The reality is that many homes are not wired to be all electric and the cost of upgrading them can easily be in the $1,000s just to update the breaker box, plus wiring. Many houses around here still have old wire fuses for perspective. The costs of the appliances can pale to the immediate costs of being able to run them.
15 years ago a commercial upgrade in the CBD required a local grid upgrade, quoted at over $500,000 ‘customer contribution’ for the single feed. There are discussions about the grid being able to absorb solar inputs as well as deliver outputs, but can the ‘local grid’ cope?
The investment to go all electric seems focused rather than all-encompassing. Secondarily many of us do not have 99.99% reliable power. Not all gas appliances will run without electricity for various reasons but many will. Those having ‘friendly’ gas appliances might be able to at least cook a meal or have a cuppa and a few might even have gas fire places for heat. A small consolation when sitting in the dark.
The situation resembles an unrelated topic about the importance of being connected and how it goes when the connection isn’t there.
It is not so simple as just replacing appliances. Many of us realise that yet the sell goes on expecting the grid to magically evolve as well as the economics of using it and for solar owners, feeding into it.
