FROM January 1, 2024, planning permits for new homes and residential subdivisions will only connect to all electric networks.

These changes will apply to all new homes requiring a planning permit, including new public and social housing delivered by Homes Victoria.

Commencing immediately, all new public buildings that haven’t reached design stage will also be all-electric. This includes new schools, hospitals, police stations and other government-owned buildings.
Victoria has the highest use of residential gas in Australia, with around 80 per cent of homes connected.

To ensure homeowners can maximise the benefits of household renewable energy, the Government is investing $10 million in a new Residential Electrification Grants program.

Grants will be available to volume home builders, developers and others to provide bulk rebates for solar panels, solar hot water and heat pumps to new home buyers up front.

To make it easier to go all-electric, eligible new home builders, as well as existing homeowners and renters, can access the Solar Homes program – offering $1,400 solar panel rebates and interest free loans of $8,800 for household batteries.

All Victorian households and businesses are also eligible for the VEU gas to electric rebates to upgrade heating and cooling and hot water heaters.