Helping Colac Otway homes go electric

Published on 01 August 2023

Colac Otway Shire Council is working with Geelong Sustainability to help residents to switch their home from gas to electricity.

The Electric Homes Program is an initiative to assist people to move from gas to all-electric homes, powered by solar and battery storage. This is a regional program supported by Geelong, Borough of Queenscliffe, Surf Coast, Golden Plains and Colac Otway Shire Councils along with a large number of local community sustainability groups including Southern Otway Sustainable, the Colac Otway Sustainability Group and the Birregurra Community Group.

Council’s Manager Planning and Strategic Focus Doug McNeill said the program removed a lot of the work for people to transition to all-electric homes.

“Council is pleased to be working with Geelong Sustainability to provide support for residents to transition away from gas toward the uptake of more efficient appliances.

“Research has been done through this program to find products and installers to assist residents to begin moving to all-electric.

“By removing a lot of the work around researching and contacting separate installers, the program makes it easier to buy and install all-electric products.

“This initiative makes it simpler to move from gas to all-electric devices powered by the sun, while reducing energy bills and emissions,” Mr McNeill said.

“Information sessions will be held during August in Colac and Apollo Bay for community members to find out more.”

The Electric Homes program helps residents to buy:

- solar and/or a battery system

- an efficient split-system heating and cooling

- a heat pump hot water system

- an electric vehicle charger

The Electric Homes Program is led by Geelong Sustainability, a not-for-profit community association and registered charity and delivered by RACV Solar, Reclaim Energy, Jeztek Plumbing and Colac Otway Shire Council.

Information Sessions

Apollo Bay

Apollo Bay Bowls Club (6 Moore Street, Apollo Bay)

Two sessions on Monday 14 August: 12.30pm - 1.30 pm and 5.30pm - 7pm

Colac

COPACC Civic Hall (95 – 97 Gellibrand Street, Colac)

Two sessions on Tuesday 15 August: 12.30pm - 1.30pm and 6.30pm - 8pm