Commercial Landlords Pilot
Commercial landlords operating centralised gas heating and/or hot water systems may be eligible for rebates to replace these with efficient electric systems. Rooftop solar is also available to offset electricity consumption.
About the Pilot
The Commercial Landlords Pilot (Pilot) provides rebates to support the replacement of gas plant and equipment with efficient electric plant.
The rebates up to $50,000 at a rate up to 75% are available for building owners with premises that:
- Have centralised gas heating and/or hot water systems (called ‘base building’ heating/hot water)
- Have at least four tenanted premises
The objective of the Pilot is:
- to transition a small set of commercial sites off gas, where the gas system is centralised providing heating or hot water to multiple commercial tenants.
- to understand the technical, commercial and social challenges in undertaking these replacements.
- to educate the broader landlord population in Canberra on the need to replace gas assets with electric.
- to understand the broader scope of building gas upgrades (i.e. the extent of commercial gas systems in the ACT excluding apartments and complex buildings).
The outcomes to be achieved by the delivery of the Pilot will strategically support the ACT Government to meet its net zero emissions target by 2045 and aligns with the Integrated Energy Plan 2024 – 2030 [PDF 7.0 MB].
Eligibility
Expressions of Interest (EOI’s) to participate in the Pilot are open for building owners, landlords, strata managers managing commercial spaces, and managers of commercial property portfolios with commercial buildings that:
- have centralised natural gas fired heating and/or hot water (base building heating/hot water)
- have four or more commercial tenants
- have a maximum of two floors
- have heating/hot water costs charged to tenants through rent, billed based on net lettable area or some other variant.
Examples of eligible/ineligible buildings. Eligible buildings must meet Pilot terms and conditions.
| Item | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| Small local shopping centre (e.g. Hackett, Pearce, Scullin & Monash shops) | Eligible |
|
Main ‘mall’ centre of regional shops (e.g. Dickson Shops, Cooleman Court, Lanyon shops) | Ineligible |
|
Satellite buildings of regional shops (e.g. Dickson Shops, Cooleman Court, Lanyon shops) | Eligible |
|
Main ‘mall’ centre of major town centres (e.g. Westfield Woden & Belconnen) | Ineligible |
|
Satellite buildings of major town centres (e.g. Westfield Woden & Belconnen) | Eligible |
|
Light industrial/commercial (e.g. Mitchell, Phillip, Deakin & Greenway) | Eligible |
| Buildings that include any residential sites | Ineligible |
|
Complex buildings (e.g. commercial tower blocks) | Ineligible |
| Buildings with multiple landlord collaborations | Eligible but only one rebate for the building |
| Buildings with only one tenant | Ineligible1 |
1. buildings with only one tenancy are encouraged to participate in the Sustainable Business Program, where gas equipment upgrades can attract rebates.
Buildings considered ineligible for the Pilot
The ACT Government is working on support for hard-to-upgrade buildings that are deemed ineligible for the Pilot such as large, complex, corporate style buildings with three or more levels, such as those found along Northbourne Avenue and in the City.
Apartment complexes are supported through the Solar for Apartments.
Terms and Conditions
Applying for the Pilot
Application to the Pilot is through a SmartyGrants EOI.
Approximately three to four premises will be selected to participate in the Pilot.
Selection for participation in the Pilot will be determined by many factors including (but not limited to):
- Suitability of your plant for upgrade
- Your willingness to upgrade your plant and equipment
- Level of co-contribution funding required for your upgrade
- Electrical network capacity limits
Why it’s important
The ACT is trying to lower greenhouse gas emissions to fight climate change.
Our goal is to achieve net zero emissions by 2045. To achieve this we are preparing to electrify our city and transition away from the use of fossil fuel gas. Fossil fuel gas currently accounts for more than 20% of our emissions in the ACT. Transport, particularly internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, accounts for about 60% of emissions. By being more energy-efficient, switching from gas, replacing petrol and diesel vehicles with zero emissions vehicles, and reducing waste to landfill you can reduce emissions, save money and be more resilient to the effects of climate change.
Acknowledgement of Country
We acknowledge the Ngunnawal people as traditional custodians of the ACT and recognise any other people or families with connection to the lands of the ACT and region. We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region.