Electricity can do more than power your lights. It can change how you live, help the planet, and save money.
Currently, most of Australia runs on gas, coal, and oil. These fuels are expensive and harmful to the air we breathe. Switching to clean electricity can cut energy use across the whole country by more than half.
And it starts with your home.
You might wonder if the change is worth it. You might worry it costs too much or is too hard to do. That’s normal.
But here’s the good news. At PSC Energy, we’re helping customers make the switch to an electrified lifestyle. It’s easier than you think. It’s good for your wallet, your family, and the future.
In this article, you’ll learn what an electrified lifestyle means for you and how it could change Australia for the better.
Fossil Fuels vs. Renewable Energy in Australia
Fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas are not very efficient. These fuels work by burning, and that process creates a lot of heat. But most of that heat is wasted.
For example, when you burn petrol in a car engine, only about 20% to 25% of the energy actually makes the car move. The rest of the energy turns into heat, noise, or friction that disappears into the air.
Gas appliances at home also waste energy. A typical gas stove wastes over half the energy it uses. Much of the heat escapes around the pan or into the air. Even gas water heaters and space heaters lose energy through hot exhaust or leaky pipes.
According to the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, gas space heating systems are often less than 65% efficient. That means 35% of the energy is lost right away.
Electric systems work differently. Electric motors don’t burn fuel. They turn electricity straight into movement or heat and waste much less.
An electric car converts about 85% to 90% of its energy into motion, which is more than three times better than a petrol or diesel car.
Heat pumps are much more efficient than gas. They don’t create heat by burning. They move heat from the air outside into your home or your water. That’s why they are 300% to 500% efficient — they can give you three to five times more heat than the energy they use.
Because electricity uses energy more wisely, switching to electric cars, stoves, water heaters, and space heaters can cut total energy use in half or more.
How Much Energy Does Australia Use?
Every year, Australia uses about 4,000 petajoules of energy. Homes use around 8% of that. Transport uses 28%, and industry uses 38%.
Most of this energy comes from fossil fuels. If we switched to electric power across all sectors, total energy use could drop to around 1,600 petajoules.
That’s less than half. That’s because electric systems are much more efficient.
If you’re interested in learning a bit more about lowering greenhouse gas emissions with solar, you might want to check out the following article titled, What Is Net Zero by 2050 for Australia?
What is Home Electrification?
Electrification means replacing machines that burn gas or petrol with ones that run on electricity. Here are the main steps:
- Car: Replace your petrol or diesel car with an electric vehicle (EV). EVs are three times more efficient. You can charge them at home, which saves money. Charging an EV with solar power eliminates the cost.
- Heating and Cooling: Swap gas heaters or ducted systems for reverse-cycle air conditioners. These systems heat and cool your home with up to 500% efficiency.
- Hot Water: Use a heat pump water heater. It works like a fridge in reverse and uses 70% less energy than a gas system.
- Cooking: Change from a gas stove to an induction cooktop. Induction is safer, faster, and does not pollute your indoor air.
- Solar Power: Install solar panels. Of course, we’re a little biased here, as we install them every day. A 10kW system can make most of the power your home needs and lower your bills.
Each change saves money over time. Together, they can make your home cleaner, cheaper to run, and more comfortable.
If you’re interested in learning more about solar systems, you might want to check out our introductory article titled, New to Solar: Start Here.
Power up your savings. Click here.
Start with Solar Panel Energy Systems: Power Your Home and Your Future
If you’re thinking about going electric, the best place to start is with solar panels.
A rooftop solar system lets you make your own clean energy right at home. This energy can power your lights, fridge, heating, car, and more. It gives you control over your bills and your carbon footprint.
A standard solar panel system for a home is around 10 kilowatts (kW). After rebates, it usually costs considerably less than you’d think. It depends on where you live and which installer you choose.
Once installed, your system can cut your power bills by up to 60%, especially if you use the energy during the day or add a battery later.
Once you have solar, it’s much easier and cheaper to power everything else with electricity. Here’s how solar fits into the complete electric picture:
- Electric Vehicle (EV): Charging an EV at home using solar panels is far cheaper than petrol, especially if you drive during the day and charge when the sun is shining.
- Heat Pump Water System: Heat pump water heaters are efficient and work great with solar. They can be set to run when your solar panels are making the most energy, helping you save even more.
- Reverse-Cycle Air Conditioner: These systems heat and cool your home using electricity. They’re perfect for solar homes because you can run them on sunny days when energy is free and clean.
- Induction Cooktop: Induction stoves are fast, safe, and very efficient. When powered by your solar system, cooking becomes cheaper with no gas fumes indoors.
It may seem like a significant investment, but the savings grow over time. A fully electric home powered by solar adds up to savings. Even more so as energy prices rise.
Going solar also adds value to your home. More buyers are looking for energy-efficient homes with low running costs. And it helps the planet, too. Every kilowatt of solar power you use is energy that doesn’t come from coal or gas.
If you’re wondering where to start your electric journey, start with the sun. Solar panels can power your lifestyle and lead you to a cleaner, cheaper home.
How to Afford the Switch
You don’t have to electrify all at once. Start with what saves you the most now. If your gas water heater is getting old, replace it with a heat pump. If you need a new car, make your next one electric. Look for rebates and finance plans. Use solar to reduce running costs.
The Australian government offers help in the form of the STC scheme for solar panels. Other programs include state programs like the NSW VPP scheme and the recently announced federal battery rebate.
If you’re interested in learning a bit more about solar panels and energy systems, you might want to check out the following article titled, Are Solar Panels Worth It in NSW, Australia? A Price Breakdown for 2025.
Let’s talk solar savings. Click here.
Add a Solar Battery: Store Your Solar Energy and Use It Anytime
Solar panels are great during the day. But what happens when the sun goes down? That’s where solar batteries come in.
A battery lets you store your panels’ extra solar energy so you can use it at night or on cloudy days. It gives you more control, more savings, and more energy independence.
The most popular type of home battery in Australia is the lithium-ion battery, like the Tesla Powerwall or Sigenergy SigenStor battery.
These systems store the electricity your solar panels make during the day. Then they power your home when the sun isn’t shining. This means you don’t need to buy as much electricity from the grid, and you avoid high evening prices.
Here are a few key benefits of adding a battery to your solar system:
- Use Your Own Power 24/7. A battery helps you use more of the solar energy you make instead of sending it back to the grid for a small feed-in payment. This is called “self-consumption,” and it saves you more money.
- Lower Your Power Bills Further. With a battery, you can cut your electricity bills even more — sometimes by 80% to 90%, depending on how much energy you use and when you use it.
- Backup Power During Blackouts. Some batteries can power your home during a power outage. If you live in an area with blackouts or bushfire risks, this can be a big help.
- Support the Grid. When your battery connects to a virtual power plant (VPP), it can help share power with your neighbours or sell energy back to the grid during peak times. Some VPPs even offer you payments for this.
Is It Worth It?
Batteries are not a must-have when you first go solar. But they’re a smart upgrade once you’ve switched to electric appliances and your solar panels make more energy than you use during the day.
Over time, the savings from a battery can make up for the cost, especially as electricity prices go up.
Even better, batteries are coming down in price. As more people buy them and more companies compete, batteries will keep getting cheaper and better. The Clean Energy Council expects battery costs to fall by up to 50% by 2030.
If you want complete control over your energy, a home battery is the final piece of the puzzle. It turns your home into a little power station — clean, quiet, and smart.
If you’re interested in learning a bit more about solar batteries, you might want to start with the following article titled, Adding a Battery to a Solar System.
Ready to go solar? Click here.
What You Can Do Today: Start Your Journey with Solar Panels and Battery Power
Making your home electric doesn’t have to happen all at once. You can start small, take smart steps, and build toward a cleaner, cheaper home.
The best place to begin is with solar panels — and if you’re ready to go further, a home battery can take your energy savings to the next level.
Here’s how you can take action today:
1. Check for solar and battery rebates in your state or territory. Rebates and incentives can save you thousands of dollars on solar panels and battery storage. Every state is different, so seeing what’s available where you live is important.
- In New South Wales, the VPP scheme offers up to $1,500 when you connect to a VPP.
- At the federal level, the Labor Party recently announced a solar battery rebate that will reduce the upfront price of solar batteries by about 30%. They need to win the election first, though.
2. Ask a local solar and battery installer for a free home assessment. Many solar companies like PSC Energy offer free quotes and site visits. We can check your roof, your energy use, and your future needs. We can help you decide what size solar system is right for your home and whether adding a battery now or later makes sense.
Even if you’re not ready to buy, a free quote gives you a clear idea of the cost, the savings, and the payback period.
3. Plan to replace gas appliances with electric ones over time. You don’t have to remove all your gas appliances right away. But next time your gas water heater or stovetop breaks, plan to replace it with an electric model. Choose a heat pump water heater, an induction cooktop, or a reverse-cycle air conditioner. If you already have solar panels, running these electric appliances with free sunlight will lower your bills even more.
4. Save for an electric car or explore second-hand EV options. Electric vehicles are cheaper to run than petrol cars, especially if you charge them using solar power. Even if you’re not buying one today, you can start saving or researching used EVs.
If you’d like to learn a bit more about what solar batteries are on the market, you might want to check out the following article titled, 6 Best Solar Batteries on the Market.
Get started with solar. Click here.
Wrapping It Up: One Small Change Starts a Big Shift
When you start with solar, you make clean power. When you add a battery, you take control. And when you go all-electric, you build a home that’s ready for the future.
Electrification is not just a buzzword. It’s a real way to cut bills and clean the air. You don’t need to be an expert or spend all your money today. You need to start. One step leads to the next.
At PSC Energy, we know that every electric upgrade makes your home operate more efficiently. It helps your budget. It helps your family. And it will help Australia move toward a cleaner, brighter future. We’re here to help when you’re ready. It’s what we do.
If you’re interested in learning a bit more about the proposed federal solar rebate, you might want to check out the following article titled, The 2025 Federal Government Solar Battery Rebate for Australia: What You Need to Know.
Works Cited
Rewiring Australia.
Home Electrification Reports and Modelling. Rewiring Australia, 2022.
https://www.rewiringaustralia.org/reports
Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC).
Energy Efficient Appliances Factsheet. CEFC, Australian Government.
https://www.cefc.com.au/media/nh5bwz2i/energy-efficient-appliances-factsheet.pdf
Australian Energy Regulator (AER).
Energy Efficient Appliances. AER, Australian Government.
https://www.aer.gov.au/consumers/my-energy-service/energy-efficient-appliances
CSIRO.
Future Energy Outlook. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, 2022.
Clean Energy Council.
Clean Energy Australia Report 2023. Clean Energy Council.
https://www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au/resources/resources-hub/clean-energy-australia-report
Australian Government – Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
Household Energy Upgrades Fund.
https://www.dcceew.gov.au/energy/household-energy-upgrades-fund
Energy.gov.au.
Rebates and Assistance. Australian Government.
