SwitchedOn Australia

A new tool to help Australia build renewables in the right places will launch this November. Called AVISTEP, it uses millions of bird sightings, decades of research and expert modelling to map where wind, solar and transmission projects are likely to have low, medium or high impacts on biodiversity. The aim is to get renewables built — but built in the right places – and avoid conflicts like the Robbins Island wind farm in Tasmania, recently approved despite sitting in a critical bird migration corridor. Already available overseas, AVISTEP works on a simple traffic-light system — green for go, red for no, amber for “find somewhere better.” BirdLife Australia’s Dr. Golo Maurer explains how the tool works and why it could be a game-changer for the renewable rollout.

What happens when an entire community decides to ditch gas and go electric? That’s the challenge behind Electrify 2515, Australia’s most ambitious community electrification pilot. Backed by Rewiring Australia, Brighte, Endeavour Energy, and ARENA, the project is helping 500 households in postcode 2515 swap in heat pumps, induction cooktops, and solar quickly, and at scale. 60 homes have already taken the leap, and the early lessons reveal a lot about costs, supply chains, and how people are actually living with smart energy tech. John Buchelin from Rewiring Australia, and the pilot’s operations manager outlines what’s working, what’s not, and why this bold experiment matters for households, tradies, and the future of the grid.

Dr Saul Griffith joins SwitchedOn Australia live on the Gold Coast to talk about his new book Plug In! and why households are central to driving Australia’s clean energy transition. He explains how electrification can cut emissions fast, save money, and reshape the way we use energy at home and in our communities. Saul shares insights from his career advising governments, including his role in shaping the US Inflation Reduction Act, and his work with Rewiring America and Rewiring Australia. He speaks candidly about consumer power, culture wars, and the politics of accelerating change. And he makes the case for an ‘army of consumers’ to demand a better deal from Australia’s energy system.

Australia’s electricity system was designed around a centralised model, where generators, networks and retailers stay in their own tightly regulated 'swim lanes.' But with the rise of rooftop solar, batteries and electric vehicles, integrating decentralised energy is proving a major challenge. Ausgrid, the country’s largest electricity distributor, has proposed a bold pilot to turn unused commercial rooftops into solar hubs, link them with community batteries, and share that power with 32,000 households, including renters and apartment dwellers who can’t access solar. The model could potentially lower bills, reduce network costs, reduce the amount of new transmission that’s needed, and make the system fairer. Critics, however, warn that allowing networks to move into generation and storage could stifle competition, raising big questions about who should deliver local power and how to balance innovation with consumer fairness. Marc England, the CEO of Ausgrid, puts the case for embracing opportunities that are currently being missed.

Energy hardship in Australia is more widespread — and more complex — than many people realise. The latest national survey from Energy Consumers Australia shows that one in five households are either experiencing, or at risk of energy hardship, with many cutting back on heating and cooling even when they aren’t in financial stress. Ashley Bradshaw, executive manager of analysis and advocacy at ECA, discusses what’s driving this growing problem, why it affects far more than just low-income households, and what needs to change to ensure everyone can access the energy they need to live well.

As Australia moves toward an all-electric future, a key question looms: how can we meet the surge in electricity demand that will be needed when we all drive electric vehicles, heat our hot water with electricity, cook with induction stoves and heat and cool our homes with reverse cycle air-conditioners? New modelling from the Australian National University, using the ACT as a case study, suggests the answer lies not in building more infrastructure but shifting when we use power. By charging electric vehicles and heating water during the day, when solar energy is plentiful and network demand is low, we could electrify our homes and transport without overloading the system. Dr Bjorn Sturmberg is a senior energy researcher and lead researcher on the ANU study.

In the third part of our series, So you want to install a community battery?, Dr Juliette Millbank and Mathew Charles-Jones from Totally Renewable Yackandandah share insights from TRY’s first battery project, a behind-the-meter installation on a former timber mill site, and their second, which is council-owned and focused on community resilience. TRY is a grassroots group that’s been working since 2014 to transition their Victorian town to 100% renewable energy. With their second community battery about to come online, they reflect on why batteries are not the best starting point for many communities, why deep local knowledge, strong partnerships, and early wins with simpler projects are essential before installing a community battery. We hear why the future of community batteries lies not just in technology, but in trust, collaboration, and a clear understanding of what each community is trying to achieve.

New modelling from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis shows we’ve been looking for solutions to rising electricity prices in the wrong places. The real key to slashing household energy bills isn’t more power plants or political debate over gas vs renewables. And it’s not one-off bill rebates either. It’s targeted energy upgrades in our homes. Efficient electric appliances, rooftop solar, home batteries, and thermal upgrades could slash bills by 80 to 90%, with the biggest savings in cities like Sydney. These upgrades not only reduce household energy use and bills but also cut demand on the broader grid, benefiting everyone by lowering peak demand and gas reliance. But what will it take to make these savings a reality? Jay Gordon is an Energy Finance Analyst at IEEFA and author of the new report.

A growing movement of Australian farmers is stepping up to tackle climate change head-on. Climate change is already hitting agriculture hard with drought, floods, and extreme weather costing farmers tens of thousands each year. Born from a meeting of 30 frustrated farmers tired of being ignored about climate change a decade ago, Farmers for Climate Action has grown into a national force representing more than 8,000 farmers committed to climate solutions. From carbon-neutral beef production to farmers installing solar and batteries to reduce emissions and take pressure off the grid, renewables present an opportunity for regional communities, not just for cutting emissions and costs, but for boosting farm incomes, strengthening local economies, and creating a more equitable energy future. Natalie Collard is the CEO of Farmers for Climate Action.

Electricity prices have risen again across NSW, South Australia and South East Queensland following the latest default market offer increase, but some retailers are also using the changes to lift prices on supposedly more competitive market plans. Why is this happening, and why is it so difficult to get a better deal? Professor David Byrne, the Ritchie Chair of Economic Research at the University of Melbourne, explains how a handful of dominant retailers exploit consumer inertia and lack of transparency to maximise profits, and why even well-intentioned regulation has struggled to deliver truly fair prices. He also shares the results of a unique undercover experiment using professional actors to negotiate with energy companies — revealing just how much you can save if you know how to ask. And he lays out a bold vision for market reform, where the onus is no longer on consumers to endlessly compare plans, but instead on electricity companies to compete for us. What if getting a fair electricity deal was as easy as tapping a button, like ordering an Uber?