood fire and gas - just using modern, efficient technology instead."
For Diane, it goes a step further: "It's not just about saving money, though that matters. It's about reducing our footprint on this planet. We want others to do the same."
Their journey took eight years and a lot of research, which is exactly why we're developing a new online household tool - Electric Saul. It will help every Australian household move faster, with less guesswork, toward the same outcome Steve and Diane found: a home that costs almost nothing to run, and a future they feel good about. Sign up for early access to Electric Saul here.
Rewiring Australia is a non-profit organisation dedicated to representing the people, households and communities in the energy system. We empirically demonstrate and communicate the cost savings, emissions reductions, and energy system benefits of electrification.
Rewiring Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we live, meet and work and we pay our respects to Elders past and present.
Rewiring Australia is a member of Climate Action Network Australia.
Rewiring Australia is an Australian charity registered with the ACNC with Deductible Gift Recipient status (ABN 18 664 239 196). All donations over $2 are tax deductible.
Contact us: electrify@rewiringaustralia.org
