Press · Data release · November 2026
Victoria's gas exodus: 7 out of 10 homeowners are ditching gas, nearly double the rest of the country
New PumpSwap data shows Victoria’s switch from gas hot water is running well ahead of every other state, with most households moving before the old unit fails and before the state’s gas ban starts on 1 March 2027.
7 out of 10 Victorian homeowners who asked for heat pump hot water quotes between April and October 2026 were replacing a gas system, according to new data from PumpSwap, the Australian heat pump hot water comparison site. Across the rest of the country, the figure is 4 out of 10.
Victoria is the only state where gas is the system most often being replaced. Everywhere else, the typical switch is from an old electric storage tank.
Most of Victoria’s gas switchers are not waiting for a breakdown. 7 out of 10 told PumpSwap their system was still working when they asked for quotes. The remaining 3 out of 10 were already without reliable hot water.
The move comes ahead of two dates, and the second is the gas ban. On 1 January 2027 the federal discount on heat pump water heaters steps down, which for a typical system means a few hundred dollars less off the price. From 1 March 2027, under Victoria’s gas ban, a gas hot water unit that fails in an existing home must be replaced with an electric one. Gas hot water cannot be replaced like for like.
“Victoria is moving first and moving early,” said PumpSwap founder Joshua James. “7 out of 10 of the Victorians who come to us are getting off gas, and most are doing it while the old unit still works, with the rebate in hand and time to compare quotes. The households that wait for the breakdown make the same switch in a hurry, after 1 January, for more money.”
“The rest of the country is on a different path. Outside Victoria the heat pump is mostly replacing a tired electric tank, and in Queensland fewer than 1 out of 5 requests involve gas at all.”
Share of heat pump hot water quote requests replacing gas
April to October 2026, by state:
| State | Replacing gas |
|---|---|
| Victoria | 71% |
| Western Australia | 54% |
| South Australia | 40% |
| New South Wales | 35% |
| Queensland | 18% |
| Rest of Australia (every state except Victoria) | 39% |
What a planned switch looks like
- A gas storage system typically lasts 8 to 12 years. If yours is six or older, it is in the window.
- In Victoria the state rebate and the federal discount together take up to $2,830 off a heat pump install. The federal part steps down on 1 January 2027. Current figures, each with its official source: Victorian heat pump rebates and every state.
- Quotes take minutes to request and days to compare. A failed unit gives you a weekend. Our Victorian gas hot water calculator estimates how long a gas system has left.
Republish the chart
The chart and the table are free to republish with attribution to PumpSwap. Paste this where the chart should appear:
<a href="https://pumpswap.com.au/press/victoria-gas-exodus-2026"><img src="https://pumpswap.com.au/press/gas-exodus-2026/chart.png" alt="Share of heat pump hot water quote requests replacing gas, by state, April to October 2026. Source: PumpSwap" width="800" height="450" style="max-width:100%;height:auto" /></a> <p>Source: <a href="https://pumpswap.com.au/press/victoria-gas-exodus-2026">PumpSwap</a></p>
Per-state versions with that state highlighted: New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia.
About the data
For every quote request, PumpSwap records the system being replaced and whether it is still working, as answered by the homeowner. Figures cover heat pump hot water quote requests received through PumpSwap.com.au between April and October 2026. Test entries are excluded. Percentages are rounded. State figures cover states with enough requests for a meaningful share.
About PumpSwap
PumpSwap.com.au is an independent Australian comparison site for heat pump hot water. Homeowners request free quotes from local installers. Installers pay PumpSwap only when they complete an install; homeowners never pay.
Media contact: Josh James, Founder, josh@pumpswap.com.au, email only. Please credit “PumpSwap” and link to this page when using these figures.