The Integrated Energy Plan will provide a clear strategy for how the ACT will transform its energy systems to:

• secure an affordable and sustainable energy future, and
• support a fair and equitable transition to net zero emissions from fossil fuel energy over the next two decades.

This includes how the ACT will transition away from fossil fuel gas use, electrify our city and ensure a reliable and affordable energy system. It will be a plan for how we engage and support energy consumers and establish collaborative partnerships so we can deliver on these objectives.

The IEP will be delivered in 3 stages. We have mapped out what is expected over these time periods, and the likely focus of Government efforts.

Specific actions under stages 2 and 3 will depend on the progress of stage 1 of the IEP (IEP 1). This approach will allow us to address emerging challenges and opportunities as the ACT and the rest of the country progresses through the energy transformation.

Integrated Energy Plan 1 2024 – 2030: Setting the foundations for success

Our first stage will focus on continuing to support a consumer-led transition away from fossil fuel gas. Many households are already choosing to make energy efficient upgrades, switching to electric vehicles and installing rooftop solar. The ACT Government will continue to support and encourage these choices with a range of schemes and rebates, and ongoing education.

The introduction of the no new gas regulation will ensure all new homes and businesses will be all-electric from construction.

During this stage, we will also focus on ensuring the ACT’s electricity supply remains sustainable and viable and can meet increasing demand. We will work hard to address known issues in the transition to renewable energy by doing things like:

• assisting those members of the community who cannot transition themselves
• developing pathways for complex buildings, like multi-unit apartments
• understanding how green gas might be used for niche applications, like some industrial processes and heavy vehicle operation
• building the required skills and workforce

Integrated Energy Plan 2 2030 – 2035: Accelerating the transition

During stage 2 we will shift to measures that accelerate the transition. This could include:

• requiring households to replace gas appliances with electric alternatives, or ensuring that housing providers electrify and increase energy efficiency of rental properties.
• leveraging solutions for more complex buildings, like multi-use apartments, which will be more available after 2030 due to advancing technology and research.
• planning for the decommissioning of the gas network.
• support for hard-to-transition users, like those with niche gas needs, who have not been able to transition during stages 2 and 3.
• likely commencement of a phased decommissioning of gas networks
• continuing to build and maintain the skills and workforce to maintain the ACT’s evolved energy system into the future.

Integrated Energy Plan 3 2035 – 2040

Areas requiring a final boost to transition will be the target of stage 3. The focus is likely to include:

• support for hard-to-transition users, like those with niche gas needs, who have not been able to transition during stages 2 and 3.
• likely commencement of a phased decommissioning of gas networks
• continuing to build and maintain the skills and workforce to maintain the ACT’s evolved energy system into the future.

The IEP Position Paper provides an opportunity for Canberrans to provide feedback toward the development of the IEP and have their say on critical issues and proposed focus areas.

The Position Paper proposes a framework for the IEP and draft principles to guide the energy transition out to 2045.

The full Position Paper is available here.

A summary version of the Position Paper is available here.

The IEP Position Paper focusses mostly on IEP 1, proposing policy directions for key focus areas of the transition that require consideration and action from now until 2030. This is because specific actions under stages 2 and 3 will depend on the progress of stage 1 of the IEP (IEP 1). This approach will allow us to address emerging challenges and opportunities as the ACT and the rest of the country progresses through the energy transformation.

These key focus areas for IEP 1 are:

• Developing our future energy network and sharing the costs
• Electrifying our community
• Electrifying complex buildings
• Electrifying business
• Electrifying industry and heavy transport
• Skills and workforce for the transition

While the transformation of Canberra’s energy system is wide-ranging and the way we work, live and travel will change, these areas largely focus on the transition away from gas by electrifying our households, business and industry. This is because strategies and actions for other areas, such as transport and batteries, are more progressed.

Community and stakeholder feedback on the proposed policy directions under each focus area will inform development of a final Integrated Energy Plan, expected in early 2024.

The IEP will be guided by a set of principles for transition. These principles are intended to reflect the expectations of the Canberra community and priorities of the ACT Government. The guiding principles for the energy transition are:

• Get the ACT ready for our electric future.
• Provide a clear and implementable pathway to achieve and maintain net zero emissions.
• Prioritise a fair and equitable transition to net-zero.
• Educate our community and industry to prioritise and take action to manage a sustainable and responsible transition.
• Provide policy certainty so industry and community investments are made in the right areas at the right time.
• Develop policy which contributes to building a strong and stable energy system powered by renewables.
• Capitalise on the significant reputational and economic benefits for the ACT as a world leader in the transition.
• Establish the conditions for a transition by supporting the development of a net zero emissions ecosystem.

For more information about the IEP principles you can read the full Position Paper or the summary version of the Position Paper.

The ACT continues to lead the world in taking action on climate change. We are set to become the first Australian jurisdiction to be powered exclusively by renewable energy, by 2045. However, with fossil fuel gas accounting for over 20% of the ACT emissions and transport accounting for over 60%, there is still a long way to go in our journey to reduce emissions and achieve a 100% renewable energy supply for our city.

We also know that the transition away from fossil fuel energy will have an impact on households, business, communities and industry.

The IEP will help us to make sure we have a clear and implementable pathway to achieve and maintain net zero emissions.

• In August 2022, we released the “Our Pathway to Electrification” Position Paper, and started consultation in late 2022 with some community members and key stakeholders.
• From March – April 2023 we undertook community consultation on a new regulation to prevent new gas network connections and also sought feedback on broader transitional issues [link to listening report]. This consultation helped to inform the policy directions and focus areas of the IEP and associated Position Paper.
• We have also established an Energy Transition Technical Advisory Group, which will meet for the first time during the consultation period (1 August - 12 September 2023). This group will provide detailed and technical information to help us get to the launch of the first plan.

Broad public consultation was open from 1 August 2023 until 12 September 2023.

ACT has one of the most reliable electricity networks in the country, but we recognise that electrifying our city means that we need to match the anticipated demand with a secure and strong network.

Our policy is focused on a long-term and responsible energy transition. An important part of this is working closely with Evoenergy, who manages both the electricity and gas networks, so they are able to manage appropriate investment over two years into the electricity grid to match the growing demand of our community.

A reliable and secure energy network is one of our top priorities for the Integrated Energy Plan.

ACT and our electricity grid is part of the National Electricity Market, and what this means is that we are also subject what is happening in other states and territories. However, we are working closely with other states and territories to continue to build and invest in a strong and secure connected national energy system as more of the country moves towards electrification.

The ACT requires a skilled workforce to facilitate the energy transition, including electrical trades, insulators, mechanics, builders, gas fitters and more.

These will be the trades that design and install the right technology in homes and businesses to make best use of renewable energy. It is critical to collaborate with industry stakeholders who represent the skilled workers required to support the transition. Emerging opportunities over the coming decades are expected to have an overall positive impact on the workforce, with the creation of a net-zero economy increasing the demand for skills to support the energy transition.

We are still planning to introduce this regulation by the end of this year, or as soon as practical after.

It is critical that as we progress through this transition, we don’t make the problem worse for industry and the community.

More information on community consultation for this project can be found at: https://yoursayconversations.act.gov.au/pathway-to...

From 1 August – 12 September we asked all members of the community to contribute feedback and views on the IEP. People submitted feedback by:

• sending a written submission
• completing an online survey
• sharing ideas on a comment board
• attending an engagement event

A summary of what was heard is summarised in a Listening Report. A more in-depth consultation report will also be published in late 2023.

To find out more about the consultation email us at gastransition@act.gov.au