Shifting households from carbon-intensive natural gas to less carbon-intensive fuels, like renewable electricity, is becoming a priority. This report draws on surveys and focus groups with Victorian households facing energy stress to understand their attitudes to disconnecting from gas, and to identify the barriers and enablers to the change. It also identifies policy solutions to achieve equitable electrification.

Key findings:

• Most participants supported the transition away from household gas
• Housing tenure is a key factor in electrification
• Energy preferences were mixed and linked to current usage
• Cost saving and environmental benefits drive moves to electrify homes
• Awareness of electrification programs lags behind that of other schemes to assist with energy costs
• Households’ interest in and capacity to electrify vary

To enable the transition from gas to electricity for lower-income households, policy-makers will need to address:

• the multiple stressors that may prevent households from prioritising electrification
• the need for better targeted promotion, accurate information and trusted advice tailored to people’s financial circumstances
• the split incentives that can be a barrier to electrification for renters and rental providers
• capital barriers to installing electric appliances
• access to solar panels and energy efficiency upgrades for renters and lower-income households
• a plan for the future of the residential gas network, to increase certainty
• meaningful ways to include the people facing major barriers in the planning for electrification