The ACT Government’s Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Natural Gas Transition) Amendment Bill will be voted on in the Legislative Assembly today. If passed, it will establish the legal framework to end new fossil fuel gas network connections in the ACT.
Preventing new gas connections is the next necessary step in transitioning Canberra to be a zero emissions city, Shane Rattenbury, ACT Minister for Water, Energy and Emissions Reduction, said.
“This legislation marks a significant milestone in the ACT’s energy transition, setting the framework to prohibit new gas connections in the ACT. The first step in phasing out gas completely is to prevent the installation of any new gas.”
The ACT Government announced last year that all new fossil fuel gas connections would cease before 2045. By then, the only new connections made will be to a 100 per cent renewable gas network, or developments that are subject to exemption.
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According to Evoenergy, the Territory’s gas distributor, there are approximately 139,000 fossil fuel gas mains connections in the ACT.
Approximately 80 per cent of all new homes in the ACT are still connected to fossil fuel gas. Those homes will need to be converted to electricity by 2045, Mr Rattenbury said.
“Utilising the legislative framework established in the legislation, I expect regulation to be in place by the end of the year, prohibiting new gas connections in new suburb or new infill developments.
“Now that the ACT is powered by 100 per cent renewable electricity, our next energy challenge is addressing emissions from fossil fuel gas, which currently makes up about 20 per cent of our emissions. By 2045, Canberra will be an all-electric city, using renewable electricity – a model sustainable city.
“Research shows that electricity is the most efficient, affordable, and feasible energy source to replace fossil fuel gas use. This is why the ACT Government is encouraging Canberrans to make their next appliances electric as the territory moves away from fossil fuel gas.
“Canberra already has a strong track record of electrification: ‘Swinger Hill’ was built in 1972 as the first ever Canberra medium-density all-electric housing area. Ginninderry is also Canberra’s first all-electric suburb, while Jacka and future stages of Whitlam and Denman Prospect are set to follow in coming years.”
The ACT Government consulted the community and stakeholders about the regulation in March and April.
“This consultation has ensured the Government understands the consequences for developers, customers, and the electricity network before this new regulation was made,” Mr Rattenbury said.
The regulation is anticipated to commence at the end of this year.
For more information on the consultation and new regulation, visit: yoursayconversations.act.gov.au/pathway-to-electrification
The legislation advances commitments in the Parliamentary and Governing Agreement to prevent gas connections in future greenfield and infill developments.
For Canberrans who want to transition from gas to electric, resources, information, and support are available at www.energy.act.gov.au.
