What Victoria's New Gas Rules Mean for New Homes

Tuesday 21 July 2026

If you're planning to build a new home in Victoria, you've likely heard about the State Government's move towards all electric homes. While the changes have generated plenty of discussion, they've also created confusion for many buyers who are wondering what the new rules actually mean.

Questions such as whether gas is still available, whether existing homes are affected and whether an all electric home will cost more are becoming increasingly common.

The good news is that for most people building a new home, the process remains largely the same. The biggest change is the type of appliances installed, with new homes being designed to meet the latest Victorian Government requirements while continuing to provide the comfort, convenience and performance homeowners expect.

Here's what you need to know.

Why Are the Rules Changing?

The Victorian Government has introduced a staged transition towards all electric homes as part of its Gas Substitution Roadmap. The objective is to improve household energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce demand on Victoria's gas network by transitioning new homes towards cleaner energy sources.

For home buyers, these changes don't alter the overall building process. Instead, they influence the appliances and services included in new homes, with efficient electric alternatives replacing traditional natural gas connections.

What's Changed?

The transition is occurring in stages, with different requirements applying depending on when a new home is approved and built. Understanding these key dates will help you know what to expect if you're planning to build in Victoria.

From 1 January 2024

New homes, residential subdivisions and apartment buildings that require a planning permit are generally no longer able to connect to the natural gas network. These homes are instead designed and built as all electric homes.

From 1 January 2027

From 1 January 2027, all new homes in Victoria will be required to be all electric, regardless of whether a planning permit is required. From this date, new residential homes will no longer receive a reticulated natural gas connection, creating one consistent standard across new residential construction.

What Is an All Electric Home?

An all electric home uses electricity instead of natural gas to power the appliances used every day. Rather than relying on gas, these homes are designed with efficient electric alternatives that deliver the same comfort, convenience and performance while meeting Victoria's latest building requirements.

What Appliances Does an All Electric Home Include?

Instead of gas appliances, you'll typically have:

Many homeowners already choose these systems because they offer excellent performance while helping improve the overall energy efficiency of the home.

What Is It Like to Live in an All Electric Home?

Living in an all electric home feels much the same as living in any modern home. The biggest difference is simply the type of appliances you use each day.

Induction cooktops provide fast, responsive cooking, reverse cycle systems efficiently heat and cool your home throughout the year, and heat pump hot water systems offer an energy efficient way to heat water. Combined with quality insulation and thoughtful home design, these features can help improve comfort while reducing household energy use over time.

Saara Interior

Devya Interior

Does This Affect Existing Homes?

No. These changes primarily apply to new homes, so existing homes with a natural gas connection can continue using their current gas appliances.

The Victorian Government has also announced additional changes from 2027 relating to the replacement of some gas appliances at the end of their service life. These changes do not require homeowners to remove functioning gas appliances or disconnect from the gas network.

Will Building an All Electric Home Cost More?

Not necessarily. While some electric appliances may have a different upfront cost than their gas equivalents, many modern electric systems are highly energy efficient and designed to reduce ongoing energy consumption.

Features such as quality insulation, efficient heating and cooling, rooftop solar (where installed) and energy efficient appliances all contribute to the overall efficiency of a home. Actual running costs will always depend on your household, how you use your appliances and your electricity tariff.

What Does This Mean for Building With Eight Homes?

For most buyers, very little changes throughout the building process. Eight Homes continually updates its home designs and inclusions to meet the latest Victorian Building Regulations and energy efficiency requirements, so your new home will already comply with the latest all electric standards.

Whether you're building your first home, upgrading to a larger family home or planning a knockdown rebuild, our team will explain how the new requirements apply to your chosen home design and guide you through the available appliance options.

Our focus remains the same: delivering thoughtfully designed homes that offer practical living, outstanding value and a straightforward building experience.

Home Designs

Building for the Future

Victoria's move towards all electric homes reflects the ongoing evolution of residential construction and energy efficiency standards. While the appliances used in new homes are changing, the goal remains the same: creating comfortable, functional homes that are built for modern Australian living.

When you build with Eight Homes, you can be confident your home is designed to meet the latest Victorian requirements while delivering the quality, comfort and lifestyle you've planned for.

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