Guide 6 of 6
Gas in new Victorian homes: the rules and the dates
Since 1 January 2024, Victoria has banned gas connections to new dwellings, apartments and residential subdivisions that need a planning permit. From 1 January 2027, all new homes and most new commercial buildings must be built all-electric, and from 1 March 2027, when a gas hot water system in an existing home reaches the end of its life, it must be replaced with an electric one, though exemptions are available where an electric replacement is not feasible. Energy Victoria says the changes come with a range of exemptions for situations where electrification, or meeting the standards, is impractical or costly.
The 2027 dates come from the Building and Plumbing Amendment Regulations 2025, which the Victorian Government calls the Building Electrification Regulations.
General information, not legal advice. The Victorian Government points readers to the Energy Victoria website for how the changes apply to them and the support available.
The dates, in order
2022: gas no longer required
The Victorian Government removed the requirements for gas connections to new homes.
28 July 2023: the planning permit rule is announced
The government said planning permits for new homes and residential subdivisions would connect only to all-electric networks from 2024, including new public and social housing delivered by Homes Victoria.
1 January 2024: no gas for new homes needing a permit
All new homes that require a planning permit are not connected to the gas network. In its December 2023 roadmap update the government said it would consult on extending this to all new residential dwellings and some commercial buildings.
28 February 2025: consultation closes
Consultation on the Building Electrification Regulatory Impact Statement and draft regulations closed, after more than 2,600 responses. The regulations were then finalised.
1 January 2027: new buildings all-electric
All new homes and most new commercial buildings must be built all-electric.
1 March 2027: gas hot water at end of life
Once a gas hot water system in an existing home reaches end of life, its replacement must be electric. Exemptions are available where replacing one with an electric appliance is not feasible.
Each drum shows the last two digits of the year.
What changes, and what does not
Covered
- New homes and most new commercial buildings, from 1 January 2027.
- Gas hot water in existing homes, when it reaches end of life, from 1 March 2027, with exemptions where an electric replacement is not feasible.
Not affected
- Existing gas cooking and space heating in existing homes: you can keep cooking on an existing gas connection inside, or one piped to the barbecue.
- Existing commercial buildings.
- New industrial, manufacturing and agricultural buildings.
- The use of LPG.
What it means for the two meters
The rules decide which meters a Victorian home has, and so which plans its household compares. As this guide reads them:
Electricity
A new home built to the 2027 rules is all-electric, so there is no gas network connection to choose a plan for; the regulations do not affect the use of LPG. Victorians compare electricity plans on Victorian Energy Compare.
Gas
An existing home can keep gas for cooking and space heating. While it stays connected, a gas supply fee is charged whether the gas appliances are used or not. Stopping the supply is covered in Gas or electric appliances.