Victorian households reveal what they think about getting off gas in secret government research

Secret research reveals the Allan government is facing an uphill battle to convince households to switch off gas, as it prepares to force homes to replace gas heaters and hot water systems with electric models when they expire.

Secret government research reveals that the costs of installing and buying electric appliances are major blockers to households getting off gas.

The survey of 1002 people, which cost taxpayers $245,000, also shows that about a third of gas users had actively decided not to electrify their homes, while almost one third hadn’t thought about it.

The leaked research can be revealed as the Allan government finalises its policy to force homes to replace gas heaters and hot water systems with electric models when they expire.
As Cabinet prepares to meet and decide whether to build more consumer choice into the plan, the research shows the mountain of work that would be needed to convince people it is worth electrifying.

The survey, by Sagacity, was commissioned by the SEC, which is a new government body that will help drive electrification.

The costs of installing and buying electric appliances are putting off households from switching off gas. Picture: Thinkstock

Just three per cent of those surveyed had switched away from gas, while 11 per cent said they had changed “some” appliances over.

Asked what they would do with $15,000 to spend on the home, the most popular answer was renovations and installing solar panels, followed by new major appliances.

For the third of households who had rejected electrification or “opted out” after research, 39 per cent said they preferred to use gas, 28 per cent said the cost of installation was too expensive, and 23 per cent said appliances were too expensive — showing the importance of government subsidies.

But almost twice as many households thought gas was more expensive than electricity, which the government has rammed home hard whenever discussing its plans.

Almost 60 per cent of households said they planned to renovate within five years, which is often when appliances are upgraded.

Just 7 per cent thought the SEC was the place to go for advice on upgrades.

The push to get households off gas is part of the government’s net zero pledge, and it has banned gas connections for new houses.

Sagacity’s research was done in October, shortly after Premier Jacinta Allan did a U-turn and revealed gas cooktops wouldn’t be included in forced replacements.

A government spokeswoman said: “We want to make it easier for more Victorians to switch to efficient electric appliances — helping them slash $1400 a year off their energy bills”.

“That’s why we’re delivering the SEC one-stop-shop to make it simpler and cheaper to install efficient electric appliances.”

The Sunday Herald Sun recently revealed $1000 rebates for efficient electric hot water systems would be boosted by $400 if consumers chose Australian-made.

Originally published as Victorian households reveal what they think about getting off gas in secret government research