Australians turn off gas amid price hikes and supply gaps

There may soon not be enough gas to meet demand in the Australian state of Victoria, and this could happen as soon as next year according to the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO). This is pushing more and more Victorians to switch off their gas, especially as their energy bills are getting steeper. “It’s just the savings. Like obviously, environmental impact is important, and the health implications. But I reckon it’s probably just halved our bills,” explains Sarah Anderson, homeowner and former gas customer. In a survey from last year, it was found that 90 percent of Victorians rely on gas for their household appliances with cooktops, hot water systems, heaters, and ovens coming first in terms of usage. All of the survey participants said they could consider using electricity for one of these appliances, but only half of them said they would be willing to switch off their gas consumption completely. Moving away from gas will help Victorians reach their sustainability targets but it may also become necessary. The Australian Energy Market Operator says there could be gas shortfalls from 2028 and shortages in winter as soon as next year as Bass Strait supplies dwindle. "The real problem here is that not enough is being found to meet our ongoing demands. That is why it’s really critical that we take the actions that we are (taking) because we know that gas is a finite resource," says Victoria's Energy Minister Lily D'Ambrosio. The Victorian government is pushing citizens to get off gas by banning it in new homes and offering discounts to households that decide to replace gas appliances with electric ones. But that could come at too high a cost for some households and not everyone is on board with the idea. "The Victorian government has an ideological approach to energy and an ideological approach to gas. We say that gas is part of the future and our big gas distribution system should be regarded as an opportunity by the government, not something to be pulled out and stripped away," says Victoria's Shadow Energy Minister David Davis. This article was provided by The Associated Press.