Latest news with #LilyD'Ambrosio
AU Financial Review
02-07-2025
- Business
- AU Financial Review
Renewables companies blast Victorian transition plan
Australia's top clean energy companies have poured scorn on Victoria's new renewables rollout plan, which they say will threaten the state's energy security by stifling their ability to bring on new power projects before the closure of coal-fired generators. The multibillion-dollar Victorian Transmission Plan, unveiled by Energy Minister Lily D'Ambrosio in May, is the government's 15-year road map to replace the state's ageing coal-fired power generations with renewable alternatives.
The Advertiser
24-06-2025
- Business
- The Advertiser
'Class warfare': blowtorch on softened home gas bans
Controversial state plans to force homeowners to replace busted gas appliances with electric models have been scaled back, as debate rages over future power bill impacts. The Victorian government has ticked off sweeping appliance electrification regulations for homes and businesses. Under a preferred draft policy from December, it would have been mandatory for residential homes to switch gas hot water and heating systems to electric versions at the end of their life. Gas cooktops were excluded. But the incoming rules have been altered to grant exemptions for electric hot water systems that are too expensive to install, cannot fit the space or require a switchboard upgrade for non-safety reasons. Broken-down gas hot water heaters can also be repaired and systems removed and reinstalled during renovations. In addition, those who own and live in their home will no longer be subject to gas heating replacement bans. The changes were supposed to come into force in 2026 but have been pushed back to March 2027. Premier Jacinta Allan denied it was a backflip, saying the softened rules were in response to stakeholder feedback. "We've come back with a package that is about slashing household energy bills," she told reporters at a home at Reservoir in Melbourne's north on Tuesday. All new homes and new commercial buildings - other than industrial, manufacturing and agricultural buildings - will still be required to be built all-electric from January 1, 2027, as previously planned. Similar requirements are on the way for all residential and large commercial buildings and hotels in Sydney's CBD from the start of 2026. Minimum energy efficiency standards are also coming for Victorian rental properties and public housing from March 2027, including mandatory electrification of hot water systems and heaters at expiry. The revised home and business regulation changes were announced alongside a Gas Security Statement to avoid shortages forecast for southeastern states by 2029. The state government said its policies will save just under 12 petajoules (PJ) of gas each year by 2029 and 44PJ by 2035, enough to meet 85 per cent of Victoria's forecast industrial demand. However, fewer customers on gas will eventually push up network distribution costs for those left behind. Energy Minister Lily D'Ambrosio argued it wasn't an immediate problem as state gas connections are rising and Victorian residents are predicted to still be using more gas than every other state combined by 2035. "It's a bit of scaremongering by those people who want to protect their interests," she said. "Everybody wins from this." The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Paul Guerra was unconvinced, describing the imposition on landlords as "class warfare" and disputing the government's claim of cheaper power bills. "The government's writing cheques on electricity that it may not be able to cash," Mr Guerra told Melbourne radio station 3AW. The Australian Pipelines and Gas Association welcomed fewer blanket bans but argued the rules created a risk of unnecessary red tape and added pressure on households and regulators. Opposition energy spokesman David Davis said the reforms were a continuation of the Allan government's "war on gas" and consumer choice. The Energy Efficiency Council, Environment Victoria, Rewiring Australia and Climate Council all hailed the changes for cost, pollution and health reasons. Controversial state plans to force homeowners to replace busted gas appliances with electric models have been scaled back, as debate rages over future power bill impacts. The Victorian government has ticked off sweeping appliance electrification regulations for homes and businesses. Under a preferred draft policy from December, it would have been mandatory for residential homes to switch gas hot water and heating systems to electric versions at the end of their life. Gas cooktops were excluded. But the incoming rules have been altered to grant exemptions for electric hot water systems that are too expensive to install, cannot fit the space or require a switchboard upgrade for non-safety reasons. Broken-down gas hot water heaters can also be repaired and systems removed and reinstalled during renovations. In addition, those who own and live in their home will no longer be subject to gas heating replacement bans. The changes were supposed to come into force in 2026 but have been pushed back to March 2027. Premier Jacinta Allan denied it was a backflip, saying the softened rules were in response to stakeholder feedback. "We've come back with a package that is about slashing household energy bills," she told reporters at a home at Reservoir in Melbourne's north on Tuesday. All new homes and new commercial buildings - other than industrial, manufacturing and agricultural buildings - will still be required to be built all-electric from January 1, 2027, as previously planned. Similar requirements are on the way for all residential and large commercial buildings and hotels in Sydney's CBD from the start of 2026. Minimum energy efficiency standards are also coming for Victorian rental properties and public housing from March 2027, including mandatory electrification of hot water systems and heaters at expiry. The revised home and business regulation changes were announced alongside a Gas Security Statement to avoid shortages forecast for southeastern states by 2029. The state government said its policies will save just under 12 petajoules (PJ) of gas each year by 2029 and 44PJ by 2035, enough to meet 85 per cent of Victoria's forecast industrial demand. However, fewer customers on gas will eventually push up network distribution costs for those left behind. Energy Minister Lily D'Ambrosio argued it wasn't an immediate problem as state gas connections are rising and Victorian residents are predicted to still be using more gas than every other state combined by 2035. "It's a bit of scaremongering by those people who want to protect their interests," she said. "Everybody wins from this." The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Paul Guerra was unconvinced, describing the imposition on landlords as "class warfare" and disputing the government's claim of cheaper power bills. "The government's writing cheques on electricity that it may not be able to cash," Mr Guerra told Melbourne radio station 3AW. The Australian Pipelines and Gas Association welcomed fewer blanket bans but argued the rules created a risk of unnecessary red tape and added pressure on households and regulators. Opposition energy spokesman David Davis said the reforms were a continuation of the Allan government's "war on gas" and consumer choice. The Energy Efficiency Council, Environment Victoria, Rewiring Australia and Climate Council all hailed the changes for cost, pollution and health reasons. Controversial state plans to force homeowners to replace busted gas appliances with electric models have been scaled back, as debate rages over future power bill impacts. The Victorian government has ticked off sweeping appliance electrification regulations for homes and businesses. Under a preferred draft policy from December, it would have been mandatory for residential homes to switch gas hot water and heating systems to electric versions at the end of their life. Gas cooktops were excluded. But the incoming rules have been altered to grant exemptions for electric hot water systems that are too expensive to install, cannot fit the space or require a switchboard upgrade for non-safety reasons. Broken-down gas hot water heaters can also be repaired and systems removed and reinstalled during renovations. In addition, those who own and live in their home will no longer be subject to gas heating replacement bans. The changes were supposed to come into force in 2026 but have been pushed back to March 2027. Premier Jacinta Allan denied it was a backflip, saying the softened rules were in response to stakeholder feedback. "We've come back with a package that is about slashing household energy bills," she told reporters at a home at Reservoir in Melbourne's north on Tuesday. All new homes and new commercial buildings - other than industrial, manufacturing and agricultural buildings - will still be required to be built all-electric from January 1, 2027, as previously planned. Similar requirements are on the way for all residential and large commercial buildings and hotels in Sydney's CBD from the start of 2026. Minimum energy efficiency standards are also coming for Victorian rental properties and public housing from March 2027, including mandatory electrification of hot water systems and heaters at expiry. The revised home and business regulation changes were announced alongside a Gas Security Statement to avoid shortages forecast for southeastern states by 2029. The state government said its policies will save just under 12 petajoules (PJ) of gas each year by 2029 and 44PJ by 2035, enough to meet 85 per cent of Victoria's forecast industrial demand. However, fewer customers on gas will eventually push up network distribution costs for those left behind. Energy Minister Lily D'Ambrosio argued it wasn't an immediate problem as state gas connections are rising and Victorian residents are predicted to still be using more gas than every other state combined by 2035. "It's a bit of scaremongering by those people who want to protect their interests," she said. "Everybody wins from this." The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Paul Guerra was unconvinced, describing the imposition on landlords as "class warfare" and disputing the government's claim of cheaper power bills. "The government's writing cheques on electricity that it may not be able to cash," Mr Guerra told Melbourne radio station 3AW. The Australian Pipelines and Gas Association welcomed fewer blanket bans but argued the rules created a risk of unnecessary red tape and added pressure on households and regulators. Opposition energy spokesman David Davis said the reforms were a continuation of the Allan government's "war on gas" and consumer choice. The Energy Efficiency Council, Environment Victoria, Rewiring Australia and Climate Council all hailed the changes for cost, pollution and health reasons. Controversial state plans to force homeowners to replace busted gas appliances with electric models have been scaled back, as debate rages over future power bill impacts. The Victorian government has ticked off sweeping appliance electrification regulations for homes and businesses. Under a preferred draft policy from December, it would have been mandatory for residential homes to switch gas hot water and heating systems to electric versions at the end of their life. Gas cooktops were excluded. But the incoming rules have been altered to grant exemptions for electric hot water systems that are too expensive to install, cannot fit the space or require a switchboard upgrade for non-safety reasons. Broken-down gas hot water heaters can also be repaired and systems removed and reinstalled during renovations. In addition, those who own and live in their home will no longer be subject to gas heating replacement bans. The changes were supposed to come into force in 2026 but have been pushed back to March 2027. Premier Jacinta Allan denied it was a backflip, saying the softened rules were in response to stakeholder feedback. "We've come back with a package that is about slashing household energy bills," she told reporters at a home at Reservoir in Melbourne's north on Tuesday. All new homes and new commercial buildings - other than industrial, manufacturing and agricultural buildings - will still be required to be built all-electric from January 1, 2027, as previously planned. Similar requirements are on the way for all residential and large commercial buildings and hotels in Sydney's CBD from the start of 2026. Minimum energy efficiency standards are also coming for Victorian rental properties and public housing from March 2027, including mandatory electrification of hot water systems and heaters at expiry. The revised home and business regulation changes were announced alongside a Gas Security Statement to avoid shortages forecast for southeastern states by 2029. The state government said its policies will save just under 12 petajoules (PJ) of gas each year by 2029 and 44PJ by 2035, enough to meet 85 per cent of Victoria's forecast industrial demand. However, fewer customers on gas will eventually push up network distribution costs for those left behind. Energy Minister Lily D'Ambrosio argued it wasn't an immediate problem as state gas connections are rising and Victorian residents are predicted to still be using more gas than every other state combined by 2035. "It's a bit of scaremongering by those people who want to protect their interests," she said. "Everybody wins from this." The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Paul Guerra was unconvinced, describing the imposition on landlords as "class warfare" and disputing the government's claim of cheaper power bills. "The government's writing cheques on electricity that it may not be able to cash," Mr Guerra told Melbourne radio station 3AW. The Australian Pipelines and Gas Association welcomed fewer blanket bans but argued the rules created a risk of unnecessary red tape and added pressure on households and regulators. Opposition energy spokesman David Davis said the reforms were a continuation of the Allan government's "war on gas" and consumer choice. The Energy Efficiency Council, Environment Victoria, Rewiring Australia and Climate Council all hailed the changes for cost, pollution and health reasons.
Sydney Morning Herald
24-06-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Victoria scales back sweeping gas appliance bans
Home owners won't be forced to replace broken-down gas appliances with electric ones as originally proposed by the Victorian government after it revised its electrification plans for the state. A push to force the replacement of gas heating and cooktops has been abandoned, while plans to phase out gas hot water systems will continue, but will start from 2027 and have exemptions if the process is too expensive or difficult. The Victorian cabinet adopted a raft of new gas-related measures on Monday, and Premier Jacinta Allan and Energy Minister Lily D'Ambrosio on Tuesday pledged 'commonsense' rules for homes and businesses, stronger protections for renters, and securing the supply of gas for industry. Environmental groups welcomed the new electrification plan, but the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry remains a vocal critic. Allan is seeking to negate a long-running political headache in which she has sought to balance concerns about gas shortfalls and prices with the challenges of transitioning the state with the highest gas usage in the country to electricity. Loading In December, the government released documents showing its favoured option to curb natural gas usage would include a requirement for existing household gas appliances – excluding gas cooktops – to be switched to electric alternatives once they reach the end of their lives. The Age last week revealed the government was considering revising this proposal ahead of cabinet discussions. Following cabinet endorsement on Monday, these plans have been scaled back and timelines pushed out. Exemptions will also apply if installation costs for upgrades are too high or there are other limitations, such as space or a heritage overlay.
Sky News AU
09-06-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
Chris Uhlmann slams renewable energy targets, saying ‘great lie' of government energy agendas ‘has to be exposed'
Sky News Political Contributor Chris Uhlmann has called out what he described as the 'great lie' of renewable energy targets, as questions linger over a state government's controversial renewables plan. Victorian Energy Minister Lily D'Ambrosio has admitted the full cost of a multibillion-dollar renewable energy plan to be rolled out by the state government is not yet known. When asked whether the $4.3 billion figure for the plan detailed last month could actually be closer to $20 billion, the Minister remained tight-lipped over the cost and how energy prices could be affected, the Australian Financial Review reported. 'This is not about being dishonest, if that's what you're implying,' Ms D'Ambrosio said on Friday, according to the AFR. 'If we don't build transmission, I can tell you what happens. People's lights go out and power prices will go through the roof. 'People need to understand that transmission is an investment that facilitates the build of replacement electricity.' Speaking to Sky News host Peta Credlin on Monday evening, Mr Uhlmann took aim at renewable energy agendas in the face of the controversial Victorian government plan. 'We've seen it around the world Peta, everywhere you put in large-scale deployment of wind and solar, two things happen: the grid becomes more fragile and electricity prices soar,' he said. 'I see Lily D'Ambrosio saying that it's not going to be $20 billion, but can't say how much it's going to be, and of course, those transmission lines that she's left out of the equation probably come to around about $16 billion. So what do we know about that? We know that 9 per cent of your electricity bill is the transmission costs.' Mr Uhlmann then pointed to the federal Labor government's renewables policy, which has also drawn has drawn heavy criticism over significant project costs. 'It's interesting now that the federal Labour Party has stopped saying that people's electricity bills will go down,' he said. 'The great lie in all of this has to be exposed and that is it will be neither greener nor cheaper and the system will certainly be more fragile. 'That's the energy future which is on offer because of the policy decisions of state and federal governments.' The Victorian government VicGrid body's 2025 Victorian Transmission Plan includes proposed onshore renewable energy zones, which have been identified as suitable to host renewable energy projects. "The Victorian Transmission Plan is necessary to keep the lights on and keep energy costs affordable as Victoria's coal-fired power stations close," a state government statement on the plan's draft announcement said.
AU Financial Review
06-06-2025
- Business
- AU Financial Review
‘Not about being dishonest': D'Ambrosio says grid bill still unknown
Victorian Energy Minister Lily D'Ambrosio admits the state government will know the total cost of its multibillion-dollar renewable energy plan only once all the contracts involved are signed over the coming years. D'Ambrosio was grilled at length about estimates that the transition plan would cost $20 billion, or more than four times the $4.3 billion set out by the government last month. She said the $20 billion figure – first reported by The Australian Financial Review – was wrong but could not say what the cost was or what the impact on energy bills would be.
