Helping you switch to cheaper energy

Helping you switch
to cheaper energy

The gas networks in 10 regional Victorian towns will be shutdown by mid to late 2026 because it’s become too expensive. We will help you switch to a cheaper energy supply – bottled LPG or electricity. This change will save you money and we’ll support you to make this change happen.

Why is this happening?

Some of Victoria’s regional natural gas networks operate differently from other networks. They are a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) network. This means that gas has to be compressed in another town and then trucked in, which costs more.

Prices have gone up quickly over recent years, which means customers in regional Victoria are paying more than customers in the rest of Victoria.

Residential Customers:
choose how to switch

Self-managed: LPG or Electric

You choose to switch to LPG or new electric appliances
You get an upfront payment from us to help cover the cost
You organise your own tradesperson
You can start right away
You might be eligible for extra savings from the Victorian Government
You can shop around for the best price
You stay in control

You choose to switch to LPG or new electric appliances
You get an upfront payment from us to help cover the cost
You organise your own tradesperson
You can start right away
You might be eligible for extra savings from the Victorian Government
You can shop around for the best price
You stay in control

You choose to switch to LPG or new electric appliances
You get an upfront payment from us to help cover the cost
You organise your own tradesperson
You can start right away
You might be eligible for extra savings from the Victorian Government
You can shop around for the best price
You stay in control

Solstice-supported: LPG only

We help you switch to LPG
You choose from a list of approved fitters
We pay the approved quote, no cost to you
You choose the gas fitter for you, but we do provide a list and support
We’ll help guide you through the steps
We’ll convert each town in different stages in mid to late 2026, so it might be many months before we convert your home

We help you switch to LPG
You choose from a list of approved fitters
We pay the approved quote, no cost to you
You choose the gas fitter for you, but we do provide a list and support
We’ll help guide you through the steps
We’ll convert each town in different stages in mid to late 2026, so it might be many months before we convert your home

We help you switch to LPG
You choose from a list of approved fitters
We pay the approved quote, no cost to you
You choose the gas fitter for you, but we do provide a list and support
We’ll help guide you through the steps
We’ll convert each town in different stages in mid to late 2026, so it might be many months before we convert your home

We’re here to support your switch from compressed natural gas (CNG).

Your town’s CNG network will be retired in mid-2026. Every household will move to a cheaper and more reliable alternative – either bottled LPG or electricity.

You can make the switch yourself (Self-Managed) to bottled LPG or electricity or you can ask us to help you with the LPG conversion (Solstice-supported). We will support you at each step and make sure you have the time, information and help needed to plan confidently. We can only assist with LPG conversions, if you are switching to new electric appliances that will need to be a Self-Managed conversion.

Self-managed

You organise your own switch – to either bottled LPG or new electric appliances – and receive an upfront payment from Solstice Energy.

The Self-Managed conversion payments are:

$1,000 for each household, plus an extra payment for each existing gas appliance:
- Gas cooktop – $250
- Gas hot water (instant) – $300
- Gas boosted solar hot water (instant) – $300
- Gas hot water (storage) – $600
- Gas heating (fire flame) – $400
- Gas heating (space flued) – $600
- Gas heating (ducted furnace) – $600

These payments will be made for all Self-Managed conversions, regardless of whether switching to LPG or electricity, and are based on the estimated average cost of converting each of these gas appliances to LPG.

You can complete your conversion at any time before your town’s Conversion Period ends (check the Key Dates table below).

If you are ready to make your choice and want to Self-Manage your conversion click on ‘Get Started’ to open the customer portal.

We’ll ask you to let us know what gas appliances you have in your home
We’ll calculate and make the payment to you
You can organise the works – it is essential these works are completed before the end of the Conversion Period for your town (check the Key Dates table below).

Switching to electricity?

If you want to electrify your home, the Victorian Government provides additional support for Solstice customers. For support and more information, contact:

Phone: 1800 413 137 (Mon–Fri, 8am–6pm)
Email: solstice.support@deeca.vic.gov.au
Visit: www.energy.vic.gov.au/solsticesupport

If you have hearing or speech impairments, contact via the National Relay Service on 133 677 or at www.accesshub.gov.au.

If you want to electrify your home, the Victorian Government provides additional support for Solstice customers. For support and more information, contact:

Phone: 1800 413 137 (Mon–Fri, 8am–6pm)
Email: solstice.support@deeca.vic.gov.au
Visit: www.energy.vic.gov.au/solsticesupport

If you have hearing or speech impairments, contact via the National Relay Service on 133 677 or at www.accesshub.gov.au.

Solstice-supported

If you choose to convert your current gas appliances to bottled LPG we can work directly with you and your chosen gas fitter. We cover:

All parts needed for LPG conversion
All labour
Compliance Certificate
Assistance with scheduling and follow-up
Any required long-lead-time parts
Replacement LPG-compliant gas appliance, for any existing gas appliances that can’t be converted to LPG

Solstice-supported conversions will be carried out during your town’s Conversion Period (check the Key Dates table below).

If you are ready to make you choice and want a Solstice-supported conversion click on ‘Get Started’ to open the customer portal.

Please note: Solstice-supported is only available for LPG conversions – if you want to switch to new electric appliances that needs to be a Self-Managed conversion.

Comparison of Self Managed vs Solstice Supported pathways

Feature	Self-Managed Conversion	Solstice-Supported Conversion
Energy Choice	Highest Flexibility: You can switch to bottled LPG or Electricity	LPG Only: This pathway is specifically for converting existing appliances to bottled LPG
Conversion Costs	Customer Ownership: You are responsible for paying the licensed tradesperson (gas fitter or electrician) directly for the conversion work	Full Cost Covered: Solstice covers the complete cost of converting your existing gas appliances to LPG, including parts, labour, and certification.
Financial Support	Upfront Payment Received: You receive an upfront Conversion Payment from Solstice to help with costs. The payment is the same regardless of whether you switch to LPG or electricity.	No Upfront Payment: Solstice pays the Approved Gas Fitter directly for the Managed Conversion Works
Management / Effort	Customer Manages: You must arrange your own licensed gas fitter or electrician, obtain quotes, and coordinate the conversion. You must also choose and engage your LPG retailer yourself.	Solstice Supported: You select an Approved Gas Fitter and arrange a quotation visit to your home. Solstice will maintain oversight of the process and liaise with you to resolve any issues or difficulties. Solstice will assess the quote from your chosen Approved Gas Fitter and handle the payment and certification tracking. You must also choose and engage your LPG retailer yourself.
Timeline Flexibility	Highest Flexibility: You can undertake your conversion at any time that suits you, provided it is completed before the end of your town’s Conversion Period.	Structured Schedule: The conversion will take place during your town’s Conversion Period, which is a structured 20-week (five-month) timeframe.
Appliance Replacement	You are responsible for the cost of replacement or repair if an appliance is unable to be converted to LPG.	If an appliance cannot be converted to LPG, Solstice will replace it with a like-for-like LPG appliance.

How does the conversion process work?

Every town follows the same three stages, just on different dates:

Appliance Assessment Period
Customer Election Period
Conversion Period

You can check the dates of these stages for your town in the Key Dates table below.

1. Appliance Assessment Period — OPEN NOW (all towns)
This is your chance to check whether your existing gas appliances can be safely converted to LPG.
During this period:

You upload photos of your gas appliances (we provide an easy step-by-step guide).
We confirm whether each appliance can be converted to LPG or needs replacement.
We advise you of any conversion parts that may be delayed so you can plan ahead.
Tenants are asked to provide landlord or real estate agent details.

Completing this step early helps you make an informed choice before the Customer Election Period opens for your town.

Click on ‘Get Started’ to upload your photos to the customer portal.

2. Customer Election Period — four weeks (dates vary by town)
This is when you confirm whether you want a Self-Managed or Solstice-supported conversion (that’s if you haven’t already told us your choice).

During your Customer Election Period you can:

Finalise your choice
Update your ownership/tenancy details
Change your election at any time up to the end of the period (unless you have already received a Self-Managed conversion payment)

If you do not make a choice by the end of the Customer Election Period, you will be deemed to have elected a Self-Managed conversion.

We will let you know before the Customer Election Period for your town opens. You will also receive reminder notifications from us during the Customer Election Period.

If you are ready to make your choice, you can click on ‘Get Started’ to open the customer portal to let us know if you want a Self-Managed or a Solstice-supported conversion.

3. Conversion Period — five months (20 weeks)
This is when:

all Solstice-supported conversions take place, and
when all customers who have chosen a Self-Managed conversion must have completed their switch.

During this stage:

Customer chooses and engages their chosen LPG retailer
Approved gas fitters carry out Solstice-supported work
Customers choosing Self-Managed can complete their switch at any time before the Conversion Period ends
Solstice Energy confirms completion, receives Compliance Certificates, and arranges final payments
Customers request disconnection to stop fixed supply charges

After the Conversion Period ends, CNG supply to your town will cease and the network will be decommissioned.

Key Dates for Your Town

All towns: Appliance Assessment Period - OPEN NOW:

Town	Customer Election Period	Conversion Period	CNG Network Decommissioning
Heathcote	2 March – 29 March 2026	30 March – 16 August 2026	After 16 August 2026
Kerang	16 March – 12 April 2026	13 April – 30 August 2026	After 30 August 2026
Lakes Entrance	2 February – 1 March 2026	2 March – 19 July 2026	After 19 July 2026
Maldon	16 March – 12 April 2026	13 April – 30 August 2026	After 30 August 2026
Marong	16 February – 15 March 2026	16 March – 2 August 2026	After 2 August 2026
Nathalia	2 March – 29 March 2026	30 March – 16 August 2026	After 16 August 2026
Orbost	2 February – 1 March 2026	2 March – 19 July 2026	After 19 July 2026
Robinvale	16 March – 12 April 2026	13 April – 30 August 2026	After 30 August 2026
Swan Hill	16 March – 12 April 2026	13 April – 30 August 2026	After 30 August 2026
Terang	16 February – 15 March 2026	16 March – 2 August 2026	After 2 August 2026

LPG Retailers

If you are converting to LPG you get to choose your new LPG retailer. Some have special offers for Solstice customers, so we recommend you shop around.

Origin

Call: 13 35 74

Visit: Victorian Solstice CNG To LPG Made Simple – Origin Energy

ELGAS

Call: 131 161

Visit: Supporting Solstice Customers – ELGAS Special Offer - ELGAS

Supagas

Call: 13 78 72

Visit: Using LPG at Home | Supagas

There may also be other local LPG suppliers in your town.

Step by step guide

The gas network in your area is shutting down in mid to late 2026. You get to choose how you do it: yourself, or with help from us. You get to choose what’s next for your home: LPG or electricity. We’ll help with money, support and guidance.

Step 1: Start early

☐ Update your details in the online portal
☐ Upload appliance photos
☐ Receive appliance assessment from Solstice

Step 2: During the Customer Election Period (or earlier)

Choose your conversion:

☐ LPG or ☐ electricity

☐ Self-Managed or ☐ Solstice-Supported

Step 3: During the Conversion Period

If Self-Managed:

☐ Arrange your chosen gas fitter or electrician

☐ Complete the work before your town’s Conversion Period ends

☐ Send us confirmation and your Compliance Certificate

☐ Request disconnection

If Solstice-Supported:

☐ Confirm your gas fitter and appointment dates
☐ Stay in touch about access and scheduling
☐ Review and approve any scope details
☐ Choose an LPG retailer and organise bottles to be delivered before installation e.g. Elgas, Origin, Supagas

Step 4: Done!

☐ Conversion complete
☐ Solstice confirms and processes payment with your gas fitter
☐ Your gas meter is removed and your account closed

Commercial Customers:
choose how to switch

LPG or Electric

Unlike residential customers, commercial sites usually have more complex appliances or systems. That’s why:

You choose your own licensed gas fitter – someone who understands your equipment.
We’ll cover the reasonable cost of switching your appliances to LPG.
You can start now.

Because you probably have specialised or large appliances, we’ll work with you directly to find a good solution.

Unlike residential customers, commercial sites usually have more complex appliances or systems. That’s why:

You choose your own licensed gas fitter – someone who understands your equipment.
We’ll cover the reasonable cost of switching your appliances to LPG.
You can start now.

Because you probably have specialised or large appliances, we’ll work with you directly to find a good solution.

Unlike residential customers, commercial sites usually have more complex appliances or systems. That’s why:

You choose your own licensed gas fitter – someone who understands your equipment.
We’ll cover the reasonable cost of switching your appliances to LPG.
You can start now.

Because you probably have specialised or large appliances, we’ll work with you directly to find a good solution.

How we help

What we pay for

We pay the reasonable cost of converting your commercial appliances to LPG. You choose your gas fitter, get a quote, and you or they send it to us for approval. Once approved, you book the work and your gas fitter does the job. We pay direct to you the amount the gasfitter quoted, so you have the funds available for the work.

If the work needed at your business is more than just converting your gas appliances, we’ll talk with you and your gas fitter directly to figure it out.

What you need to do

Use the online portal to update your details

Choose your licensed gas fitter; you can use someone you already work with and trust
Ask them to inspect your site and give a quote
They’ll look at your appliances and what’s needed to switch to LPG
Then you or they can send us the quote for approval
We review and approve the quote; we’ll let you know when it’s approved so the work can begin. We may need to talk with you to get more information or even visit your business to discuss the work, but we’ll let you know.
Work is completed by your gas fitter; they’ll convert your appliances and arrange LPG supply so your business keeps running
Let us know the work is complete and we’ll disconnect you from the network

Use the online portal to update your details

Choose your licensed gas fitter; you can use someone you already work with and trust
Ask them to inspect your site and give a quote
They’ll look at your appliances and what’s needed to switch to LPG
Then you or they can send us the quote for approval
We review and approve the quote; we’ll let you know when it’s approved so the work can begin. We may need to talk with you to get more information or even visit your business to discuss the work, but we’ll let you know.
Work is completed by your gas fitter; they’ll convert your appliances and arrange LPG supply so your business keeps running
Let us know the work is complete and we’ll disconnect you from the network

Use the online portal to update your details

Choose your licensed gas fitter; you can use someone you already work with and trust
Ask them to inspect your site and give a quote
They’ll look at your appliances and what’s needed to switch to LPG
Then you or they can send us the quote for approval
We review and approve the quote; we’ll let you know when it’s approved so the work can begin. We may need to talk with you to get more information or even visit your business to discuss the work, but we’ll let you know.
Work is completed by your gas fitter; they’ll convert your appliances and arrange LPG supply so your business keeps running
Let us know the work is complete and we’ll disconnect you from the network

How long will this take?

You can start now – no need to wait.

Start here: Commercial Portal

You can start now – no need to wait.

Start here: Commercial Portal

You can start now – no need to wait.

Start here: Commercial Portal

Step by step guide

The gas network in your area is shutting down in mid to late 2026. You get to choose what’s next for your business: LPG or electricity. Because you probably have specialised or large appliances, we’ll work with you directly to find a good solution.

Step 1: get started early

☐ Update your details on our commercial customer portal

☐ Your dedicated case manager will reach out to let you know exactly which verification documents are needed for your situation. They’ll also be there to answer any questions and guide you through the process.

☐ Contact your preferred licensed gas fitter and book a quote to convert your appliances to LPG

Step 2: Submit Documentation

☐ You or your gas fitter submits the quote to Solstice for approval

☐ You submit any additional documents requested by your case manager.

☐ We verify your documents, assess the quote and confirm approval

☐ We send you a digital Commercial Conversion Payment Agreement (CCPA) for your review and acceptance

☐ We pay direct to you the amount the gasfitter quoted, so you have the funds available for the work

Your appliances may be highly specialised or require extra modifications so we’ll work with you on a case-by-case basis.