“No nation is better placed to seize this opportunity for cheaper energy, self-reliance, and cleaner air than Australia,”
Read Article“Electrify 2515 is about a community solving climate change together. This will be the first community where we show the world ‘this is how we do it’ to positively impact climate change while improving the lives of people. In a nutshell, the community that electrifies together, thrives together.”
“Encouraging battery installation is a smart way to reduce energy bills and bring down emissions,” said Rewiring Australia Executive Director Dan Cass. “The greatest source of household emissions is energy use and households make up a large portion of national emissions.
Rewiring Australia co-founder Saul Griffith, who helped write US President Joe Biden’s signature Inflation Reduction Act that invests in projects to battle climate change, is on a mission to get Australia to run entirely on renewable energy by helping households make the switch to cut carbon emissions and lower energy bills.
“The pilot aims to create the electric future in a real community today,” said Dr Saul Griffith, Rewiring Australia Co-founder and Chief Scientist.
"We can say this is truly a world first, it will show the way to deliver cost-of-living savings to all Australians."
"Finance of electrification is a cheaper way to run a household than paying cash every week for fossil fuels."
The project will generate insights into consumer behaviour, attitudes and energy bill savings to better inform how home electrification could be scaled across Australia.
"The world is moving towards electrification – it’s cheaper for householders and better for the environment. The technology is ready and the way this community has campaigned so hard for this pilot shows Australians are ready too."
Rewiring Australia co-founder and chief scientist Saul Griffith is finally about to see his ambition to electrify suburbs around his home near Wollongong come to life.
"Australia is already the leading rooftop solar nation. Pilots like this will be used to invent the clean consumer energy model for the whole world."
The Electrify 2515 community pilot program will see 500 homes converting their hot water, cooking and heating systems to renewable electricity, with subsidies of up to $1000 available for appliances.
"Optimistically, we'll have written a playbook of electrification for communities."
"If you're a house that's got the three major gas appliances you can save about $800 a year just by switching them over to electric."
Dan Cass, executive director of Rewiring Australia, said rooftop solar was a cost-of-living solution for poorer households. “Rich families don’t need to save money on bills, which is why the mansions of Toorak and Woollahra rarely sport a super-sized solar array sufficient to offset their high-energy lifestyles,” Cass said.
Today's decision by the Allan Government to exclude cooktops from Victoria’s Gas Substitution Roadmap is a temporary delay in the inevitable electrification of the state’s household appliances.
Gas and electricity companies deliberately make energy confusing for people - but this planner will empower Victorians to make informed decisions to reduce their bills and emissions.
We look forward to working closely with the new Assistant Minister Josh Wilson to deliver cleaner, cheaper energy to Australian households. It's time for Australia to go for gold in the consumer energy transition, and with the right policies, we can secure a place on the podium in the race to Net Zero.
Rewiring Australia's executive director Dan Cass said the electrification of households and cars could deliver hundreds of billions in savings to consumers over the next 20 years if it was fair and transparent.
“We know electrification is winning the energy wars because over 3.7 million households have already gone solar, and hundreds of thousands are now rushing to electrify”
The Queensland government’s launch of ‘Local Renewable Energy Zones’ (L-REZ) in Caloundra and Townsville may prove to be a significant opportunity for energy market realignment and innovation.
Rewiring Australia Co-founder Saul Griffith says Australia has the “easiest path” to “electrify” its economy. “The reality is Australia has the easiest path to electrify its economy of probably any economy and we have the most benefit to gain from it."
Electrification is the shortest circuit to a clean energy system for Australia and the fairest way to get there. Rooftop solar is the world's cheapest delivered energy, and nuclear cannot compete.
“If we really believe in nation building, we would figure out how to finance every single Australian household to completely electrify.”
“Some countries that are small, cold, and with higher population density and minimal solar and wind resources will need nuclear to replace fossil fuels - but Australia has literally the opposite population and geographical characteristics."
"Consumers are getting their tariffs changed without notice and we’re pushing ahead with sun taxes before solar soaking is in the market: just two examples where it’s obvious the energy market is set up to make it easy to run for central regulators and large energy companies, not cheaper and easier for consumers."
“Household electrification is the fastest and most cost effective way to reduce emissions and ease the cost-of-living by bringing down power bills for good,” said Rewiring Australia Executive Director Dan Cass.
“Incentivising households and businesses to take up batteries means more cheap solar power in the grid and reduces our reliance on harmful fossil fuels. Yet again, households are the heroes in the energy transition,” said Rewiring Australia Executive Director Dan Cass.
Rewiring Australia Executive Director Dan Cass welcomed the move by the New South Wales government. “This is a really excellent policy and we hope other states and the federal government back in the direction led by New South Wales,” Mr Cass said.
Now that Origin Energy is being paid by taxpayers to keep Eraring coal fired power station open it should be forced to sell electricity at fair prices, to serve the interests of its taxpayers not just shareholders, Rewiring Australia said today.
Tonight’s federal budget includes important commitments to build clean energy manufacturing, reform its energy market and improve the nation’s electrical skill base, critical steps towards universal electrification of the nation’s homes, according to Rewiring Australia.
"This is about taking some risks and making some investments. Not everything will work but the point is they can start to build up the general capacity in this country for a renaissance of manufacturing focusing on the areas where we have strengths."
Expanding the gas industry until 2050 and beyond contradicts the government’s own work on a Net Zero Plan and will result in higher energy bills and a devastating increase in greenhouse gas emissions, said Rewiring Australia following the release of the Future Gas Strategy.
“We need the government to coordinate Australian public and private investment in the processing of critical minerals and development of technologies from home-grown innovators in green metals. This will leverage Australia’s competitive advantage as a clean energy superpower and ensure the profits do not flow overseas."
Chief scientist at grassroots organisation Rewiring Australia Saul Griffith said the legislation would put Australia in step with other countries already investing in their own futures and ensure the profits do not flow overseas.
Australia has one of the largest take ups of rooftop solar in the world, but new research shows a majority of those who oppose it, do so because of the price.
"Everyone is going to need a way off the fossil fuel ship. Our proposal for flexible, safe, government-backed finance that’s accessible across incomes will ensure that upfront costs don’t get in the way of slashing bills and emissions for every property in Australia."
Would any party really stand in the way if the government introduced a policy to cut bills, give consumers greater control over their household energy and address the climate crisis?
“We know if we really had high adoption across Australian households, that would save them $1.7 trillion between now and 2050. We really shouldn’t think of this as what it’s cost to the government is, it’s what can this investment recoup to Australia in terms of savings over the long haul?”
Founder of Rewiring Australia Saul Griffiths is proposing that Australia needs a HECS style loan program for solar energy. He told Raf Epstein that Australian's could both slash climate emissions and energy bills if they go ahead with his plan.
The federal government is being urged to help homeowners reduce power bills and carbon emissions by lending them cash to install solar panels, home batteries and even to buy electric cars.
It is possible the federal government will step in with its own loan products for electrifying households as suggested by scientist Saul Griffith in AFR Weekend. But with the likelihood of means testing there will still be an enormous lending opportunity for the banks.
Australia has the highest solar radiation of any continent and rooftop solar is the cheapest energy in the world. An investment from the government now will make Australia more energy-resilient and self-sufficient and save Australians from increasing power bills.
“If the government makes an investment like HECS, it will deliver permanent cost-of-living relief, solve the problem of light vehicle pollution, and propel Australia to the top of the class in climate action,” Dr Griffith said.
Into this space comes Rewiring Australia’s intervention like a breath of fresh air in a tired, stale argument.
"Millions of rooftop solar systems are now connected to the grid. The market needs to change to a system that can manage and co-ordinate these small renewable energy generators."
“This is a policy patch on a leaking ship,” adds Rewiring Australia energy market reform adviser Vikki McLeod. “Households will be the heavy-lifters in a future energy market, and we need to write that potential into the market rules now. We need to start looking at how we can unlock the benefits that customer energy resources (CERs) can provide at scale and at pace."
“For the first time, the best thing for the climate is the best thing for hip pockets. Their shift means the entire Australian parliament is now essentially on board. With such overwhelming consensus, we now need an aggressive, non-partisan plan to help households electrify as quickly and fairly as possible.”
“We welcome the handover recommendations, but the ESB did not go far enough,” added Rewiring Australia chief scientist Saul Griffith. “Energy ministers should review governance of the NEM. “Nothing can compete with cheap rooftop solar at 5c/Kwh so it is no surprise the big energy companies are trying to thwart this competition from their own consumers."
The final handover report from the former Energy Security Board, released by the federal government, calls for energy distribution companies to integrate household solar into the grid. But it falls short of recommending the governance and competition reset that is required.
A comprehensive overhaul of the National Electricity Market (NEM) is needed to bring down energy bills and meet Australia’s 2030 emissions and renewable energy targets, according to Rewiring Australia.
"Australia's millions of solar households aren't being allowed to compete against their energy company in the market," says Rewiring Australia's Executive Director Dan Cass. Advocates for rooftop solar says changes are needed to Australia's electricity market, to better integrate solar users, and give them more options to find good deals when selling their energy back into the grid.
The transition to renewables is causing a lot of angst and anger in rural Australia as major projects like wind and solar and the transmission lines that connect them to the grid are cutting across thousands of properties. Now the federal government says it accepts the recommendations of a "community engagement review" which has found a better job needs to done of communicating how farmers will be affected. But there's concern that will do little to stop the so-called "bad faith actors" seeking to exploit local communities.
Rewiring Australia founder and entrepreneur Saul Griffith said: “The technology BlueScope will deploy with this grant is marginally better than the steel it has been producing, but it is not green enough to compete in the emerging market for low or zero-emissions metal.
“As the climate emergency and cost of living crisis worsen, governments will need to invest big in electrification policies like this, to slash bills and emissions at the same time.”
"We are delighted that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Premier Chris Minns have taken up our policy to provide grants to electrify social housing properties. Household electrification is the fastest, most cost effective way to reduce emissions - and it also decreases the cost of living by significantly reducing energy bills."
“AEMO has moved considerably to embrace the potential of electrification but is yet to catch up with the rooftop revolution led by millions of Australian households. AEMO should be thinking outside the box and innovating ways to bring about faster and greater deployment of consumer energy technologies."
"Today’s announcement of new discounts for electric induction cooktops is another big step in the right direction, which is off dirty, expensive fossil gas and towards clean, efficient electrification"
"Hecs-style loans for household electrification would be repaid through income tax. This would put more money in the pockets of people who really need it while simultaneously allowing the nation to put its foot on the clean-energy pedal."
"This significant expansion of the Capacity Investment Scheme will accelerate the transition to cleaner, cheaper renewable energy and help Australia hit its 2030 emissions target. This is a strong step in the right direction."
"Getting households off gas and out of petrol cars is anti-inflationary. It has the added benefit of helping the government deliver its targets for emissions and clean energy."
"To truly pivot towards a sustainable future, household electrification must be central to this strategy. Electrification is the rapid, cost-effective and proven path to significantly cut emissions while permanently slashing energy bills."
“Victoria has the most to gain from electrification, because it has the most households relying on gas and exposed to price gouging by international gas companies. The state government has a clear and sensible plan to lower household bills and decrease reliance on fossil fuels. This is the type of common-sense leadership Australia needs."
Rewiring Australia research shows that decisions made around the kitchen table account for 42% of emissions in the domestic consumption economy. Households and communities are central to the challenge of increasing the rate of emissions reduction and they should be actively consulted in preference to the big energy industry incumbents.
"Community batteries are absolutely critical to the transition. They allow people in suburbs and towns to pool and share the clean energy they harvest, delivering significant economic benefits while taking pressure off large scale transmission."
While successive federal governments have focused on cutting carbon emissions from energy providers, the new government program is aiming to embrace what technologist and Rewiring Australia founder Saul Griffith has called the “household electrification revolution”.
“We are underestimating how much of our electricity we can actually generate on our rooftops and within our communities,” Griffith says. “If we had the incentives set more sanely in the rules of the NEM (the National Electricity Market), and we were prioritsing households and communities, we could be selling that rooftop solar to each other much more cheaply."
The federal government promised a ‘meaningful and substantial’ package of electrification measures in the federal budget and this announcement is the first part. Swapping out fossil fueled devices and energy sources for renewable-backed electrification is the fastest, most cost effective way to decarbonise our domestic economy. It embeds thousands of dollars worth of annual savings into the annual operations of small businesses, saving that accrue over the long term.
Saul Griffith was in conversation with Taryn Lane on his new Quarterly Essay, The Wires That Bind. Electrification and community renewal, a compelling vision of green energy at a local level. Australia is at a crossroads. Inventor, engineer and visionary Saul Griffith reveals the world that awaits us if we make the most of Australia's energy future. Griffith paints an inspiring yet practical picture of empowered local communities acting collectively when it comes to renewable energy, and benefiting financially.
Rewiring Australia claims the move would allow the average household to slash its energy bills by $3,000 to $5,000 a year.
Australians have already taken up rooftop solar in greater numbers than anywhere in the world, Dr Griffith noted. "Now they want the government to help them fully electrify their homes because they know it will permanently obliterate both their energy bills and carbon emissions."
Rewiring Australia has slammed gas lobby group claims that the electrification of Australian homes will cost taxpayers more than $66 billion as “lies,” following the latest PR offensive from an industry in panic mode.
Saul Griffith is a prolific inventor, an engineer and a successful entrepreneur making waves for an electric future. His bold ideas on energy caught the eye of the US president and helped shape the ground-breaking climate legislation that passed there late last year. Now he’s returned home after two decades in the US and has joined with his community near Wollongong, south of Sydney, in an ambitious project to electrify homes in his suburb and power them with renewables. If successful, the pilot project will prove that household electrification is a potential solution to an urgent problem.
Dr Saul Griffith has found himself in plenty of high-pressure situations over the past two decades. From meetings with White House officials and US politicians, to duelling with the powerful fossil fuel lobby, he's made the case for his solution to the climate crisis in forums where the stakes couldn't be higher. But it was a Sunday afternoon meeting in a community centre just north of Wollongong that proved "the most intimidating one by far," he said. "You're my neighbours," Saul joked as he stood up to give his presentation. "If we screw up, you literally know where I live."
The NSW Treasurer Matt Kean has announced $8 million will go towards supporting world first pilots of community electrification. What effect will this have on inflation and reducing carbon emissions?
Rewiring Australia has strongly endorsed NSW Treasurer, Matt Kean’s announcement of $8 million to support world first pilots of community electrification.
The bid to kick fossil gas out of Australian homes, electrify everything and power it with solar is off and running in New South Wales, with the launch of an $8 million pilot to decarbonise three local communities across the state.
A deal between The Greens and Labor has given an immediate boost to plans first formulated by Rewiring Australia to electrify households and small businesses across the country.
101 million machines away from a zero emission Australia
"We now produce the cheapest electricity in the world in terms of our rooftop solar on our homes and our businesses. That produces electricity at ~5c a kWh."
“If we fully exploit our natural advantage with solar energy by electrifying everything, we will create thousands of jobs for tradies and ensure more money is spent in local shops. The air will be cleaner and people will be healthier."
A report by Dr Saul Griffith, the founder of Rewiring Australia and a former adviser to the US government on energy policy, last year suggested a $12bn investment in household electrification over five years could eliminate a third of Australia’s emissions while saving households $40bn a year by 2028.
The campaign, driven by an “optimistic group of nonpartisan Australians”, ultimately aims to prove that it is possible to address climate change and cost-of-living concerns at the same time.
A plan to “rewire” one of Australia’s largest cities by electrifying the region’s homes and vehicles and powering them with solar energy would save the average household almost $5,000 a year, generate more than 24,000 jobs and provide an overall annual economic benefit of approximately $3.9 billion.
Rewiring Australia has developed federal electorate level modelling that outlines how households and communities can financially benefit from solar-backed electrification, along with the employment benefits of rewiring buildings. This is an open source resource available to all campaigns, candidates and interested parties, to better inform discussion of Australia’s decarbonisation effort.
“This is our way to atone for 20 years of f*cking up the IPCC [International Panel on Climate Change] process. We can demonstrate how we can improve our lives and bring forward climate action by 10 years.
I hope this feels astonishing to you; it certainly does to me. When we compare the final energy use of a conventional home to a renewably electrified home, the efficiency benefits of electrification become abundantly clear. With the same conveniences, size, warmth and vehicles as a currently fossil-fuelled home, electrifying the average Australian home would cut total energy use by more than half!
All of this points to a fundamental shift that must occur in our climate change thinking: we will solve this problem through abundance, not scarcity.
Saul Griffith, a former climate adviser to Joe Biden, has moved home to Australia. He argues policy changes made here could accelerate the world’s transition to renewables by 10 years.
“Australia is the first country in the world where the positive household economics of solving climate change will be realisable by everyday people,”
“A fully electric Australia that gets off fossil fuels will keep the same comforts but use about half the energy, with none of the energy emissions. This win-win from electrification is clear. “We should change our planning and permitting laws to prioritise all electric households and businesses, and start training the installation and maintenance workforce for this electrified future now.”
Rewiring Australia is a non-profit, independent, non-partisan 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.
