Electrification is the process of replacing technologies or processes that use fossil fuels, with electrically powered equivalents.

For example replacing gas appliances or petrol fuelled cars with electric heat pumps, cooktops or electric vehicles. It’s a pivotal transformation that’s reshaping Australia's energy landscape.

By helping to demystify electrification, its benefits and the options available, we aim to empower customers to navigate the energy transition to make the choices best for them.

Benefits of electrification for Australians

Electricity is more than just a utility; it's a catalyst for change. Electrification holds immense potential for Australians:

• Environmental Stewardship: Australia's electricity system is increasingly investing in renewables to increase the ratio of clean energy, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Economic Prosperity: Electrification fosters economic growth by creating new job opportunities in renewable energy sectors and reducing the operational costs of electric vehicles
• Energy Efficiency and Savings: Newer appliances, powered by electricity can be more energy efficient, reducing energy consumption and lowering energy bills
• Improved Safety: Using electricity in the home helps avoid air pollutants like carbon monoxide, and reduce nitrogen dioxide emissions indoors. Electric homes also reduce the risks of exposure to a naked flame.

What does electrification look like for households?

The shift towards electrification has significant environmental and economic benefits, particularly when applied to electric vehicles (EVs), heating and cooling, water heating, cooking and solar power.

How is Ausgrid supporting electrification ?

At the heart of this change is electricity distribution, the intersection of renewable energy sources with changes in grid storage and two-way generation management.

Ausgrid has several initiatives to support the uptake of more renewable energy. Two key areas of focus are our Community Batteries, as well as the roll out of electric vehicle charging infrastructure across our network.

Community Batteries provide a shared solution to harness excess solar energy. They allow more rooftop solar to be connected, and help share solar within the local area, including to households without solar themselves. They support the network by strengthen the grid, reducing the need to limit solar exports which help customers maximise their solar investment, and helps to regulate voltage on the network and improves network quality in the local area.

50% of new cars sold in 2030 are expected to be Electric, so there is a growing need to ensure charging infrastructure is available to support our evolving customer needs. Ausgrid is working in partnership with councils and EV charging suppliers to roll out a mix of charging solutions that leverage our existing infrastructure. To learn more, visit Electric Vehicles.

To see how else we are driving innovation on the electricity network visit our Future Grid section.