Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association of Australia (GAMAA) president Ross Jamieson has condemned the Victorian Energy Minister's announcement of impending draft regulations to force households to switch from gas to electric hot water and heating appliances.
"The Minister's statement yesterday shows the Premier's announcement to exclude cooktops from their electrification agenda on Monday was a politically cynical move to appear conciliatory while planning other changes to remove choice and impose massive extra costs on many households," Mr Jamieson said.
"We understand from sources inside government the option to include cooktops in the forced electrification proposals was never really on the table because of the risk of political backlash."
Research by Frontier Economics, which was included in GAMAA's submission to the Victorian Government on rental energy efficiency standards, has shown the changes could result in up to $27,000 in additional costs for gas-equipped households.
"We note from the Minister's statement that estimated energy bill savings have dramatically jumped from $500 a year in the rental energy efficiency standards proposal in June to $1700 in her statement yesterday," Mr Jamieson said.
"While we don't know where this estimate has come from, I note it would still take up to 16 years for the conversion to break even.
"If this is such a good deal, why does the Minister need new regulations to force change rather than let households choose what works best for them?"
Mr Jamieson called on the Victoria Energy Minister to include in the proposals an option for replacements with high-efficiency gas appliances.
"The high-efficiency gas option would save households $180 per year and reduce emissions by around 25 per cent without the need to impose extra costs or downgrade heating," he said.
Less than two per cent of Australia's carbon emissions are generated from gas use in residences and small businesses.
The Frontier Economics research is based on a typical 3-to-5-bedroom freestanding rental home with gas hot water and gas ducted heating.
