Australians don’t want to give up their gas cookers and heaters as energy crisis continues

Australians carefully consider energy options when it comes to buying a house — and there is one thing many will not give up.

Users of gas cookers and heaters in the home have a message for any potential move to ban them: hands off.

Polling of more than 2500 gas consumers found that more than half viewed their home gas connection as “essential”, while 90 per cent said they intended to keep using natural gas in the future.

Conducted in 2022, the Voice of the Customer survey done by Sagacity Research for Energy Networks Australia also found 72 per cent of respondents are keen to use renewable gas to help the environment.

Despite a move by some councils and the Victorian Government to ban gas conections in new homes, Shaun Reardon, the executive general manager of gas giant Jemena’s networks, said gas remained a staple for households across the country.

“We’re seeing a strong preference for gas appliances across homes and businesses in New South Wales with our customers consistently telling us they prefer gas for cooking, heating, and hot water,” he said.

Shaun Reardon, Executive General Manager, Jemena Networks. Picture: Supplied

“As we try and balance keeping the lights on with reducing emissions, it‘s clear gas has an important role to play in the energy system of the future.“

He said wholesale bans on gas could risk important developments in the gas sector aimed at making the energy greener.

“We want to avoid a situation where we prematurely stop the development of a renewable gas sector, placing at risk gas’ decarbonisation pathway, without fully understanding the cost to electrify as well as the impact this could have on our energy system and homes and businesses,” he said.

Alinta CEO Jeff Dimery. Picture: Stuart McEvoy for The Australian.

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Jeff Dimery, the CEO of Alinta Energy, added household gas use should be up to the consumer, “rather than regulating domestic gas use out of existence”.

“It should be market signals that encourage households to switch over time,” he said.

Naomi and Luke Lehmann of Clovelly Park in Adelaide’s south love their gas cooktop - even more so now they are part of a trial mixing gas with hydrogen.

The HyP SA project – that’s Australian Gas Industry Group’s Hydrogen Park South Australia based at nearby Tonsley – is now blending 5 per cent hydrogen it manufactures into gas supplies in a trial in nearby suburbs, with ambitious plans to completely replace gas with hydrogen to new estates in the future.

Elisha Lehmann, 5, with mum Naomi Lehmann and Isla May Lehmann, 3, at home in Clovelly Park. Picture: Matt Loxton

The Lehmanns, with two young children and another on the way, say using renewables is the way of the future and they are pleased to be part of the trial.

Mrs Lehmann says she has not noticed any difference at all since joining the trial, when cooking for Luke, and children Elisha, 5 and Isla, 3.

“Gas is gas and nothing has changed – I really like using gas for cooking as it is so much easier to adjust the temperature,” she said.

“We are happy to be involved in this trial and it has not made any difference at all to the cooking.”

Mrs Lehmann says she can see both sides of the debate about the merits of using gas and, as a renter, says she would have to carefully consider her energy options when it comes to buying a house.

“I do like it as a cooking tool but also see the importance of using renewables,” she said.

Originally published as Australians don’t want to give up their gas cookers and heaters as energy crisis continues