A practical switch delivers lower energy bills and a more comfortable home

The Ziino household has significantly reduced their household energy bills over the past year after switching their Coburg home to electric, installing solar panels, batteries and efficient appliances.

Between January and April 2025, the Ziinos spent around $1,200 on their energy bills. Over the same period in 2026, after making changes to electrify their home, that dropped to $252, with the majority now only made up of supply charges. Michelle estimates they will save more than $3,000 on their energy bills each year. Michelle said the savings on energy and fuel costs will help the family upgrade to an electric vehicle and go towards a family holiday to the United States next year.

For Michelle, the decision to electrify their home was driven by rising costs and a desire for a more practical, efficient way to run the household.

“We wanted to move away from a dependence on fossil fuels,” Michelle said. “But the cost of gas was also becoming unreasonable for heating a modest sized home.”

Michelle and her family used SEC’s electric home planner pilot tool - the predecessor to Easy Electric SEC - to explore their options and understand what kind of savings electrification could deliver for their home.

“It helped us see that it was actually possible to do it in a practical way,” Michelle said.

Working with Specialized Solar & Electrical, an SEC-endorsed installer, the family progressed with a staged approach supported by available rebates, choosing to pay upfront rather than take on additional debt.

The transition took around four months with Specialized Solar & Electrical installing solar panels, two batteries, a heat pump hot water system, and a ducted heating and cooling system. The Ziino’s gas heating system was decommissioned, leaving only the cooktop still connected.

Michelle said the staged approach made the process easier to manage and since completing the switch, their household has changed how energy is used day-to-day.

“We’re much more aware of when we use electricity now,” Michelle said. “We run appliances during the day so they’re using solar energy.”

Their hot water system is also programmed to heat during daylight hours, and they use apps to track energy production and usage.

Beyond the savings, Michelle said comfort has improved noticeably.

“This was the first summer we’ve had ducted air conditioning. It was really comfortable, and we ran it off solar during the day and batteries overnight,” said Michelle.

The biggest hurdle for the family was simply getting started. Michelle’s advice to others is to take a measured, informed approach and to take advantage of the SEC’s newly launched Easy Electric SEC offering.

“Talk to people who’ve done it, look at your bills, and understand your energy use first. That helps you work out the right system size. And buy the best system you can afford — it makes a difference over time,” she said.

For Michelle and her husband, electrifying their home was not a dramatic overhaul, but a series of practical decisions that delivered lower costs, improved comfort, and greater control over how their household uses energy.