An Australian-first roadmap has been launched by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) to help Victorians cut their energy bills by finding substitutes for gas.
Welcoming DELWP’s Gas Substitution Roadmap, Minister for Energy, Lily D’Ambrosio said it would give Victorians more control over their energy bills.
“The Roadmap outlines how Victoria will use energy efficiency, electrification, hydrogen and biomethane to drive down bills and cut carbon emissions, while ensuring we have a secure, reliable, and safe supply of energy,” Ms D’Ambrosio said.
“Central to the Roadmap is giving households and businesses more choice to cut their bills and their emissions – helping more people upgrade to efficient appliances and take advantage of electrification,” she said.
“Victorian households can save up to $1,020 per year off their energy bills through electrification and up to $1,250 if solar panels are installed.”
Ms D’Ambrosio said new incentives to help people move away from gas would be developed as part of the Victorian Energy Upgrades program and incentives for all residential gas products would be phased out in 2023.
The Minister said barriers to all-electric homes and new developments would be removed with the current planning scheme requirement for new developments to be connected to gas to be scrapped.
“Gas is no longer the cheap fuel it once was – we know renewables are the cheapest form of energy and we’re making it easier for Victorian households and businesses to go all electric with more choice and more support,” she said.
“Victorians have been at the mercy of private gas companies for too long, it’s time to put gas on the back-burner as we help Victorians cut energy bills and halve emissions by 2030.”
DELWP’s 62-page Roadmap can be accessed at this PS News link.
