Participating in the pilot
Electrification is a journey and everybody’s journey is different. The Electrify 2515 Community Pilot is a real-world research project following 500 diverse households with the aim of making the energy transition faster, fairer and easier for everyone across the nation. Find key info you need to take part in this groundbreaking research pilot on this page.
Pilot partners
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Based in Thirroul, Rewiring Australia is a non-profit research and advocacy organisation that is leading the recruitment, participant support and research components of the pilot. Call us on (02) 4216 6032 with questions about the pilot.
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Brighte is managing accredited installers to deliver household electric upgrades through the pilot, as well as approve subsidy applications and provide access to finance when needed.
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Our local electrical distribution network operator, Endeavour Energy has installed network monitors and is assessing network impacts. For more info, go to
endeavourenergy.com.au
How it works
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Apply
500 homes connected to the local energy grid will opt to switch out gas for electric appliances.
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Subsidies
Participants get subsidies to install electric hot water systems, air conditioners and induction cooktops. Subsidies are income dependent, and verified through Brighte’s online portal.
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Smart energy device
Participants get a fully subsidised smart energy device to track and optimise household energy use.
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Research
Participants complete three surveys during their electrification journey and household energy data is collected to assess our impact and accelerate nationwide household electrification.
How to participate
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Thank you to those who completed our original survey back in 2022. This helped us demonstrate that 2515 was a suitable site for a pilot project like this. Whether or not you completed the original survey, everybody now needs to complete an application form.
You will be offered a range of subsidies to switch out your gas appliances for efficient, electric alternatives. In your application you must identify which appliances you want to install.
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Successful applicants will receive an invitation to participate from Rewiring Australia (by email) at least 30 days prior to your installation window commencing.
Applications are assessed on factors that will enable us to meet our research targets, including diversity of housing types (eg. standalone versus strata property), demographics, and appliance upgrades.
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Participants will be directed to our partner Brighte’s online platform. Here you can select which appliances you want and arrange quotes with your preferred registered tradespeople. Brighte will be available to help if you would like assistance with the quotation process.
Local tradespeople from the Illawarra region will be recruited to deliver installations.
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You will be offered relevant subsidies and payment options when you pay via the Brighte platform.
Then, your chosen appliances will be delivered and installed, along with a free smart energy device (also known as a household energy management system). This small piece of technology pairs with your smartphone and lets your monitor and optimise your energy usage.
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Households will be supplied with a smart energy device. Also known as a household energy management system, this is a small piece of technology paired with an app that lets households monitor and optimise their energy usage.
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The interrelationship between consumers, appliances, energy loads, the electricity grid, installations, and smart technology is complex. Pilot participants contribute valuable feedback and energy data that will be analysed to determine how household electrification might be supported nationwide.
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You are reducing your fossil fuel emissions and making savings on your household energy bills at the same time. Congratulations!
Timeline
The Pilot will be delivered in two stages between December 2024 and April 2026. The initial smaller cohort helped us collect preliminary data to inform the main rollout.
The research component of the project and analysis of participating homes will run from project launch until April 2027. We will report our collective impact and the results of the pilot back to project participants and the wider community.
Which tradies can I choose from?
The pilot is being delivered by a range of installers with diverse expertise, including hot water specialists, level 2 electricians, and solar and battery companies with experience designing smart, whole-house systems. Check the list of installers involved in the pilot, below.
Who is eligible?
The Pilot is designed to include households with different home ownership statuses within the 2515 postcode.
Participants must:
Commit to replacing eligible gas appliances with efficient, electric appliances;
Have items installed within the pilot timeframe;
Consent to the pilot research requirements, including sharing your energy data with the project partners and participating in research until April 2027. Strict privacy policies are in place to protect your personal data. (Read our privacy policy.)
Priority will be given to homes that replace gas appliances. However, there are also opportunities for existing electric homes to participate with the installation of a smart energy device.
What about solar, batteries and EVs?
Participants will be able to purchase and install rooftop solar, batteries and EV chargers through the Pilot but these items will not be subsidised.
“I’m so proud that our 2515 community is at the forefront of this transition… we can fast forward our neighbourhood to the electric future and show the rest of Australia how to do it faster and smarter.”
— Dr Saul Griffith, Founder Rewiring Australia
