The City of Greater Bendigo is offering in-person support to some 405 Solstice Energy customers in Heathcote and Marong to transition from compressed natural gas following the announcement that Solstice Energy will decommission its gas network in these towns from August 2026.
There are 100 households impacted in Heathcote and 305 in Marong who are required to indicate directly to Solstice Energy if they want to change their hot water, heating, or cooking appliances to electric or bottled LPG by deadlines in March 2026. They must do this by recording their decision on the Solstice Energy website.
City of Greater Bendigo Healthy Communities and Environments Director Jess Howard said the City is supporting local affected Solstice Energy customers to make their decision by holding Drop-In Sessions in Heathcote and Marong from January to March where they can come and ask any questions they may have and talk through their options.
"Solstice Energy customers can also book in for an In-Home Energy Snapshot that will discuss potential electrification of appliances, ways to reduce the need for heating and cooling in the home, and to make a plan if needed," Ms Howard said.
"The City understands that the transition can feel overwhelming, so we want to make it easier for residents by holding the Drop-In Sessions and In-Home Energy Snapshots.
"Our Drop-In Sessions and new In-Home Energy Snapshots are designed to give impacted residents clear, practical advice so they can make informed choices about their heating, hot water, and cooking.
"This support is about more than helping people understand appliances, it's about helping households to lower their bills and improve their comfort.
"Our study found that whilst the upfront cost of the transition to electric can be hard to manage, for many homes the payback is under four years.
"We're helping households take a practical step towards our vision of a fair, sustainable and resilient Greater Bendigo, where every household can thrive in a changing climate."
The following Drop-In Sessions will take place in January, February and March in Marong and Heathcote:
