As Australians prepare to head to the polls on May 3, the outcome will significantly influence the nation's energy landscape and your household energy bills. From battery subsidies to grid investments, the policies proposed by major parties could directly impact energy costs and your role in Australia's renewable transition.
We’ve broken down what Labor, the Coalition, the Greens, and other key players are promising - and what it could mean for households across the country.
Keep checking back - we’ll be updating this blog with fresh announcements as election day gets closer.
Labor: Investing in the grid and household upgrades
Key policies:
- $2.3 billion Cheaper Home Batteries Program, which aims to reduce the cost of household batteries by 30%, saving households approximately $4,000 on a typical battery system. This initiative seeks to install one million new batteries by 2030, enabling households to store solar energy and reduce reliance on the grid.
- $20 billion Rewiring the Nation Fund to modernise the electricity grid
- Support for rooftop solar, community batteries, and energy efficiency upgrades
- $1 billion Household Energy Upgrades Fund for electrification
- A National Net Zero Authority to support clean energy jobs and transition planning
What it means for households:
Labor’s plan puts investment into both the grid and people’s homes. Support for solar and battery uptake, along with improved energy efficiency, is designed to bring down household costs while supporting the broader shift to renewables. If implemented well, these changes could make it easier to store cheap solar, avoid peak prices, and reduce emissions at home.
The Coalition: A slower transition focused on reliability and traditional fuels
Key policies:
- Newly announced gas reservation policy to divert more gas to the domestic market, aiming to reduce household gas bills by up to 7% and electricity bills by around 3% by 2026
- Continued investment in gas as a key transition fuel
- Advocacy for nuclear energy, with seven government-owned plants proposed at former coal plant sites, aiming for first reactors by 2035–2037
- Opposition to strict renewable energy targets
- Market-led approach to emerging energy technologies, with minimal government intervention
- Indicated support for household batteries, with a subsidy policy expected to be released before the election
What it means for households:
The Coalition is proposing a more gradual shift to clean energy, centred around reliability and affordability. Their recently released gas plan is designed to bring down energy bills in the short term by increasing domestic gas supply. Nuclear is positioned as a long-term solution, but would not come online for at least a decade. While there’s some early support flagged for battery uptake, the Coalition’s approach offers fewer direct incentives for households to electrify or adopt solar. Instead, their platform leans on market-driven solutions and existing infrastructure to manage energy costs.
The Greens: Faster action and stronger support for households
Key policies:
- 100% renewable electricity by 2030
- Ban on new coal and gas projects
- Major public investment in home electrification and batteries
- Targeted support for renters, low-income households, and community energy initiatives
What it means for households:
The Greens are calling for a faster, more ambitious transition - with a strong focus on ensuring that households of all types can benefit. That includes renters and lower-income families who often miss out on solar or battery incentives. Their proposals could bring more direct financial support for households looking to electrify and lower bills, but the extent of implementation will depend on their influence in a future parliament.
The Nationals: Gradual transition with a regional focus
Key policies:
- Continued investment in gas and support for coal
- Emphasis on energy affordability and reliability in regional areas
- Opposition to aggressive renewable targets without regional transition plans
What it means for households:
The Nationals tend to prioritise regional and agricultural communities, advocating for a slower pace of change to protect jobs and industries in those areas. For regional households, this often means a focus on keeping power prices stable, supporting existing infrastructure, and ensuring local communities aren’t left behind in the shift to renewables.
Independents: More transparency and faster action
Key positions (varies by member):
- On average, strong support for emissions reductions and renewable energy
- Push for electrification incentives, especially for renters and low-income households
- Advocacy for greater market transparency and consumer protections
What it means for households:
Community-backed independents like Zali Steggall, Allegra Spender, Dr Sophie Scamps, Andrew Wilkies, and Dr Monique Ryan have centred energy and climate policy in their platforms. They often support faster action and want to ensure more Australians can access the benefits of clean energy. That includes support for battery uptake for households with solar, or for renters and those without rooftop solar, through initiatives like community batteries, shared solar schemes, or incentives for energy-efficient appliances. Senators like David Pocock have also called for fairer energy reforms, including long-term planning and improved access to electrification tools.
If no major party secures a majority, independents could play a key role in shaping the next government’s direction on energy.
Smaller parties: Slowing the transition and backing fossil fuels
Key positions (One Nation, UAP):
- Opposition to emissions targets and climate legislation
- Support for investment in coal and gas
- Emphasis on keeping energy prices low by maintaining traditional generation
What it means for households:
Parties like One Nation and the United Australia Party take a more sceptical stance on renewable energy, focusing instead on traditional fuels and keeping energy bills low. Their platforms typically oppose large-scale climate policies and prioritise short-term affordability over long-term energy reform.
What this means for your home
No matter which party forms government, the shift to a smarter, cleaner energy system is already underway, and households are at the centre of it. From accessing cheaper power to getting more value from solar, batteries or EVs, everyday Australians are playing a bigger role than ever in how the grid operates.
Policy can help speed up the transition, through better infrastructure, clearer incentives, and stronger support for households. But there are also tools available now that let people take more control over how and when they use energy, and how much they pay for it, regardless of which party takes power.
As the political conversation continues, one thing’s clear - the future of energy won’t just be decided in Parliament. It’ll be shaped in our homes, one decision at a time.
