Up to 1000 households in Banks and surrounding Tuggeranong suburbs will be offered rebates and support to switch their homes to all-electric under a $40 million pilot program.

The Australian government, through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, is providing $8.2 million towards the program, which will initially target Banks before expanding into Conder, Gordon, Calwell, Theodore, Bonython, Isabella Plains and Richardson.

Electric Future, working with Rewiring Australia and community group Electrify Canberra, will help participating households install technologies including rooftop solar, home batteries, efficient electric heating, heat-pump hot water and induction cooking.

Homeowners and renters can participate, with registrations now open. The household program will run from October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2028.

Electric Future managing director Nathan Brown says the program is designed to simplify the process by helping households coordinate trades, quotes and available rebates.

“Electric Future replaces that with a curated service – one organisation arranges it, and one organisation is accountable,” he says.

ACT Independent Senator David Pocock has welcomed the project, which follows a commitment he negotiated with the federal government in the previous parliamentary term for community electrification trials in every state and territory.

“We have to ensure everyone in our community benefits from household electrification – not just those who can afford it,” Senator Pocock says.

He says the Banks project builds on the grassroots Electrify Canberra campaign and will help determine the savings and wider benefits of electrifying homes at a community scale.

ARENA says the trial will test a model that could help accelerate the switch from gas to electricity across Australia.

Senator Pocock is also encouraging local tradespeople and installers to become accredited to participate in the program.

Households in Banks and neighbouring suburbs can register at https://www.electrifycanberra.org.au/goelectric.

News all day, every day at CityNews.com.au.