Rapid Response Briefing: The power divide: who gets to go electric?
Monash University
The Monash Climate Communication Hub invites journalists and media professionals to join a rapid response briefing about household electrification in Australia.
The model that has helped drive much of Australia’s electrification progress – individual households investing in their own technology – doesn't work for everyone. What happens when you rent, live in an apartment, share decision-making with other residents or simply don't have the upfront cash to invest?
Join leading experts as they explore:
- What happens when the person paying for an upgrade (like a landlord) isn't the person who receives the financial benefit
- How renters, apartment residents and households without upfront capital can participate in electrification
- Whether bundling apartment buildings, rental properties or social housing into a larger program of electrification could help unlock larger pools of investment
- New financing models that support difficult-to-electrify households
- How Australia can manage the shift away from household gas without leaving some communities exposed to rising network costs
Date: Thursday 3 September 2026
Time: 2-3pm (AEST)
Location: Zoom (link will be sent via calendar invitation)
Hear from Professor Elizabeth Lester Director, Monash Climate Communication Hub:
“Australia has made real progress on household electrification, but the challenge is to ensure the benefits are not limited to homeowners with spare cash. This briefing is about how we bring renters, apartment residents and lower-income households into the transition.
“The next phase of electrification is about finding better ways to pay for the technology we already have, so more households can benefit.
“Not every Australian has the same resources. If we want a fair transition, we need to think seriously about financing, ownership and who gets left carrying the costs.”
More information about the Rapid Response Briefings
Reporting on climate and energy stories is increasingly complex and expertise is evolving rapidly. These briefings help cut through that complexity, providing clear, evidence-based insights you can use in real time.
The series will provide:
- Rapid, expert-led explanations of emerging climate and energy developments
- Clear context to support breaking news coverage
- Practical guidance for translating science into accessible reporting
- Opportunities to ask questions and engage directly with researchers.
For more Monash media stories visit our news & events site: monash.edu/news
For any other topics on which you may be seeking expert comment, contact the Monash University Media Unit on +61 3 9903 4840 or [email protected]