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Energy Efficiency
Buying a home? How to check if it's ready for electrification
Buying a home? Learn how to check if a property is ready for electrification, including its switchboard, wiring, solar, heating and EV charging.
Buying a home means checking everything from the condition of the roof to the number of bedrooms. But there's another consideration that could become increasingly important: whether the property is ready to go all-electric.
Home electrification involves replacing appliances that use gas or other fossil fuels with efficient electric alternatives. That could include switching from gas heating to reverse-cycle air conditioning, installing an induction cooktop, choosing a heat pump hot water system, adding rooftop solar and a home battery, or charging an electric vehicle (EV) at home.
If you're inspecting a property, considering its electrification potential before you buy can help you understand what upgrades may be required – and what they could cost.
Check the switchboard and electrical supply
An older switchboard can be one of the first signs that a home may require electrical upgrades.
Adding high-powered electric appliances can increase demand on a home’s electrical system, particularly when several operate at the same time. Even energy-efficient appliances may require substantial power at peak operation, so an electrician may need to assess whether the existing switchboard and electrical capacity are suitable. An electrician can assess the switchboard, wiring, safety switches and electrical capacity and advise whether upgrades may be necessary.
Some properties may also benefit from upgrading their electricity supply, such as moving from single-phase to three-phase power. Whether that's necessary will depend on the property and the equipment you plan to install.
Look at what already runs on electricity
Take note of the home's major appliances during an inspection. Is the cooktop gas or electric? What powers the hot water system? Does the home have gas ducted heating or energy-efficient reverse-cycle air conditioning?
A home with an induction cooktop, heat pump hot water and efficient electric heating and cooling may already be well on its way to electrification.
If the property relies heavily on gas, consider which appliances you may eventually want to replace and factor those upgrades into your budget.
More: How to get off gas at home - what to replace first
Assess the home's solar potential
Rooftop solar can help households generate their own electricity and reduce the amount of energy they need to purchase from the grid.
If solar panels are already installed, find out the system's age, capacity and condition, and ask for relevant documentation where available. An older or undersized system may eventually need upgrading.
No solar? Consider whether the roof is suitable. Roof condition, orientation, available space and shading from nearby trees or buildings can all affect a home's solar potential.
It's worth checking the roof before installing panels, too. If major repairs or replacement are likely soon, completing that work before installing solar could avoid the expense of removing and reinstalling panels later.
Think about home EV charging
If you own an EV – or think you might buy one in the future – consider where it could be charged.
Off-street parking such as a garage, carport or driveway can make home charging more straightforward. Check the distance between the parking area and switchboard, as longer or more complicated cable runs can increase installation complexity.
Apartments and townhouses can present additional considerations. Installing EV charging equipment on common property usually requires owners corporation approval and upgrades to shared electrical infrastructure.
More: How to prepare your home for an electric car charger
Don't forget energy efficiency
Electrification works best when the home itself uses energy efficiently.
During your inspection, look for features such as ceiling and wall insulation, draught sealing, window coverings, double glazing and efficient heating and cooling. Good passive design, including appropriate shading and orientation, can also help reduce heating and cooling demand.
A poorly insulated home may still be electrified, but improving its thermal performance first can make it more comfortable and reduce the amount of electricity needed to heat or cool it.
More: Home energy ratings explained
What Victorian home buyers should consider
Victoria is progressively moving towards greater home electrification. From 1 January 2027, new residential buildings in Victoria must be built all-electric. Changes affecting existing homes are also being introduced, including requirements from 1 March 2027 to replace end-of-life gas hot water systems with efficient electric alternatives, subject to exemptions.
For buyers considering an established Victorian home, this makes it worth looking beyond whether appliances work today. Ask how old the gas hot water service and heating system are, and consider whether their eventual replacement could require electrical or switchboard upgrades.
If you're considering buying the property as an investment, pay particular attention to Victoria's rental minimum standards. New energy-efficiency requirements will begin to take effect from 1 March 2027, including requirements relating to heating and cooling, hot water, insulation and other efficiency measures. Understanding what the property already has – and what may need upgrading – can help you budget for future compliance.
Home electrification checklist for buyers
When inspecting a home, use this quick electrification checklist to identify features that are already in place and upgrades you may need to budget for:
- Switchboard - is it modern, and does it appear to have capacity for additional electrical circuits?
- Electrical supply - is the property connected to single-phase or three-phase power?
- Cooking - does the kitchen have an induction or electric cooktop, or is it connected to gas?
- Heating and cooling - does the home use efficient reverse-cycle air conditioning or gas heating?
- Hot water - is there a heat pump, electric or gas hot water system?
- Solar - are solar panels installed? If so, check their age, capacity and available documentation.
- Roof - is there sufficient unshaded roof space for solar panels, and is the roof in good condition?
- Home battery - is battery storage already installed, or is there a suitable location for one?
- EV charging - is there convenient off-street parking and a practical location for a home EV charger?
- Energy efficiency - look for insulation, draught sealing, efficient windows and other features that can reduce energy use.
- Gas connection - if the property uses gas, consider which appliances would need replacing if you eventually wanted to disconnect from the gas network.
Not every box needs to be ticked. Instead, use the checklist to identify potential upgrades and include them in your overall home-buying budget.
Get professional advice before you buy
You don't need to find a house that's already completely electric. What matters is understanding how easily and affordably it could be upgraded.
A qualified electrician can assess electrical infrastructure, while building and pest inspections can help identify broader issues that could affect future upgrades.
Before making an offer, consider the switchboard, wiring, appliances, roof, solar potential, parking and energy efficiency alongside your usual property checks. A little extra investigation now can give you a clearer picture of how ready your potential new home is for an all-electric future.
