Victorians reluctant on plan to phase out gas

The Andrews government is pushing ahead with its plan to phase out fossil fuels, but nearly half of Victorians aren’t entirely on board.

Almost one in two households have no plans to reduce their gas usage over the next five years, according to research commissioned for the Andrews government’s plan to phase out the fossil fuel.

A majority of Victorians believe gas appliances perform better and are cheaper than electric alternatives for heating and cooking — and even half of those who have made the switch say they still prefer cooking with gas.

The research was conducted last year by Infrastructure Victoria after the government asked the independent agency to investigate the role of gas in the state’s push to net zero emissions.

On Saturday, Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio unveiled Labor’s gas substitution road map and offered $2600 rebates to households to switch to all-electric appliances, despite families needing to cough up an average $15,500 to make the change.

Victorians love to cook with gas.

Infrastructure Victoria’s advice, to be released on Monday, also reveals the cost of living crunch facing families prior to the energy crisis gripping the east coast this year.

In a poll of 1000 households, 53 per cent said they had already made an effort to use their heater less frequently, while 44 per cent had tried to cut back on using their air conditioner.

Overall, 54 per cent of households said they were likely to reduce their gas usage over the next five years.

After being told gas was a fossil fuel that contributed to climate change and that the state’s gas reserves were declining, that proportion rose to 63 per cent, with 29 per cent saying they were not likely to cut back and 10 per cent still sitting on the fence.

The poll also found the majority of Victorians did not support ending the expansion of the gas network to new buildings, although after they were told of the “facts about gas usage”, 57 per cent said they would back such a move.

Ms D’Ambrosio announced on Sunday that the government would remove the compulsory requirement to provide a gas connection at a new development, stopping short of banning new connections entirely.

In its report, Infrastructure Victoria pushed for a sustained education campaign — similar to the long-term TAC road toll campaign — to “highlight the impact of fossil fuels on climate change and encourage households and businesses to consider lower emissions energy sources”.

But it acknowledged vulnerable households could be punished in the transition without government support, given they would struggle to afford the “significant upfront cost” of ditching gas and would then face higher bills if they remained on a shrinking gas network.