Electrification Tips

Zali Steggall MP

Warringah Electrification Tips

September 2026

Warringah residents are embracing solar, batteries, electric vehicles and energy-efficient homes. And with new rebates, incentives and zero-interest loans available, there are more opportunities to cut energy bills, reduce emissions and make our homes more resilient.

Here are some of the latest programs and practical opportunities available to Warringah residents, including free ‘strata energy efficiency’ sessions in October.

Warringah Electrification Tips

Zero-interest loans

The NSW Government is now offering zero-interest loans of up to $15,000, repayable over 10 years, to help eligible households make energy-saving upgrades. We estimate up to 53% of Warringah households are eligible.

The loans are available to eligible homeowners and landlords with a combined taxable household income of up to $210,000.

They can be used for upgrades including rooftop solar, home batteries, ceiling insulation, heat-pump hot water systems, reverse-cycle air conditioning, EV chargers and other energy-saving improvements.

The $480 million program is expected to help more than 32,000 NSW households.

Mosman resident Jane said attending Zali's Climate Action Week inspired her to install solar.

“The loan application was incredibly simple,” Jane said. “My application was approved in less than 24 hours, and I'll repay just $108 a month over 10 years, with no interest. Once the work is complete, the loan provider pays the installer directly. I'd love to see more people take advantage of this program.”

More assistance is also on the way. Later in 2026, discounts of up to $4,000 for eligible energy-saving upgrades will also be available to homeowners and renters with a combined household income of up to $80,000 or an eligible concession card.

Find out more through the NSW Government's Home Energy Saver program.

EV sales surge

Australia is seeing a significant shift towards electric vehicles, helped by a growing range of more affordable models and renewed concern about our reliance on imported fuel.

The fuel price shock triggered by conflict in the Middle East earlier this year highlighted just how exposed we are to events overseas.

Speaking in Parliament on 30 March this year, I said: “Sales of EVs are now booming as people realise the only way they can inoculate themselves from fuel price shocks is by choosing that, not hybrid and not something that continues to rely on imported fuel.”

March 2026 was then a record month for EV sales, with 15,839 battery electric vehicles sold nationally, representing 14.6% of all new vehicle sales. In July, 23,510 EVs were sold, representing 21.7% of all new vehicle sales.

Now, new data from the Electric Vehicle Council shows the shift is accelerating, with Warringah playing a strong part. In August, battery electric vehicles outsold petrol vehicles for the first time in Australia.

Australia remains heavily dependent on imported fuel, leaving households vulnerable to global oil price shocks. The Federal Government temporarily reduced fuel excise earlier this year in response to rising prices, but this relief ended on 2 August.

At the same time, greater competition and more affordable brands including many new brands are giving Australian consumers more choice.

Locally, Brookvale is emerging as a strong EV precinct, with a growing range of dealerships around Pittwater Road.

The lesson from this year's fuel shock is clear: one of the best ways to protect households from future oil price spikes is to reduce our reliance on petrol altogether.

Find practical information on EV costs, charging, batteries and choosing the right vehicle in Zali's Warringah Sustainability Guide EV supplement.

Switching to solar and batteries

Clean Energy Regulator data shows Warringah continues to make strong progress in going solar.

By June 2026, the Warringah electorate had around 11,040 rooftop solar systems in total, with an average of 10kW each. But we can more than double this.

Battery uptake has been even stronger. Batteries allow households to store more of their own solar power for use later in the day, helping reduce electricity bills and demand on the grid.

In the 12 months to June 2026, 2,127 home batteries with an average capacity of 28kWh were installed in Warringah under the Federal Government's Cheaper Home Batteries Program.

The program provides eligible households, small businesses and community organisations with a discount of around 30% on the upfront cost of an eligible battery connected to new or existing rooftop solar.

Demand has been so strong that the Federal Government has expanded the program. The national target for this program is now two million home batteries in Australian households by 2030, when the program is expected to finish. Based on population and housing mix, Warringah's share is at least 5,000 batteries. Together, we can achieve that goal.

Energy efficiency incentives

NSW incentives complement federal programs designed to help with energy efficiency. Households may be eligible for upfront discounts on energy-efficient upgrades, including up to $560 when replacing an old air conditioner with an eligible reverse-cycle system. High-efficiency pool pumps can also attract incentives through the NSW Peak Demand Reduction Scheme.

If you already have a home battery, or are installing one, you may also be eligible for a financial incentive to connect it to a Virtual Power Plant, or VPP.

A VPP connects many household batteries so stored electricity can be supplied back to the grid when demand is high. The NSW VPP incentive can be combined with the Federal Government's Cheaper Home Batteries Program.

If you're considering solar, it can be worth pricing a battery at the same time, particularly if you use a lot of electricity in the evening or want backup power during outages. If outage protection is important to you, make sure your battery system is configured with backup capability.

Help for apartment residents

Electrification can be more complicated in strata buildings, but there are an increasing number of programs designed to help apartment residents.

From 1 September, eligible apartment buildings can access an upfront NSW Government discount for installing a shared battery. The discount is larger when a battery and new or additional solar are installed together.

The NSW Solar for Apartment Residents (SoAR) Program also provides funding to help eligible apartment buildings install shared rooftop solar.

Applications close at 5pm on 4 December 2026, or earlier if available funding is fully allocated. Funded projects must be completed by 30 April 2027.

Getting solar approved in strata often requires someone to take the lead, build support among owners and help navigate the process.

Mosman resident Felicity recently stepped into this role after joining Zali’s Climate Strata group: “I’ve realised I’m now my building’s ‘champion’ – but I also know I’m not doing it alone.”

Zali’s Climate Strata group is organising a series of Energy Efficiency Workshops for individual strata residents and members of Owners corporations, at Zali’s Community Hub in Neutral Bay commencing in October (dates tbc soon). To register your interest in attending, contact the group at [email protected].

Three hours of free electricity

The Federal Government's Solar Sharer Offer began on 1 July 2026 and gives eligible households access to three hours of free electricity each day.

In NSW, the free period runs from 11am to 2pm, when solar generation is generally at its highest. Eligible households can use up to 24 kWh of free electricity during that period.

You don't need rooftop solar to participate, but you do need a smart meter and must opt in through an eligible electricity retailer.

It sounds attractive, particularly if you can move activities such as running the dishwasher, washing machine, air conditioning or charging an EV into the middle of the day.

But check the fine print: some retail plans can cost more overall, with higher rates outside the free period and higher daily supply charges. Compare the total annual cost with other plans before signing up – this free electricity offer doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the cheapest deal.

For a discussion about this, see: https://reneweconomy.com.au/solar-sharer-has-become-the-solar-shocker-with-the-costliest-of-retail-offers/

Team Zali Climate Action Group

The Team Zali Climate Action Group is a volunteer-led group passionate about helping our community reduce emissions through electrification, energy efficiency and practical sustainability initiatives.

Whether you're keen to take climate action in Warringah, curious about electrifying your house or apartment, or looking for practical information to help with your sustainability journey, the Team Zali Climate Action Group would love to hear from you at [email protected].

If you've recently installed solar, a battery, switched to an EV or made another home energy upgrade, we'd love to hear about that experience too. Sharing what worked, and what didn't, can help others in our community make the switch.

 

Thank you for continuing to help make Warringah more sustainable.