The Victorian government has announced a suite of regulations to reduce gas use for rentals, newly built privately owned homes and newly built commercial buildings including schools and hospitals.
All new residential and commercial buildings (except agricultural and manufacturing buildings) will require all electric heating and hot water from January 1, 2027.
All rentals including public housing to shift to electric hot water and heating upon replacement - alongside a suite of other energy efficiency upgrades - after March 1, 2027.
From March 1, 2027 all existing privately owned homes can only replace gas hot water with electric appliances.
The reforms will also require all commercial buildings — excluding industrial, manufacturing and agricultural buildings — to be constructed as "all-electric" from the beginning of 2027.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said the reforms would save families money and help redirect the state's gas resources to meet industrial demand.
From January 1, 2027, rental properties will also be subject to higher energy efficiency standards under the new reforms.
Gas hot water systems and heaters in rental properties will need to be replaced with electric alternatives once they are beyond repair. Additionally, ceiling insulation must be installed if it is not already present at the start of a lease, and homes will require draught sealing at the beginning of each tenancy.
Rental properties must have heating and an all-electric cooling system from March 1, 2027.