It’s a sunny Saturday. Your solar panels are working at full tilt. The washing machine’s running, the dishwasher’s ticking over, and you’re exporting excess electricity back to the grid.
Then you step outside, turn a knob, and fire up a gas bottle.
For many Australian homes, the BBQ is one of the last fossil-fuel appliances we never think to question. We’ve electrified the kitchen, the laundry, and even the car in some cases. But out on the patio, we still cook with gas as if it’s the only option.
What most people don’t realise is that outdoor cooking has quietly joined the electrification wave. And if you already have solar, your weekend BBQ could be running on sunshine instead of a refill from the servo.
The gas bottle ritual Australians never question
For something we use so casually, the gas BBQ comes with a surprising amount of background effort. There’s the trip to refill the bottle. The guessing game of how much is left. The moment it runs out halfway through cooking. It’s all so normal that it barely registers as an inconvenience.
Over time, the cost of refills adds up, too, but few people ever stop to tally what they’ve spent keeping the BBQ going year after year. It’s simply accepted as part of backyard life. And because it’s always been done this way, most homeowners don’t realise they have a choice.
Electric BBQs have one advantage gas never will
A gas BBQ burns fuel whether you’re cooking one sausage or 10 steaks. The flame is either on or off, and heat control is crude compared to modern electric plates and induction surfaces.
Electric outdoor cookers work differently. They heat a solid plate or surface directly and hold a consistent temperature. That means:
- Faster heat-up times
- More even cooking across the plate
- No flare-ups from dripping fat
- No hot and cold spots
- No wasted heat blowing away in the wind
For everyday backyard cooking, this actually makes them easier to use than gas.
But the bigger difference is what’s powering it.
An electric BBQ plugged into an outdoor socket is just another appliance in your home. This means it can run on the same electricity your solar panels are producing during the middle of the day. No refills, fuel, or extra cost every time you cook.
Electric BBQs Aussies are buying in 2026 (and what to look for)
One of the things that makes electrifying your backyard feel real is seeing familiar names and well-reviewed models already available here in Australia. These aren’t quirky gardens or tiny plug-in plates from a decade ago, but these are electric cookers from trusted brands and solid performers with real grilling power.
Below are some of the more talked-about options across different needs and budgets, with approximate price ranges and power ratings where available.
Weber Lumin Electric BBQ
Approx. $700-$750 / ~2200-2300 W
Compact, powerful, and purpose-built for outdoor use. The Lumin is widely discussed because it heats fast, holds temperature well, and still feels like using a Weber. Ideal for patios, balconies, and everyday backyard grilling.
Weber Puse 1000/2000 series
Approx. $900-$1,500 / ~2200 W
Larger cooking area with digital temperature control. Often chosen by households who wants a full BBQ experience without a gas. Strong heat performance for steaks and larger meals.
Ziggy Electric Grill by Ziegler & Brown
Approx. $400-$600 / ~2200 W
Popular for smaller spaces and patios. Keeps the compact Ziggy style people know, but in a plug-in format. Good heat output and very practical for everyday use.
Everdure electric grills and flat plates
Approx. $500-$900 / 2000 W+ depending on model
Design-forward and suited to modern alfresco areas. Often chosen for patios where people want something sleek and easy to manage without gas bottles.
BeefEater electric grill plates
Approx. $600-$1,000
More common in built-in or semi-permanent outdoor kitchens. Chosen by homeowners setting up a proper alfresco cooking space without running a gas line.
Gasmate electric BBQ plates and grills (Bunnings range)
Approx. $150-$400 / ~2000-2200W
Affordable, simple, and widely available. These are often the entry point for households curious about electric outdoor cooking without spending big.
What to look for when choosing
- 2000 W or higher if you want proper searing heat
- A solid plate or grill surface (not exposed coils)
- Whether a stand or cart is included
- Proximity to an outdoor power point
Why this makes even more sense if you have solar
Most BBQ use happens at the exact time your solar system is producing the most electricity — late morning, midday, early afternoon, weekends, clear skies.
At the same time, many homes are exporting that excess solar to the grid for a low feed-in tariff (FiT) while paying separately to refill a gas bottle. An electric BBQ changes that equation completely.
Instead of buying fuel from the servo, you’re using electricity that your roof is already generating. The cost to run it during peak solar hours is effectively zero because you’re using power that would otherwise be exported for a few cents per kilowatt hour.
This is where the BBQ stops being a cooking appliance and starts becoming part of your home energy system.
Noise, safety, and fire season
Gas BBQs bring an open flame into the backyard at the very time of year when fire risk is highest. Total fire ban days, dry grass, timber decks, and kids running around. It’s something most households manage carefully, but it’s still a live flame fed by a pressurised bottle.
Electric BBQs remove that variable entirely.
There’s no flat to flare up when fat drips. No gas leaks to worry about. No hot bottle sitting in the sun. And on high-risk fire days, you’re far less likely to face restrictions on using an electric plate compared to a gas appliance.
It’s also noticeably quieter as there is no hissing gas, ignition clicks, or background roar. For many homes, especially in bushfire-prone parts, this becomes less about convenience and more about peace of mind.
From gas habit to electric habit
Swapping a gas BBQ for an electric one isn’t really about cooking. It’s about noticing a pattern.
For many homes, the backyard is where fossil fuels quietly linger. All powered by petrol or gas, while the house itself runs increasingly on electricity from the roof.
Once you see it, it’s hard to unsee. You start to realise that the patio and the shed haven’t caught up with the kitchen and laundry.
An electric BBQ becomes less of a novelty and more of a signal. It shows how easy it is to replace a long-standing fuel habit with something that simply plugs in and runs from the same electricity your home already uses.
It’s often the first moment people realise that electrifying a home isn’t just about big appliances or major upgrades. Sometimes it starts with the things you wheel out on a sunny weekend.
Energy Matters has been in the solar industry since 2005 and has helped over 40,000 Australian households in their journey to energy independence.
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