Electrification: a tale of three homes

These stories come from published ACT Government case studies. The households describe their own experiences; their accounts are useful for understanding decisions, rather than predicting what another home will save.

Melanie began with the rental

When Melanie moved into a Canberra townhouse, she wanted to avoid high energy bills but could not make major changes to a home she rented.

She booked a free assessment through the ACT Government’s Renters’ Home Energy Program. An assessor looked at the home and how the household used it, then provided suggestions suited to tenants.

Melanie added blockout curtains and draught-stopping measures. She also used pelmets, which cover the gap above curtains. She reported that the changes helped keep the home comfortable across the seasons.

Melanie’s experience suggests a practical renter starting point: get advice that fits the tenancy and make a specific improvement. Permanent changes and fittings still need the relevant permission. Her reported comfort improvement is her household’s experience, rather than a promised bill saving.

Bonny improved the house before its appliances

Bonny’s family bought an older Canberra home with ageing gas equipment. A large winter energy bill prompted them to look more closely at how the house performed.

A home energy assessment recommended improving the building first. The family draught-proofed, added insulation and upgraded windows. Bonny reported that the home’s energy rating rose from zero to four stars and that it became noticeably more comfortable.

They then replaced gas appliances in stages as timing and finances allowed. Bonny also described a bill improvement after the induction-cooktop upgrade and removal of the gas connection.

Bonny’s experience puts the house alongside the appliances in the decision. Before choosing a larger heater, check where warmth escapes. If the existing equipment is working, a plan can give you time to improve the building and compare replacement quotes.

Guna connected hot water and solar

Guna, in Monash, wanted to replace a gas hot-water system that was no longer meeting the household’s needs.

Through Home Energy Support, he received assistance for a heat pump and rooftop solar. He combined rebates with a loan, which he said avoided upfront costs. He later reported better hot-water availability and credits on his electricity bills.

Solar supplies electricity, while the heat pump uses electricity to move heat into water. Operating times and household use affect the result.

Guna’s financing was part of his particular upgrade. A rebate reduces an eligible cost; a loan must be repaid. As at 13 October 2026, Home Energy Support applications remain available for eligible ACT owner-occupiers. Check the card, property and workshop requirements, the approval sequence and the payment route before accepting a quote.

Find your own starting point

We suggest choosing the problem you want to solve first: a cold room, unreliable hot water or a bill you cannot explain. Then match the next step to your tenure, budget and equipment. ACT renters and homeowners can seek government home-energy advice to help decide where to begin.

A renter’s next step might be an assessment and permission for a small improvement. An owner with a failed appliance needs a reliable replacement route. An owner with working equipment can compare a staged plan. Choose the next useful job, rather than copy another household’s entire project.

To make a story useful for your own home, take one decision from it into an assessment: a renter improvement you can request, a building problem to resolve, or an appliance to replace. Ask for your own installed quote and current support. A published account of bill credits cannot settle your household’s costs or loan repayments.

Related advice: What should I electrify first? · Gas-to-electric rebates in the ACT: what should I replace first?

Find the next step for your home

Explore Electrify with ActewAGL (opens in a new tab) to compare home upgrades and request quotes through approved installers. Check the address, appliance and eligibility requirements before accepting a quote. Renters can also use the ACT Renters’ Home Energy Program (opens in a new tab) for an assessment suited to their tenancy. These stories can help you find a starting point, whether you’re with us or another retailer.

Choose your first home upgrade