The ACT Government‘s Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Natural Gas Transition) Amendment Bill, which establishes the legislative framework to prevent new fossil fuel gas network connections in the ACT, will be voted on today in the Legislative Assembly.
Minister for Water, Energy and Emissions Reduction Shane Rattenbury stated that the ACT is leading the way on climate change action and that banning new gas connections is the next vital step in transforming Canberra into a zero-emissions city.
“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,” Minister Rattenbury said.
Using the legislative framework provided in the legislation, Minister Rattenbury anticipates that regulation limiting new gas connections in new suburbs or new infill developments will be in place by the end of the year.
“Now that the ACT is powered by 100% renewable electricity, our next energy challenge is addressing emissions from fossil fuel gas, with gas currently making up about 20% of our emissions. By 2045 Canberra will be an all-electric city, using renewable electricity – a model sustainable city,” the Minister added.
According to Minister Rattenbury, research shows electricity is the most efficient, cheap, and viable energy source for replacing the usage of fossil fuel gas. As the territory transitions away from fossil fuel gas, the Minister said the ACT Government is pushing Canberrans to make their next appliances electronic.
“Canberra already has a strong track record of electrification, with ‘Swinger Hill’ 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,” Minister Rattenbury added.
The ACT Government held community and stakeholder consultations in March and April of this year to assist in establishing a future rule to prohibit gas network connections.
This consultation ensured that the Government understood the implications for developers, customers, and the electrical network before enacting the new regulation.
The regulation is expected to go into effect in late 2023.
