Home Electrification and Energy Upgrades: What to Do First

• Start with the household's comfort, safety, budget and timing rather than a product list.
• Use bills, an assessment or building diagnostics only where the evidence will change the decision.
• Turn the findings into a practical now, next and later whole-home plan.
• Compare written scope, products, enabling work, exclusions, evidence and support before accepting a quote.
• Share the property brief and contact details with suitable businesses only when the household chooses to proceed.
• Keep commissioning records, reports, warranties and follow-up checks together after the work.

Repair active water leaks and investigate damp, condensation, mould, unsafe wiring or combustion-appliance concerns before covering areas or tightening the building.

An energy rating is not a structural, electrical, gas, moisture or medical assessment. Bring in the right qualified professional where those risks exist.

• Record which rooms are too hot, cold or draughty and when it happens.
• Check insulation coverage, gaps, shading, glazing and ventilation.
• Review bills or interval data without assuming every change in cost comes from the building.
• Use an assessment when the cause or upgrade order is unclear.

Useful fabric work can include draught control, insulation, shading and window improvements. The right mix depends on climate, construction and the specific comfort problem.

Once the load is clearer, heating, cooling and hot-water equipment can be sized for the home rather than selected from a generic rule.

Heating, hot water and cooking are easier to replace well when there is time to check the home, electrical capacity, site constraints and available products. Record the age and condition of each gas or inefficient electric appliance, then decide what should replace it when it reaches the end of its life.

If an appliance fails unexpectedly, focus first on a safe working replacement. Ask for the efficient electric option, any enabling electrical work and the full installed price before accepting a like-for-like gas replacement by default.

• Check switchboard, wiring, circuits and available electrical capacity.
• Sequence heating, hot water and cooking around likely failure dates and the household budget.
• Confirm space, drainage, noise, outdoor-unit, plumbing and ventilation constraints.
• For renters or strata homes, identify the owner, body corporate or building approvals needed before seeking installation quotes.

• Check switchboard, wiring and available electrical capacity.
• Plan when old gas or resistive appliances are likely to be replaced.
• Size solar against the home's daytime use and likely future loads.
• Test battery value against actual usage timing, tariffs and backup needs.

A discount or lower-rate loan can help with a suitable project, but it does not make the wrong product, size or installation good value. Start with the work the home needs, then check the current support for that exact scope.

Program amounts, approved products, provider rules and lender criteria change. Confirm them with the program owner or lender before signing a quote or finance contract.

• Check eligibility on the current official program page.
• Confirm the exact product and provider meet the program rules.
• Ask for the discount, fees and customer contribution in writing.
• Do not assume two incentives can be combined unless both programs allow it.
• Compare the full repayment and ownership terms of any finance, not just the advertised rate.

A gas bill normally includes a daily supply charge even when very little gas is used. Once every gas appliance has been safely replaced, ask the retailer about the current disconnection or abolishment process, fees and timing for your address.

Do not disconnect or alter gas equipment yourself. A qualified professional must complete regulated gas work, and apartments or shared services may have different constraints.