Online calculator shows gas-to-electric savings for Victorian homes

Eighty-eight percent of homes in Victoria are still using gas for cooking, hot water and heating, but a new online toolkit from the government-owned State Electricity Commission (SEC) is encouraging residents to leave gas in the rearview and electrify their home. 

Making the switch could save the average homeowners thousands, and bring down national emissions. 

Tim Johnston, CEO of Powrhouse, has serviced West Vic with electric hot water systems, heating and cooling for two and a half years. 

The toolkit lists his company as a “trusted installer”, which means he is able to move through a multi-stage expression of interest process, holds necessary licences and accreditations, and has a strong track record in home electrification.

🗣️: “Most people don’t roll out of bed and go ‘I’m gonna electrify my home tomorrow’,” Johnston told the Brolga. “So it’s more of a process of where are you going to start, what does cashflow look like, and enthusiasm levels.” 

🧰 The toolkit: Easy Electric is an online resource from the SEC that takes users through a personalised, step-by-step process of what electrification could look like. It calculates the cost, savings and links users to local installers. 

When the Brolga took the toolkit for a testdrive, it showed a four-person home that uses metered gas for cooking, hot water storage, and heating could make annual savings of just under $2,000. 

A word from installers: Johnston said consumers are often wary of reliability and cost. 

🗣️: “People are reluctant to change. If they’ve used gas for 100 years, [they’re asking] does changing mean we’re not going to be able to have a hot shower? The thing that fuels that is units on the market that weren't very good, particularly the early generation models.”

Johnston said modern-day models don’t have this same issue, and the installation of new hot-water systems and split-system heating and cooling can be completed in a few hours. 

🗣️: “There are two main incentives - costs and the environment,” Johnston said. “Having a cheaper, more efficient appliance is the big thing. A heat pump is a fraction of the cost of gas storage. If you can get rid of gas completely, you’re saving $400 a year and those prices are only going one way.”

• “And gas is a fossil fuel, and we have to stop burning fossil fuels. Electricity can be solar or from a grid, and making the switch is definitely better for the environment.”

The expert take: The toolkit is labelled a good start but there are some important components missing, like batteries. John Buchelin, Pilot Operations Manager with Rewiring Australia, told the Brolga it aids in removing “information overload" for homeowners. 

🗣️: “Figuring out which installers to trust and the best appliance for your situation can become overwhelming, especially when your hot water system has just failed,” Buchelin said. “Tools like Easy Electric can help cut through the complexity, giving households the confidence and trusted information they need to make the switch.”

“But, tools like this will only get you so far. Another clear barrier is cost. While we don't expect families to electrify everything in their homes all at once, the upfront costs of installing solar or a battery can be steep for many Australian households, especially those on low incomes and pensioners 

“That's why we need flexible, low-cost financing options to ensure everyone can switch to electric appliances and start saving on their bills.”

💡 Light ahead? Electricity is the biggest source of pollution in Australia. The government’s latest report on how we’re tracking in reducing our emissions shows progress is being made. Electricity emissions fell by 3.8 per cent for the year to December 2025.