Installing in Canberra: what's different
No meter, no gas
Under the ACT's rule, a new gas connection includes fitting a meter where none exists, and those have been blocked in residential zones since 8 December 2023.
The renovation catch
The rule also covers big renovations where the gas connection is abolished to make the site safe. Abolishment is mandatory before demolition, so a knockdown rebuild loses its gas.
Where the outdoor unit goes
For heat pumps, the ACT Government says installers may need to weigh space, ventilation, noise regulations and placement limits near windows or driveways.
Easements under the yard
Some ACT blocks carry a stormwater easement. Works near one need approval, ACTmapi shows where it runs, and assessment takes at least 15 working days.
Choosing what goes in
The ACT Government says heat pumps now work well even in its cold climate, and that evacuated tube solar systems can run in sub-zero temperatures. Both appear on the Sustainable Household Scheme's list of eligible products.
Both can also earn STCs, as long as the model is on the register and under the size limit: 425 L for an air source heat pump, 700 L for a solar water heater. A standard electric tank is the simplest install, but the ACT Government calls it the least efficient way to heat water.
Not sure of the size? Our hot water sizing page explains how household size changes the answer.
How an installation usually runs
Site visit
The installer works out where the tank and any outdoor unit can sit, and how far hot water must travel to the taps.
Approvals before tools
Stormwater easement approval, tree protection approval for digging near a protected tree, and Home Energy Support pre-approval all come before work starts.
Install and connect
Water connections are made under an ACT plumbing class such as water supply plumber. Ask to see which classes the licence carries.
Commission and hand over
Ask for the settings, the warranty papers and the certification for the work.
Rules to raise with the installer
NCC 2025 commenced in the ACT on 1 May 2026 and becomes mandatory on 1 May 2027. During that window, ask which edition the design follows.
Under the NCC, hot water delivered to bathroom fixtures used for personal hygiene must be no hotter than 50°C. Kitchens and laundries sit outside that limit, while the tank itself should store water at 60°C or more.
Questions for a Canberra installer
- Where will the outdoor unit sit, and how much noise will the neighbours hear?
- Is there an easement or a protected tree where you plan to dig or pour a pad?
- Which edition of the NCC does this design follow?
- Is this model eligible for the Sustainable Household Scheme and for STCs?
What we would do
Settle the hot water early in the design, not after the slab is poured. Pick the spot for any outdoor unit with your bedrooms and your neighbours' in mind, then check ACTmapi for easements and look up the trees nearby. If you're renovating an older home with gas, decide about the gas connection before the builder does, because once it's abolished it won't come back.