A petition with over 3,000 signatures is calling on the Victorian government to scrap its ban on new gas stoves and heating connections.
The Labor government announced the ban for residential gas connections (that also includes hot water heaters) in July this year which is set to come into effect on Jan. 1, 2024 as a part of a push towards net zero emissions in the state.
Gas fitter/electrician and dairy farmer Patrick Glennen from south-west Victoria started the current petition—co-signed by Libertarian Member of Parliament David Limbrick—and says the government’s decision to implement the ban was “rushed.”
Mr. Glennen hoped the government would have given the gas industry at least five years to get ahead of the ban.
“Basically, we just want a proper parliamentary debate on phasing out the infrastructure in Victoria. I mean, we’ve been given six months’ lead in time. It’s not ample, and it’s not proper,” Mr. Glennen told The Epoch Times.
He says many building developers are now left in the lurch after investing significant funds into building gas infrastructure prior to the ban.
“They put this infrastructure in; they’ve spent millions of dollars putting in gas pipes in the ground for their housing estates, and it’s not even gonna get turned on,” says Mr. Glennen.
“There’s just basically no discussion on it. No forewarning at all.”
In a push to make homes all-electric, the Victorian government has also spent $10 million on the Residential Electrification Grants program to subsidise the installation of solar panels, solar hot water, and heat pumps.
Despite the government saying that new home builders will save $1,000 a year by switching to all-electric and another $4,600 from grants, Mr. Glennen said the costs of installing electric central heating were still higher.
He said a gas-fired central heating unit costs roughly $5,000 dollars plus installation.
“But for an electric unit to heat a house, you’re looking at about $15,000, so the initial startup costs are massive. And then you’ve got to hope the power is cheaper over a period of time to regain that money,” says Mr. Glennen.
Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio has conceded that rising gas prices have hurt households.
“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,” said Ms. D’Ambrosio.
In a state that is largely reliant on coal-fired power, the gas connection ban for new home builds will increase demand on the electricity grid.
With 8 percent of electricity in Victoria being generated by natural gas, and off-shore natural gas exploration underway, Mr. Glennen says the gas stove ban hurts regular people.
“[Lets] look after our own people first before we send it (gas) off overseas.”
Mr. Glennen also says there could be safety issues with people using substandard, portable gas burners inside to continue cooking with gas in newer homes.
Homes will also still be able to use liquified petroleum gas (LPG) that can be connected outside the house instead of through the gas mane, a reality that Mr. Glennen says adds confusion to the impending gas connection ban.
The President of the Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association of Australia Ross Jamieson has previously warned the ban could cost up to 4,000 jobs.
No Net Zero With Gas Stoves, Home Heating
With the gas sector contributing about 17 percent of the state’s emissions, Labor has targeted gas stoves and gas home heating as part of their strategy to reach the ambitious net zero emissions target by 2045.Driven by cold winters, Victoria’s household and commercial gas use is the highest in the country with over 2 million users.
Households and small commercial users also make up about 61 percent of natural gas use in the state, while 31 percent is industrial and large commercial use and 8 percent is electricity.
Victoria has always exported more natural gas than it uses and has been a net exporter to other states.
However, production is expected to fall 43 percent by 2025 as several fields in Gippsland cease production, according to Infrastructure Victoria.
Shadow Treasurer Brad Rowswell does not think the Labor government’s decision to ban gas connections will lower energy prices.
“I think that is a furphy by the minister and I think Victorians are not mugs and they recognise that as well,” he said.
Greens Deputy Leader Ellen Sandell—who has called for a gas connection ban for years—is also concerned about potential double standards regarding Labor’s approach to gas in the state.
“It is strange that Labor acknowledges gas is an expensive, polluting fossil fuel on the one hand, while on the other hand is changing the law to make it easier to open new mines and is approving new gas drilling across the state, including near the Twelve Apostles,” said Ms. Sandell.
To debate the ban on gas connections in Parliament, Mr. Glennen hopes his petition can reach 10,000 signatures.
