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In August 2022, the ACT Government announced a commitment to transition off fossil fuel gas and electrify Canberra by 2045. We're doing this because fossil fuel gas currently accounts for more than 20% of the ACT's greenhouse gas emissions. An all-electric Canberra will allow us to power our city, homes, businesses and transport in a cleaner and cheaper way. It will also help us to achieve our climate change commitments of becoming a net zero emissions city by 2045.

The transition from fossil fuel gas means that buildings that include gas systems and appliances will need to be transitioned to electric, or use an emissions-free source of energy over the next two decades.

Get ready to start building for Canberra's all-electric future

In March-April 2023, the Government undertook public consultation on a regulation to prohibit new fossil fuel gas mains connections in the ACT. It is expected that the regulation will commence in late 2023 (or as soon as practical thereafter). Visit the link to find out more about the regulation to prevent new gas network connections.

Before the regulation commences, the ACT Government strongly encourages that applicants undertaking the Development Approval and Building Approval process consider all-electric buildings in the first instance to prevent needing to retrofit the building in the future.

If an applicant decides to proceed with building plans which include fossil fuel gas infrastructure and appliances, it is important that those buildings have been built and designed with a transition pathway in mind. This will minimise cost, barriers to transition off gas and disruption to future unit owners and tenants.

The challenge ahead – electrifying large developments

We know that some buildings, particularly multi-unit housing or mixed-use developments, can be particularly difficult and costly to transition to all-electric. This is because current building designs often do not include sufficient space or weight bearing capacity for electrical systems and appliances. These buildings also may not have the required electrical infrastructure capacity to support an all-electric transition.

Although Canberra has the next two-decades to progressively transition off fossil-fuel gas, buildings built today should be all-electric to make sure transition costs are not passed onto future owners and tenants. If a building must connect to fossil-fuel gas, the building should be designed to be ready for an all-electric transition to ensure minimum costs are passed onto future building users.

Design considerations for electric ready buildings

Developers planning to include gas infrastructure and appliances in their building designs before the regulation comes into effect should consider making buildings ready to allow for future all-electric upgrades. To be all-electric ready, the building must include appropriate space, engineering requirements, and electrical allowances in its construction to better allow for future upgrades.

The design and build requirements to ensure that a development can be retrofitted will vary depending on the individual building design, the gas and electrical infrastructure and types of appliances used. Some examples of design considerations that will allow for future retrofitting are outlined below.

Hot water systems (general)

There are a range of electric hot water technologies that can be used to replace gas systems, including electric hot water heat pumps and instantaneous electric hot water systems.

Design considerations for installing electric water heating technologies at a future date may include:

  • Allowing adequate space during construction to accommodate future electric heat pump technology installations.
  • Heat pump systems can be noisy, it is important to install these away from living areas and bedrooms.
  • Placement must consider ventilation requirements for heat pumps to function appropriately.
  • Instantaneous electric hot water systems will have a significant impact on the electrical demand calculations and needs for the building.

Centralised hot water systems

Some multi-unit and mixed-use developments rely on large, centralised fossil fuel gas hot water systems. These systems can present challenges to retrofit to all-electric if not considered at the building design stage. There are a range of electric hot water technologies that can be used to replace gas systems, including electric hot water heat pumps and instantaneous electric hot water systems.

Design considerations for installing electric water heating technologies at a future date may include:

  • Allowing adequate space during construction to accommodate future electric heat pump technology installations in plant rooms.
  • Designing to allow for additional weight on rooftops for heat pumps systems and tanks that may be installed in future.
  • Including additional height allowances as part of design for the future installation of heat pumps and tanks.
  • Whether buffer tanks and heat pumps must be located close to the water storage tanks.
  • Heat pump systems can be noisy, it is important to install these away from living areas and bedrooms, and dwellings where possible.
  • Placement must consider ventilation requirements for heat pumps to function appropriately.
  • Instantaneous electric hot water systems will have a significant impact on the electrical demand calculations and needs for the building.

Building EV ready

More Canberrans are also making the switch to electric vehicles (EVs) and plan to charge them primarily at home. It is important that we also make multi-unit and townhouse complexes EV ready so that residents and visitors can install EV chargers at a time that suits them.

Read the guides to help make your new or existing buildings EV ready:

Electrical capacity

The replacement of gas appliances with electrical appliances in a building will change the calculated maximum demand for the building’s electrical infrastructure. Capacity to support an increased demand on the electrical infrastructure may require the building to include additional infrastructure such as a main switchboard or substation that can accommodate the expected increase in electrical demand in the future.

Depending on the building's future electrical needs, Evoenergy may recommend:

  • Installing oversized underground electrical conduit systems so new supply cables can easily be installed in the future.
  • Making provision for additional Evoenergy infrastructure, such as a pad-mount or chamber substation or transformer.
  • Planning for electrical appliances to be installed in the future with minimal cost and disruption could also mean taking steps to install any additional cabling required prior to walls being sealed.

Seeking advice as part of development application and building approval process

Prior to commencing a development application or building approval process the developer may wish to obtain technical expert advice and documentation to confirm that their development has the capacity and space to be retrofitted for an all-electric transition in the future.

Depending on the proposed building, some examples of the experts who might need to be consulted include certifiers, structural engineers, electrical engineers, plumbing and hydraulic engineers and Evoenergy.

It is recommended that applicants engage with Evoenergy early in the development planning process. Electrification increases a building's demand for electricity and may require upgrades to Evoenergy's distribution network and supply to the planned building. Early engagement with Evoenergy on the infrastructure and planning required will help with the transition in the future.

Related content

Smart design principles, such as energy efficiency, can reduce a building's demand on energy sources, such as electricity. The ACT and Australian Governments, and many non-government organisations have prepared guidelines about sustainability, emissions reduction and electrification in relation to building design, including:

For more information on the ACT's Pathway to Electrification project, visit www.energy.act.gov.au.