General News
3 August, 2023
Government to introduce ban on new home gas connections
The Victorian Government has announced that gas connections will be banned in new homes from next year, in a push to meet the state’s zero emissions target. The announcement means that from January 1 next year, planning permits for new homes...
The Victorian Government has announced that gas connections will be banned in new homes from next year, in a push to meet the state’s zero emissions target.
The announcement means that from January 1 next year, planning permits for new homes, residential subdivisions and government owned buildings like schools, hospitals and police stations, will only connect to all electric networks.
It’s estimated the change will shave around $1000 per year off household energy bills and up to $2200 for households with solar installed.
According to the government, Victoria has the highest use of residential gas in Australia, with around 80 percent of homes connected.
The gas sector contributes around 17 percent of the state’s emissions and a shift to electric systems is a key element of meeting the State Government’s push towards its net zero target by 2045.
Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio said going electric was a win-win.
“We know that with every bill that arrives, gas is only going to get more expensive. That’s why we’re stepping in to help even more Victorians get the best deal on their energy bills,” she said.
“Reducing our reliance on gas is critical to meeting our ambitious emission reduction target of net zero by 2045 and getting more Victorians on more efficient electric appliances which will save them money on their bills.”
The move has been backed by organisations like the Master Builders Association Victoria and the Property Council of Australia, whose national policy director Frankie Muskovic said the shift to electric homes would reduce energy costs for households.
“Electrification is the fastest, cheapest way to decarbonise the way we heat our buildings, and the ban on new gas connections provides industry with the certainty it needs to deliver zero-carbon-ready buildings that can contribute to Victoria’s ambitious emissions reduction targets,” she said.
“Every new building built with gas will need to be retrofitted in the future, so we welcome this move from the Victorian Government to avoid investment in new gas network infrastructure and focus on reducing energy bills, and providing cleaner, healthier homes for Victorians.”
However, the opposition has hit out against the gas ban, with federal Member for Mallee Anne Webster describing the move as an “intrusion” into the lives of Victorians.
“This is another example of the ever-growing intrusion into the day to day lives of Victorians,” she said.
“At a federal level, Labor have imposed caps on wholesale gas price, now at state level they want it gone altogether.
“Hell bent on meeting ‘net zero’ by 2045, Daniel Andrews and his Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio have put the foot down and told people it is their way or the highway.”
The government’s restrictions on gas connections will apply where a planning permit is required for new homes, apartment buildings, total knock down and rebuilds, mixed apartment buildings, social housing and new subdivisions.
It won’t apply to new dwellings that don’t require a permit, renovations, alterations or additions to existing dwellings of apartment buildings, existing homes that have an existing gas connection, the use of bottled gas for outdoor barbecues, commercial lots within new estates and applications lodged before January 1, 2024.