Victoria's 2027 gas hot water rules for Traralgon homes
What Victoria's 2027 gas hot water rules mean in Traralgon: the dates, what keeps working, rentals, apartments, LPG and what to do with an ageing gas unit.
From 1 March 2027, a gas hot water system can no longer be installed in an existing Victorian home. If the gas water heater in a Traralgon house breaks and cannot be repaired, or is replaced for any other reason after that date, the new unit has to be electric. A gas system that still works can stay in place and can keep being serviced and repaired, and the change is made through the Plumbing Regulations 2018.
What exactly changes on 1 March 2027?
The Victorian Government’s page on existing residential buildings sets out the rule in two parts:
- gas hot water systems cannot be installed in existing homes from that date
- when a gas hot water system fails beyond repair, or needs replacing for another reason, the replacement must be an electric alternative
The state’s overview of the new building standards names the instrument as the electrification requirements for existing residential buildings under the Plumbing Regulations 2018, and lists owner-occupiers, plumbers and electricians as the people affected. Because the rule sits in the plumbing regulations, the licensed plumber who replaces your unit is the person who has to comply with it.
Does the rule cover gas pool heaters?
Yes. The Victorian Energy Upgrades hot water page says that from 1 March 2027, a gas water heater needing replacement in an existing home, including a gas swimming pool heater, cannot be replaced with another mains gas water heater and must be replaced with an electric system.
What does not change for a Traralgon household?
Plenty stays the same. According to the state’s guidance:
- buildings already connected to gas can stay connected
- existing gas appliances can still be used, maintained and repaired as usual
- the gas connection can be enlarged or run further to reach an extension or new rooms
- there is no requirement to replace gas space heating or a gas cooktop
AusNet Services, in its explainer on the new rules, adds that LPG (bottled gas) can still be used for barbecues, or in regional homes for hot water or cooking. If your house runs on bottles rather than mains gas, ask a licensed gasfitter to confirm how the rule applies to your particular replacement before you buy anything.
What are the key dates?
| Date | What applies | Who it affects | Instrument named by the state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before 31 December 2026 | A building permit approved by then may still be able to connect gas (AusNet) | People building new homes | Not stated |
| 1 January 2027 | New homes and most new commercial buildings must be all electric; this covers knock-down rebuilds and also sheds or small second dwellings built on an existing lot | Builders, buyers of new homes | Building Regulations 2018 |
| 1 March 2027 | No new gas hot water in existing homes; failed units replaced with electric | Owner-occupiers, plumbers | Plumbing Regulations 2018 |
| From 1 March 2027, phased | Minimum energy efficiency standards for rental homes | Rental providers, renters, agents | The rental minimum standards |
The state notes that new buildings can still connect to gas in specific circumstances and that a range of exemptions exists where electrification is impractical or costly. Check the energy.vic pages for the current list rather than assuming your house qualifies.
How do the rules work for rental properties in Traralgon?
The Victorian Energy Upgrades page says that in a rental home, a water heater that stops working and cannot be repaired after 1 March 2027 must be replaced with an efficient electric water heater, such as a heat pump or an electric-boosted solar system. AusNet’s explainer applies the same approach to heating systems that fail, and notes that from 1 March 2027 rental homes also need energy-efficient cooling in the main living area at the start of a new lease.
These sit alongside Victoria’s rental minimum standards, which Consumer Affairs Victoria explains on its minimum standards page. Renters with a failing gas unit should report it to the rental provider or agent in writing. Rental providers are eligible for Victorian Energy Upgrades discounts, and the program suggests landlords and tenants plan an upgrade together.
Are apartments covered by the 2027 hot water rule?
Not if the building has a centralised hot water system. AusNet states that the rule change does not apply to apartment buildings with centralised hot water systems. A unit with its own individual water heater on a balcony or in a cupboard is a different case; check with the owners corporation and a licensed plumber.
Should you replace an old gas water heater before it fails?
That depends on its age and condition, but waiting for it to fail in the middle of a Latrobe Valley winter leaves little room to choose. A planned change gives you time to compare system types, sort out space and power for an electric unit, and check discount and rebate eligibility. Owners in towns with older housing, such as Churchill, where construction of the town began in 1965, are well placed to check the label now and plan ahead.
Steps worth taking this year:
- Read the label on your water heater. Note the type, the fuel, the capacity and any date stamp, and photograph it so you have the details when you talk to plumbers.
- Book a service if it has not had one for years. A unit that can be repaired is still allowed to stay.
- Work out where an electric replacement would go. A heat pump needs outdoor space with airflow and access, and may need its own power circuit.
- Check eligibility for the Victorian Energy Upgrades discount, which needs an existing system in a building at least two years old, and for the Solar Homes hot water rebate, which needs the replaced system to be at least three years old. Contact a provider before you buy, because a discount usually cannot be added later.
- Compare the electric options. The Traralgon hot water system comparison sets out heat pump, electric storage, solar and continuous flow side by side.
If you would like a plumber to look at the old unit and price a planned changeover, ask for a gas water heater changeover quote.
What if your gas water heater fails before March 2027?
Until the end of February 2027 a failed gas unit can still be replaced with another gas one, and plenty of owners will do that. Bear in mind that the next replacement, years from now, will have to be electric, so the choice only delays the change. If you would rather switch now, Solar Victoria’s hot water rebate page describes a process for urgent installations: you contact an authorised retailer to arrange a solar or heat pump system first, and the rebate application follows. A heat pump on the day the old unit dies is harder to arrange than a planned job, so ask the plumber how soon they could have one on site.
What does the changeover involve for a licensed plumber?
Removing the old gas unit means its supply pipe must be disconnected and left safe, and only a licensed gasfitter may do that. The new electric unit goes in under the plumbing rules, and a compliance certificate is issued where the value of the work is above the threshold the Building and Plumbing Commission sets. The gas fitting page covers the gas side, including keeping a cooktop or heater connected, and the heat pump installation page covers siting and install.
The plumbers who receive enquiries through this site are independent businesses: they assess the house, quote the changeover and carry it out themselves.
Next step
In your enquiry, give the age shown on the current unit’s label and attach a photo of it, say whether the unit still heats water, and state whether the house is owner-occupied or rented. Mention whether it runs on mains gas or LPG bottles and roughly where a new unit could sit. Then send your gas hot water replacement enquiry.
Frequently asked questions
- Will I be forced to remove my working gas hot water system in 2027?
No. A working gas water heater can stay where it is. The rule only bites when the unit is being replaced, whether because it has failed beyond repair or because you choose to change it.
- Can a plumber still repair my gas hot water system after March 2027?
Yes. Repairs such as replacing a valve or burner part remain allowed. Once the repair is no longer possible and the whole unit has to go, the replacement must be electric.
- Does the 2027 rule apply to my gas heater or oven?
No. The change is about water heaters, including gas pool heaters. Gas space heaters, ovens and cooktops in an existing home can stay and be serviced, although the state encourages households to consider electric options for those too.
- I am building a new house near Traralgon. Can it have gas?
From 1 January 2027 new homes must be all electric except in specific circumstances. If your building permit was approved before 31 December 2026, AusNet says you may still be able to connect gas, so check the permit date with your builder.
- Who replaces a rental property's gas hot water if it fails after March 2027?
AusNet's explainer says the landlord must replace a hot water system that fails and cannot be repaired, and from that date the replacement must be an efficient electric option. Renters should report the fault to the rental provider or agent in writing and keep a copy.