Victoria
Gas company criticised over delayed decommissioning announcement
A Canadian-owned energy firm and the Victorian government discussed plans to decommission a gas network eight months before telling residents.
A Canadian-owned gas company has faced sharp criticism from customers after it emerged that the firm and the Victorian government had been discussing the decommissioning of a local gas network for eight months before notifying the public.
The delay was revealed in internal emails obtained under Freedom of Information laws, according to reporting by wire services. The correspondence shows that the energy company and state government officials were in active talks about the future of the gas network nearly three-quarters of a year before affected residents were given any indication of the plans.
The revelation has angered local consumers, who accused the company of being rude and lacking transparency. Community advocates argue that the lengthy delay in sharing the news deprived households of the opportunity to plan for the transition away from gas or raise concerns about the impending shutdown.
According to the FOI documents, the conversations between the Canadian-owned company and state representatives focused on the technical and regulatory aspects of winding down the network. However, the communications did not prioritise early community engagement, leaving residents in the dark while the decisions were being finalised behind closed doors.
The state government has not yet clarified why it did not push for earlier disclosure to the public during its months of negotiations with the private operator. At this stage, precise details regarding the timeline for the physical decommissioning of the network and the exact number of households affected have not been fully confirmed.
The community continues to seek clarity on what transitional support, if any, will be provided to help residents switch to alternative energy sources.
Observers will be watching to see if the Victorian government introduces stricter community consultation guidelines for future energy infrastructure closures.
This report draws on original reporting by Wire report.
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