Replacing gas with induction cooking using solar in Perth

Many Perth households are looking at "going all-electric" — replacing gas appliances with electric equivalents powered by solar. The kitchen cooktop is one of the most discussed switches: gas to induction. Here's how the energy economics work and what the installation involves.

Gas vs induction cooking: the efficiency difference

Gas cooktops convert roughly 40–55% of the energy in the gas they burn into heat that reaches the food. The rest heats the surrounding air, the grate, and the underside of the pot (radiated and convected away).

Induction cooktops generate a magnetic field that directly induces current in the base of ferromagnetic cookware, heating the pot itself. Efficiency is approximately 85–90% — most of the energy input becomes useful heat.

What this means in practice: To deliver the same cooking output, an induction cooktop requires roughly half the energy input as a gas burner. If you previously spent $200/year on gas for cooking (rough estimate for a typical Perth household using a gas cooktop without gas hot water), induction cooking would require approximately $100–$120/year of electricity. From solar, the daytime cooking load is largely free.

Your WA gas bill: cooking vs heating

Most Perth homes that use gas use it for either:

• Cooking only (gas cooktop, electric oven and hot water) — the annual gas cost is typically $150–$350/year depending on usage
• Cooking + hot water — significantly more, $400–$900/year
• Cooking + hot water + space heating — the largest gas users

If you're switching from gas to electric specifically to save money with solar, it's worth isolating your cooking-only gas cost. If your gas bill is high because of gas hot water, switching the cooktop makes a modest contribution — the bigger win is replacing gas hot water with a heat pump (see separate guide).

Alinta/Kleenheat/AGL pricing context: WA gas retail is competitive (unlike electricity, which has Synergy as the single residential retailer). Perth gas prices vary by retailer and plan — typically $0.70–$1.10/MJ. Gas supply charges (fixed daily charge) apply regardless of usage volume, typically $0.35–$0.70/day.

If cooking is your only gas use, the supply charge alone costs $128–$256/year just to have the gas connected. Removing gas entirely eliminates that fixed cost.

Induction cooktop considerations

Cookware compatibility: Induction requires ferromagnetic cookware — cast iron, enamelled cast iron, and stainless steel with a magnetic base work. Aluminium, copper, and glass (without a magnetic base) do not work on induction.

To check your existing pots: hold a magnet to the base. If it sticks, they're induction-compatible. Most Perth households find 50–80% of their existing cookware is already induction-compatible.

Power rating: Portable induction cooktops start at 1,200–1,800W. Built-in or freestanding induction cooktops for kitchen installation typically have 4 zones totalling 5,000–7,200W peak (each zone drawing 1,200–2,200W), though most homes never run all zones simultaneously.

Wiring requirements: A built-in induction cooktop requires a dedicated 32A circuit from your switchboard (hard-wired, not a standard GPO). This is electrical work requiring a licensed electrician in WA.

Cost: Built-in induction cooktops for kitchen installation range from $400 (basic entry-level) to $3,000+ (premium induction). Well-regarded mid-range options (Bosch, Westinghouse, Electrolux) in the $700–$1,500 range suit most Perth households.

The installation process

1. Electrician: install a dedicated 32A circuit from the switchboard to the cooktop location. Cost: typically $200–$450 depending on distance and switchboard capacity.

2. Remove or cap the gas point: A licensed gas fitter in WA must disconnect and cap the gas supply to the cooktop location. Cost: typically $150–$300. If removing gas from the home entirely, the gas meter is also removed and the supply capped at the meter — gas fitter or distributor (ATCO) handles this.

3. Install the induction cooktop: Either DIY (if you're capable and it's a slide-in/drop-in replacement with compatible dimensions) or a tradesperson installs it. Hard-wiring to the dedicated circuit is electrical work requiring a licensed electrician.

Solar running costs for induction cooking

A typical Perth household using an induction cooktop daily:

• Average daily cooking time: 30–60 minutes of active heating
• Average draw during active cooking: 1–3kW (not all zones simultaneously, not at maximum continuously)
• Daily energy use: 0.5–1.5 kWh

From solar (self-consumption during 9am–3pm or morning cooking), this is effectively free. For evening cooking (6pm, after solar has stopped):

• 1.0 kWh × 33.26c (A1) = 33c per evening meal

For a household with a battery, stored solar provides evening cooking for free as well.

Removing gas from the property entirely

If your household uses gas only for cooking, switching to induction allows you to remove gas from the property entirely:

• Cancel your gas retail contract
• Have a licensed gas fitter disconnect and cap the internal gas pipework
• Contact ATCO (your gas distributor) to remove the gas meter and cap the street supply

This eliminates the gas supply charge permanently. In many Perth homes, the annual gas supply charge ($128–$256/year) represents 30–60% of the total gas bill for cooking-only users — making removal of gas economically meaningful even beyond the energy cost saving.

Switching from gas to induction eliminates half the energy cost of cooking through efficiency gains, and running induction from solar makes daytime cooking free. The combined saving (energy + eliminated gas supply charge) is typically $200–$500/year for cooking-only gas users. Installation requires a licensed electrician (32A circuit) and gas fitter (capping).