The Victorian government is expected to shelve a plan to wean consumers off gas until after the November election as it is accused of contributing to soaring energy prices.
The Victorian government is expected to shelve a plan to wean consumers off gas until after the November election as the CEO of Alinta Energy, Jeff Dimery, said the state’s decade-long ban on gas production was to blame for the current crisis.
Moving households from gas to electric is expensive and could prove politically unpopular at a time when household energy costs are soaring. Alinta’s Mr Dimery took aim at the Victorian government on Wednesday for their moratorium on all onshore gas exploration and development as a prime example of the decisions made years ago that have contributed to the current crisis.
Victoria’s energy and climate minister Lily D’Ambrosio was in the meeting with Chris Bowen on Wednesday.“Here in Victoria, the state government put a moratorium on gas exploration and production, and now we don’t have enough gas. You don’t realise that the day the decision is made. It’s as we deplete existing resources and don’t bring on new resources that you find yourself in this situation,” he said.