Canberrans could soon be banned from buying new gas appliances as part of the capital’s transition to an all-electric city.
According to the ACT government’s new Integrated Energy Plan, regulatory options will need to be considered to ensure its zero-net emissions target can be met by 2045.
One of the options listed in the plan is a ban on the installation of new gas appliances by the end of the decade.
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said they were introducing a plan to ensure “that at a certain point we are not putting new gas appliances into households and businesses”.
“That would be the logical next step … but that is not today, that is something we will consider,” Mr Barr said.
“The focus on the moment is supporting people to make the choice to electrify.”
The ACT government last year banned the installation of new gas connections to homes and businesses.
Cost of transition ‘difficult’
ACT Energy and Emissions Reduction Minister Shane Rattenbury said “the electrification pathway is [the] most cost effective and technically feasible option for our city to cut its emissions”.
But he conceded the up-front transitioning costs for households could be high.
“The cost is a difficult one for a range of households. That is why we have put in place a range of targeted schemes to assist people,” he said.
“If your system reaches the end of its life tomorrow, there’s a bill coming that none of us want to have to pay. Make sure when that happens you are making that long-term investment for your own home — go straight to electric now.”
Mr Rattenbury acknowledged legislation might need to be considered to make it easier for people who live in apartment complexes to transition from gas.
“It may be we need to change strata legislation to enable clearer decision making and also the practical pathways to enable these buildings to make these big decisions,” he said.
Mr Rattenbury said fossil fuel gas was currently responsible for about 22 per cent of the ACT’s greenhouse gas emissions.
But ACT Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee said the plan was not appropriate.
“During a cost-of-living crisis, Andrew Barr and Shane Rattenbury will be putting further financial pressure on Canberrans to switch from gas appliances to electrical,” she said in a statement.
“These appliances cost up to tens of thousands of dollars and will hit some of our most vulnerable Canberrans the hardest.”
People ‘panicking’ about gas transition: installer
Robert Edwards, who runs a business repairing and installing hot water systems, said the number of people wanting to ditch gas was growing.
However, he said he hadn’t seen a change in the number of gas hot water systems he was installing.
“There is a lot of people panicking about having to get off gas,” he said.
“Clients are actually scared that they won’t be able to get gas appliances in the years to come, so they are actually jumping in now and buying brand new commercial gas hot water systems.”
He said he recently provided a $40,000 quote to a commercial business to put brand new gas hot water systems in, while it was $132,000 to put electric heat pumps in.
“To switch from gas to electricity, you do need a lot of money and you have to be prepared that the system you are going to buy is not going to have the life of your old gas hot water system,” he said.
“There are also some people who simply can’t go to gas because of the design of their house or the apartment complex they are in.”
Gas appliances to be removed from public housing
As part of the new plan, the government also announced all gas appliances in public and community housing would be replaced with efficient electric appliances by 2030.
The government will also spend $5.2 million over two years to cover the up-front costs of energy efficient upgrades for about 350 low-income households and trial the replacement of wood heaters in public housing properties with electric alternatives.
Mr Barr said, on current trends, the number of ACT households using gas would fall below 50 per cent before the end of the decade.
“The clear message from the government is, make your next choice electric,” he said.
“This is a long-term transition. It’s one that is being managed carefully, one that is focusing on areas of priority that the community have identified.”
Mr Barr said he was confident the ACT would meet its emissions reduction targets.
“We are well on track. Of all of the Australian states and territories, I think we stand the best chance of achieving a net zero target by 2045,” he said.
“It’s hard work and not straight forward. It’s a gradual transition over many decades.”