Getting Off Gas: The Practical Guide for NZ Homeowners
Gas has been a fixture in New Zealand homes for a long time. The cooktop with the instant flame. The hot shower that never seems to run cold. For many households, gas appliances have just been part of the furniture, something you inherited with the house and never thought much about.
That's starting to change. And there are good reasons why.
Gas prices have been climbing. Supply uncertainty has increased. And the electric alternatives, particularly heat pump technology, have improved dramatically. For many Kiwi homeowners, the question is no longer really whether to get off gas. It's how to do it in a way that makes financial sense.
Here's a practical guide.
Why Are People Moving Away from Gas?
A few factors have come together to make this a much more active conversation than it was even a few years ago.
Gas prices have risen significantly. Like most energy sources, reticulated gas in New Zealand has become considerably more expensive. Unlike electricity, where solar gives you the ability to generate your own, gas is something you're entirely dependent on the supplier for. There's no equivalent of putting panels on your roof.
Uncertainty around supply. Questions about the long-term future of New Zealand's gas network have grown. For homeowners thinking about the next decade and beyond, that uncertainty is worth factoring in.
Electric alternatives have genuinely improved. This is perhaps the biggest shift. Heat pump hot water systems and induction cooktops have become genuinely excellent. Not a compromise, an upgrade. The reluctance many people felt about giving up gas is increasingly hard to justify when you actually look at what modern electric alternatives offer.
Solar makes it more compelling. When you've got solar panels generating electricity during the day, switching your gas appliances to electric ones means you can run them on your own clean energy. That changes the economics considerably.
The Two Main Gas Appliances to Think About
Most homes running gas will have one or both of the following:
1. Gas Hot Water
Hot water heating is one of the largest energy costs in a typical New Zealand home, so it's also where switching can have the most impact.
The main alternative is a heat pump hot water system. These work on the same principle as a heat pump used for heating and cooling. They extract heat from the surrounding air and use it to heat water, rather than generating heat directly. The result is that they use significantly less electricity than a traditional electric element hot water cylinder, making them highly efficient.
Paired with a solar system, a heat pump hot water cylinder becomes even more effective. You can schedule the cylinder to heat water during the day, when your panels are generating electricity, effectively powering your hot water with sunlight. That's a combination that makes a real difference to your energy costs.
2. Gas Cooktops
This is often the emotional sticking point. Many people who cook regularly feel strongly about their gas hob, the instant heat, the visual flame, the sense of control.
But modern induction cooktops have genuinely closed the gap. In many respects they've surpassed it.
Induction heats faster than gas. It offers precise temperature control. The surface doesn't get hot, only the pan does, making it safer, particularly in homes with children. And it's significantly easier to clean.
The adjustment period is real. Induction does cook differently, and it takes a little getting used to. But the overwhelming experience of people who make the switch is that they don't miss gas after the first few weeks.
Getting Off Gas and Solar: How They Work Together
If you have solar panels or you're planning to get them, getting off gas becomes a significantly more attractive proposition.
Here's why. Every gas appliance you replace with an electric one becomes something you can potentially power with your own solar generation. Your heat pump hot water system heats water during the day using solar electricity. Your induction cooktop runs on electricity your panels produced. Your home's energy needs start to converge onto a single, renewable source.
The goal most homeowners are working towards is a home that runs almost entirely on electricity, with as much of that electricity as possible generated on-site. Getting off gas is a significant step in that direction.
What's the Process for Switching?
A full switch from gas to electric doesn't have to happen all at once. For most households, a staged approach makes more financial sense.
Start with hot water. It's typically the highest-impact switch and a heat pump hot water system is a well-established, reliable technology. If your gas hot water system is due for replacement anyway, this is a natural transition point.
Then address the cooktop. When you're ready, whether that's straight away or a few years down the track, switching to induction is a manageable project. It typically involves removing the gas hob, installing an induction unit, and having an electrician ensure your kitchen circuit can handle the load.
Factor in your switchboard. Adding electric appliances to a home means drawing more from your electrical system. An older switchboard may need upgrading to handle the additional load safely. A qualified electrician will assess this as part of the process.
Disconnect the gas supply. Once you've made all your switches, you can arrange to have your gas meter removed and your account closed. One less bill, one less contract, one less thing to worry about.
What Does It Actually Cost?
This varies depending on your situation, the appliances you're replacing, and whether any electrical upgrades are needed.
What's worth understanding is that this is a different way of thinking about cost compared to a typical appliance upgrade. When you switch from gas to electric hot water or cooking, you're not just replacing an appliance. You're eliminating an ongoing energy cost and simplifying your household's energy setup.
Over time, and particularly when paired with solar, the financial case for making the switch tends to strengthen. Funding options are available that can help spread the upfront cost, and it's worth having a conversation about how to sequence the investment in a way that makes sense for your household budget.
Is Getting Off Gas Right for Your Home?
For most New Zealand homes with gas appliances, the answer is increasingly yes. The technology is there, the economics are moving in that direction, and the practical experience of living without gas is, for most people, better than they expected.
The right starting point is understanding your current setup, your energy use, and what switching would actually look like for your home. That's a conversation we're having with a lot of Auckland homeowners at the moment, and it's one we're happy to have with you.
Talk to the team at Steel Solar & Electrical about getting your home off gas and investing in solar.
👉 Visit steelelectrical.co.nz or call 0508 2 SOLAR.
