ACT could ban Canberrans from buying new gas appliances

When Helen Belfanti switched off her gas cook top for an electric option, she not only saw an improvement in her cooking, but in her wallet. The gas cook top on its own was costing me about $500 a year just for the supply of the gas and the cost to run the cook top. So factoring in some electricity to still pay for the cooking, it's I think it's about 303, fifty a year that I'm saving. While the number of Canberra households using gas is coming down, there's a push to see more people electrify their homes. The clear message from the government is make your next choice electric and we will support you in doing that. In order to meet its target of having net zero emissions by 2045, the government emits regulation changes will need to be considered. One of those changes is a possible ban on the installation of new gas appliances by the end of the decade. That would be the logical next step in such a such a regulatory approach. But that's not today. That's something that we will consider over this next period. But a switch from gas isn't always recommended. To switch from gas to electricity, you do need a lot of money. You have to be prepared that the system that you're going to buy is not going to have the life of your old gas or old electric hot water system. Robert Edwards says the number of people wanting to ditch gas is growing, but at the same time, the number of gas hot water systems he's installing is staying consistent. Clients are actually scared that they won't be able to get gas appliances in the years to come, so they're actually jumping in early now and buying brand new commercial gas hot water systems. If your system reaches the end of its life tomorrow, there's a there's a bill coming that none of us wanna have to pay. Make sure that when you do do it, you're making that long term investment for your own home. Focus for the government now will be to replace all gas appliances in public and Community Housing by 20-30. It will also spend $5.2 million to cover the upfront costs of energy efficient upgrades for about 350 low income households.