Victoria Seeks Public Input on Building Electrification Regulations

Building Electrification Regulations

Australia: The Victorian Government has launched a public consultation on draft regulations for the Building Electrification Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS), seeking feedback on four options to expand all-electric requirements. Currently, around two million homes and businesses rely on Victoria’s fossil gas network, which contributes approximately 16% of the state’s total emissions. The government’s preferred approach mandates that all new residential and commercial buildings be fully electric while requiring existing residential gas hot water and heating systems to transition to electric at the end of their lifespan. However, existing residential cooking and commercial buildings are exempt. The initiative aims to reduce emissions, improve energy affordability, and mitigate long-term supply risks, as maintaining gas connections for cooking alone costs between 240 AUD (USD 151) and 430 AUD (USD 271) annually in supply charges.

Switching to all-electric solutions presents major cost benefits. A new all-electric detached home without solar panels could save residents around 880 AUD (USD 554) per year, increasing to 1,820 AUD (USD 1,147) annually with solar panels. Similarly, transitioning an existing dual-fuel home to mostly-electric could cut energy bills by approximately 1,340 AUD (USD 844) per year, rising to 2,020 AUD (USD 1,273) if an induction cooktop replaces a gas stove. To support this transition, Victoria provides rebates through programs like the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU). Households can save up to 2,800 AUD (USD 1,764) for replacing gas ducted heating with an electric reverse-cycle system and up to 490 AUD (USD 309) for switching from a gas hot water system to a heat pump, with an additional Solar Homes rebate of up to 1,000 AUD (USD 630). Since 2009, the VEU has assisted over two million households in upgrading to energy-efficient appliances through discounts tied to fluctuating Victorian energy efficiency certificates (VEECs).

Source: Solar Quotes