A national survey of more than 5000 Australians has revealed that more than half of households in areas prone to floods, bushfires and blackouts struggle to pay bills.
A new report led by Monash University researchers has found that climate events including floods and heatwaves are likely to compound energy hardship for many Australians, offering critical insights into how everyday household trends, practices and vulnerabilities will impact energy demand and the shift to renewable energy.
Published today, the Household and home businesses research: Emerging lifestyles, preferences and practices report draws on research from the Scenarios for Future Living project led by researchers from Monash University’s Emerging Technologies Research Lab. The study is based on a national survey of more than 5000 Australians conducted between April and May 2025, with participants representing a cross section of age, gender, income and living situations across the country.
The survey explored how Australians’ living situations, routines and preferences are shaping current energy use and influencing future demand and the transition to renewable energy.
The research examined consumer energy resources and how income, home ownership and housing type affect access to solar panels, batteries and electric vehicles. It also investigated demand-side management and household routines, examining how people, including those working from home, use and manage energy in daily life.
Future smart appliance automation and vehicle-to-grid technologies were analysed to understand how Australians view automation, control and smart energy systems. The study also explored hardship and access inequities, examining how people in climate risk areas experience growing energy hardship and limited access to cooling and clean energy.
Among key insights, the findings showed that 38 per cent of respondents had difficulty paying their energy bills or meeting essential needs in the past year, rising to 54 per cent among people living in self-reported climate-risk zones.
The study revealed that energy hardship is not only an economic issue but also a matter of health and safety. As climate risks increase, more households will likely struggle to cool homes during heatwaves, maintain clean air during bushfires, power medical devices and stay connected during outages.
Monash University Research Fellow, Dr Fareed Kaviani, lead author of the research, said climate pressures are magnifying existing inequalities in Australia’s energy system.
“Energy hardship is no longer just about affordability. It is about whether households can stay safe and well as extreme weather becomes more frequent,” Dr Kaviani said.
“Without targeted policies and support, the gap between those who can invest in clean technologies and those who cannot will only widen.”
The report also found that while Australians are increasingly open to smart technologies such as automated appliances and vehicle-to-grid systems, most still want to retain control over when and how these systems operate.
This tension between automation and control is expected to become sharper as the climate changes. While vehicle-to-grid technology promises to help stabilise the grid during extreme weather events like heatwaves, most electric vehicle households said they would prefer to take manual control of their appliances at those times.
The research showed that people’s willingness to join vehicle-to-grid programs depended on how much control they felt they had over their appliances and energy use.
Sociologist and report co-author, Monash University Professor, Yolande Strengers, said the findings show that trust and control will be central to how households engage with smart energy systems in the future.
“People want technology that works with them, not around them,” Prof Strengers said.
“As climate pressures grow, automation can play an important role in keeping homes safe and energy systems stable, but only if households feel confident they can step in when they need to.
“Building that trust will be key to making these systems work for everyone.”
The survey also found that more than half of participants had at least one household member working from home, creating new opportunities for energy providers to support flexible daytime electricity use when solar supply is highest.
RACE for 2030 Chief Executive Officer, Dr Bill Lilley, said the findings provide valuable insight into how the energy sector can plan for a more resilient and equitable grid in the future.
“This research helps us understand the real-world pressures households face and the support they need to adapt,” Dr Lilley said.
“Designing fair and flexible programs will be essential to ensure all Australians can share the benefits of a cleaner energy future.”
The research is part of the RACE for 2030 Scenarios for Future Living project, being conducted in partnership with Monash University, the University of New South Wales, University of Technology Sydney, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Ausgrid, CitiPower, Powercor, United Energy, Red Energy, the New South Wales Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action in Victoria.
The survey was built on trends identified in the Digital Energy Futures and Future Home Demand projects conducted by Monash University’s Emerging Technologies Research Lab.
Funded by the RACE for 2030 Cooperative Research Centre, the research provides evidence to guide industry and policymakers in building a fair and resilient energy system for the decade ahead.
The researchers plan to update and repeat the survey annually over the life of the project and welcome opportunities to collaborate with partners interested in expanding this important work.
