Last night the City of Sydney Council passed a motion to be an all-electric, gas-free municipality.
The council will insert new clauses into the planning rules which require new homes and businesses, including apartments, to include electric appliances like stoves, cooktops, heaters and hot water units, instead of gas.
According to new research conducted by Strategy Policy Research and commissioned by 350 Australia, the move could save every new household that is built in Sydney an average of $430 per year on their energy bills.
This equates to more than $5,500 in today’s dollars over a typical 40-year life of a dwelling, or $256 million for all new homes across the CBD over the same period.
At a state level, the savings are $3.7 billion for all new homes over the same period.
The motion was in response to the Electrify Your Council campaign organised by climate group 350 Australia.
The Sydney Council motion also follows new planning rules introduced at Waverley and Parramatta councils to ban gas appliances in new homes and businesses.
According to 350 Australia, ratepayers are tired of waiting for the New South Wales government to act.
350 Australia CEO, Lucy Manne, said it is time to end the age of fossil fuels.
“We can start by eliminating toxic methane gas from homes, shops and businesses,” she said.
“Only developers and gas corporations that benefit from keeping our homes and businesses connected to gas.
“We congratulate the City of Sydney for taking bold climate action at a time when the state government is falling behind.”