The biggest mistake people make? Looking at each upgrade in isolation
We often meet clients who do their upgrades bit by bit, starting with solar, then years later looking at hot water, maybe heating down the track. And while that’s completely understandable, it can mean missing out on thousands in rebates, simply because the planning wasn’t done early enough.
This made-up example shows what’s possible when you approach it strategically from day one.
Meet Alex and Jo: A busy family in Gisborne
Alex and Jo are professionals in their mid-40s living in a 4-bedroom home in Gisborne. They’ve been thinking about getting off gas and making their home more self-sufficient before retirement. They don’t like loans, prefer to pay upfront, and want to do it properly.
Here’s what their home setup looked like before:
- Ducted gas heating
- Gas storage hot water
- No battery
- An older 5kW solar system that didn’t cover their full usage
- Two electric vehicles, recently added to the driveway
They came to us wanting to upgrade everything, and wanted help understanding what support was available.
What they upgraded
- Installed a new 10kW solar system
- Installed a 40kWh home battery system
- Replaced their gas hot water with an iStore heat pump
- Removed their ducted gas and installed ducted electric heating & cooling
- Disconnected the gas entirely
What Alex and Jo claimed in rebates
| Upgrade | Rebate Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 10kW solar | STCs | $2,780 |
| 10kW solar | Solar Vic | $1,400 |
| Battery (40kWh) | Battery Program STCs | $13,300 |
| Heat pump hot water | Solar Vic | $1,000 |
| Heat pump hot water | STCs + VEECs | $1,000 |
| Heating upgrade | VEECs | $4,000 |
| Total rebates | $23,570 |
And that doesn’t include:
- Long-term bill savings
- Increased comfort and convenience at home
- Getting rid of daily gas connection charges
- The satisfaction of opening a near $0 bill
- The increased value in their home, if they ever sell
Why this worked
- They didn’t rush. They asked questions and took the time to understand what each upgrade would do.
- They looked at how everything worked together, not just what looked cheapest upfront. They built a home energy ecosystem.
- They were willing to invest in quality and got rewarded for it.
The rebates were a bonus. The real win was the long-term freedom they now have from rising bills and inefficient systems.
You don’t have to do it all at once, but you should plan like you will
Whether you’re looking to replace your hot water system next month or install a battery next year, it helps to step back and map out how each upgrade could fit together.
That way, you can:
- Maximise your rebates
- Avoid paying twice for things like switchboard or meter upgrades
- Future-proof your home, instead of doing it in costly stages
We can help you with that.
Ready to find out what’s possible for your home?
You don’t need to commit to everything at once. But if you’re curious about how to transition to an all-electric home and how to make smart, staged upgrades without missing out, let’s chat.
Book your free consult here or call us on (03) 5426 5522.
No pressure. Just the full picture, so you can make smart, well-timed choices, just like Alex and Jo did.