We need to ensure that NSW Leads the Charge in the shift to clean, cheap energy.
Electric appliances are more efficient than gas, meaning they use less energy (and money)
Electric appliances such as electric hot water heat pumps, induction stove tops and reverse cycle air conditioning are much more energy efficient than their gas counterparts. This means they use less energy – and therefore cost you less money to run.
If this is combined with solar and household batteries, the costs continue to significantly decrease.
Gas is a fossil fuel, which is harmful for the planet and contributes massively to global warming. It’s also harmful for human health – a child living with gas cooking in their home faces a similar risk of asthma to a child living with household cigarette smoke (source).
Households left connected to gas also face the threat of a gas death spiral. This means that as more houses electrify, anyone left being powered by gas will experience the disproportionate increased costs of the remaining gas network fees (See IEEFA report for more information).
This is why household electrification is one of the easiest ways to cut emissions, save money, and reduce health impacts. Household energy upgrades could also produce 3,529 full-time jobs in installation, and an additional 2,970 in manufacturing if hot water systems were manufactured in NSW (source).
If we combine household electrification with getting more large-scale renewables online such as wind and solar, emissions and energy bills will go down even further and thousands of jobs in clean energy will be created.
We know there are significant hurdles faced by households wanting to electrify: upfront costs of appliances; being in rentals, social housing, and apartments; and lack of clarity on how to access and install electric appliances.
There are significant roadblocks in the NSW planning system that are slowing down wind, solar and battery projects coming online. Workers need support, and clear pathways to transition into new jobs in the clean energy industry. That’s why we’re calling on the NSW government to urgently do the following:
- Achieve a faster and fairer deployment of renewable energy projects.
- Support households to electrify appliances, install solar & batteries to slash energy bills
- Provide leadership to dramatically scale clean industry and manufacturing opportunities, creating high-quality and secure jobs across the regions.
You can read more about our asks in our public letter to NSW Premier Minns here. We also put an ad in the Sydney Morning Herald to help spread the message.
How To Take Action
Resources
If you’d like to learn even more, see the below resources we’ve compiled. If you’ve come across any useful ones – please send them through!
| Name of organisations/group | Type of Resource | Link |
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Rewiring Australia: non-profit organisation that advocates for households in the energy system. |
Website |
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First Nations Clean Energy Network: network ensuring First Nations play a central role and harness the opportunities from Australia’s renewables boom. |
Website |
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| Renew: membership non-profit organisation working to transform Australian homes for climate and energy resilience. | Website, resources |
Renew’s Renter’s Guide to Sustainable Living Renew You Tube Channel - over 700 hundreds videos |
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Lock The Gate: Electrifying Your Electorate - Savings and Jobs Benefits in NSW |
Website – shows the cost of living, jobs and climate benefits of shifting from gas to electric appliances in each NSW electorate, and then send an email direct to your local Member of Parliament with the results |
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Solar Citizens: Report on how rooftop solar can deliver $9.3 billion a year in cost savings
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Website and report for download |
https://www.solarcitizens.org.au/solar_potential_report_april_2024 |
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Renewable Cobargo; Electrify 2515; Electrify Wolli Creek: case studies of community led pilot programs of suburbs going all electric. |
Websites |
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350 Australia: Electrify Your Council works with local councils in New South Wales to create all-electric, gas-free new buildings. |
Website |
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ACOSS: Fair Fast and Inclusive - together we can ensure the transition to net zero emissions improves the lives of people facing disadvantage from the city to the outback. |
Website |
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ACOSS: Efficiency, electrification, and solar could save low-income households up to $6000 |
Website |
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SpendWatt: Help consumers to reduce emissions and save money. |
Website |
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Brighte: help make sustainable upgrades affordable and accessible through flexible payment solutions and government partnerships. |
Website |
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ZapCat: We are a social enterprise helping Australians transition their homes to clean energy by electrifying everything. |
Website |
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Dux: domestic manufacturer of electric heat pumps. |
Website |
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The Big Switch: book by electrification pioneer Saul Griffith |
Book, also available as free audiobook |
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My Efficient Electric Home Handbook: How to slash your energy bills, protect your health & save the planet: book by Tim Forcey |
Book, Facebook page where questions around electrification can be asked/answered |
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Nexa Advisory: research shows residential consumers there could face up to $1,100 in additional costs if transmission project delays continue at the average of three years observed in recent years. |
Report |
https://nexaadvisory.com.au/consumer-cost-of-transmission-delays-report/ |
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IEEFA: Eight ways NSW could lower energy bills |
Report |
https://ieefa.org/articles/eight-ways-nsw-could-lower-energy-bills |