Stakeholder consultation on developing regulations for gas appliances now open

The ACT Government is inviting early stakeholder feedback and ideas to develop a regulatory approach that supports Canberrans to go electric and phase out fossil fuel gas appliance use.

A discussion paper has been released outlining a range of potential regulatory options to help Canberrans prepare for the energy transition and support an efficient, equitable and cost-effective pathway from fossil fuel gas.

This project is a key commitment in the Integrated Energy Plan 2024-30 – Canberra’s first strategic roadmap for transitioning away from fossil fuel gas and electrifying our city.

Making the switch to electric appliances over time will not only help our city to reach net zero emissions by 2045, it can also help Canberrans save money on energy costs.

About the consultation

A range of regulatory options are currently being considered in the discussion paper including measures to support consumer awareness of the transition (such as information at point of sale when purchasing appliances), standards for rental properties, and potential restrictions on the installation of gas appliances.

The ACT Government is seeking feedback from key stakeholders   on their preferences, concerns, and ideas on potential regulatory interventions, including:

• what regulatory options we should explore
• what type of appliances should be considered
• timeframes for implementation
• implementation approach, including potential exemptions.

Early stakeholder feedback on a future regulatory approach will support the development of a draft regulation and Regulatory Impact Analysis that will be released for broader community consultation.

Our transition off fossil fuel gas

The ACT has already made strong progress to transition off gas, with many households and businesses choosing to go electric at a time that is right for them. But more needs to be done to prepare our community for this change.

While the transition away from fossil fuel gas will occur gradually, it is anticipated that some parts of the network may begin to shut down from the mid-2030s onwards. This will not happen without planning, notice and continued support, but does mean that Canberrans in these areas will no longer be able to use gas appliances.

It is estimated that there are between 300,000-350,000 individual gas appliances across the ACT that will need to be replaced gradually as they reach end of life over the next two decades or as our gas network is shut down. The majority of these appliances are for heating, hot water and cooking.

Developing a regulatory approach to guide the phase out of gas appliances can:

• protect consumers from rising gas costs as well as unnecessary costs for early appliance replacement as the gas network begins to phase down
• prevent priority consumers, such as renters and people living in multi-unit apartments from being left behind in the energy transition
• provide clear timeframes and pathways to help the community prepare for the transition off fossil fuel gas
• support the ACT’s efforts to act on climate change and goal to reach net zero emissions by 2045.

More information

Consultation is open from Wednesday 5 August to Wednesday 16 September 2026. To find out more about the consultation and read the discussion paper, visit Working with our Community for the Energy Transition.

To find out more about the Integrated Energy Plan and ACT’s long-term energy transition pathway to achieve net zero emissions, visit Canberra’s Electrification Pathway.