How the Transition Program will work
Property owners are responsible for managing the transition of a property to a new energy source. This page contains all the information that landlords and real estate agents will need to manage the transition of any properties connected to the gas network.
ATCO has divided the Albany gas network into zones which will be decommissioned in sequence over the next three years. The Transition Program will begin operating in each zone well before ATCO’s gas supply is shut off, giving customers time to understand their options, access support and complete their transition.
Impacted customers will receive a notification and information pack instructing them on what to do to transition to their chosen energy source and how to access the WA Government funding once the Transition Program goes live in their zone.
You can use ATCO’s interactive map to search for addresses to see which zone they fall into, and the Transition Program and decommissioning timelines.
What support is available?
Households and small gas-use businesses
The WA Government will cover the cost of a standard transition to LPG bottles for households and small gas-use businesses. Alternatively, a contribution of up to $2,000 is available towards the cost of electric appliances if the property owners prefer.
For complex cases, where a trade registered under the Transition Program finds that conversion to bottled gas is not possible or will cost significantly more than a standard conversion, additional support will be provided on a case-by-case basis.
Large gas-use businesses
Large gas-use businesses, with annual gas consumption of at least 30 gigajoules, received a government-funded business energy audit. Following the audit, account holders will be advised how much funding they are eligible to receive.
Accessing support
To access the government funding, it is important that property owners follow the process outlined in the information pack that we will send to all real estate agents in Albany in January. All assistance payments will be made directly to registered trades participating in the Transition Program.
As well as financial support, you can also access guidance and advice by:
- Calling our helpline on 08 9200 6888 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm)
- Visiting the Albany Gas Transition Support Hub, Albany Plaza, opposite the Coles, 42 Albany Hwy, Albany 6330, open on Mondays and Wednesdays from 12pm – 4.30pm and on Thursdays from 9am – 12.30pm
- Booking a private appointment with a member of our team in Albany, using our booking calendar.
- Emailing us at albanygastransition@deed.wa.gov.au
What do I need to do?
If you are a real estate agent, we recommend that you:
- Speak to your tenants in properties connected to ATCO’s reticulated gas network to ensure they are aware of the upcoming transition and understand that the property owner is responsible for deciding which alternative energy source to switch to and for managing this process.
- Note that for LPG bottle conversions, depending on the arrangement between the property owner and tenant, either party may be responsible for arranging the delivery and ongoing supply of gas bottles.
- A list of LPG retailers is included further down this page.
- Speak to the owners of any of the properties you represent that are connected to ATCO’s reticulated gas network to make sure they understand their role in the transition, as outlined below.
Property owners will need to decide which alternative energy source to transition their property to:
Switching over to LPG bottles
For many households and small gas-use businesses, switching to bottled gas will be the most straightforward approach. Property owners won’t have to switch out any gas appliances, as they will continue to work with LPG bottles.
The WA Government will cover the cost of standard transitions to LPG bottles. For complex cases, where it’s not possible to convert to bottled gas or it will cost significantly more than a standard conversion, additional supports will be provided on a case-by-case basis.
What will happen on the day?
A registered gas fitter will disconnect the existing supply at the gas meter, safely cap the connection, and install the new piping and gas regulator needed to connect the new gas bottles. A list of LPG bottle retailers is available below.
Please note: Gas bottles should be delivered before the conversion work takes place and be housed in a suitable, compliant area with a flat surface.
During the quote stage, the gas fitter will assess the proposed gas bottle location to ensure it meets safety and compliance requirements. If there isn’t a suitable location, they will initiate a complex case assessment in our system so we can help to find a solution.
Switching over to all-electric appliances
If the property owner prefers to take the opportunity to go all-electric, the WA Government will provide a contribution of up to $2,000 towards the cost of installing electric appliances. Any costs above this contribution must be paid directly to the registered trade undertaking the conversion work.
All assistance payments are made directly to registered trades, so the property owner will need to arrange the purchase and installation of the selected appliances through their chosen trade, who will claim the funding contribution on their behalf.
Please note: If an all-electric solution is chosen, gas appliances will no longer work when ATCO shuts off the gas in the decommissioning zone.
How will the conversion happen?
A gas fitter will disconnect the gas supply at the gas meter and cap it off before an electrician attends to install the new electric appliances. In some cases, the same trade will be qualified to carry out both tasks. Depending on what is being installed, a plumber and refrigeration and air conditioning technician may also be needed.
Steps you’ll need to take
To make a decision, the property owner will need to know the cost for each option being considered. For this, quotes will be needed from relevant trades registered with the Albany Gas Transition Program. A list of registered trades and their contact details will be available in an information pack that will be sent to customers when their zone goes live, and to all real estate agents in January 2027.
It is the property manager’s responsibility to engage with their tenants to keep them informed of what will be happening at their home or business.
The property owner contacts trades from the approved trades list to provide a quote. Property owners can request more than one quote to determine the options and cost if they are unsure of which energy source to switch over to.
The property owner decides the option that best suits the needs of the home or business and confirms this choice with the preferred registered trade. The trade will upload the quote to our system for approval. If the trade determines that conversion to LPG bottles is a complex case, they will initiate a complex case assessment in our system during this stage
Once the quote has been approved, we’ll give the go ahead to book in the work with the selected trade. It is the property owner or manager’s responsibility to speak to their tenant to work out a time that suits all parties.
If the property is being converted to LPG bottles, arrangements should be made with the tenant to select a preferred gas bottle retailer and arrange for the bottles to be delivered and placed in a compliant and secure location before the conversion works are carried out. A list of Albany-based gas bottle retailers can be found in the section below.
The chosen trade will then attend the property on the agreed date to carry out the required works. Remember, if switching over to all-electric appliances, the property owner will need to cover any additional costs by paying the trade directly.
- Once the work is completed, the trade will submit their invoice to us, and we will pay them directly, up to the approved funding amount. The tenant will still need to pay their final bill to Alinta Energy, which they’ll receive once ATCO attends the property in the following weeks to take a final reading and remove the meter.
LPG bottled gas retailers
If the property is converting to LPG bottles, the payment and delivery of the new gas bottles must be organised before the trade attends to do the conversion work.
There are three bottled gas suppliers in Albany. For details on pricing and subscriptions, please contact the suppliers directly.
| Company | Phone Number | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | 13 35 74 | LPG Gas Bottles & Suppliers | Origin Energy |
| Supagas | 13 78 72 | LPG and Gas Bottle Suppliers | Supagas |
| ELGAS | 131 161 | LPG and Gas Bottle Suppliers | ELGAS |
What if the property transition is a complex case?
A ‘complex case’ is when conversion to LPG bottles is not possible or will cost significantly more than a standard transition. This will usually be identified during the quotation stage when a registered trade visits the property and initiates a complex case in our system.
Our case management team will assess the situation to determine the most suitable energy solution and any additional funding support available to assist with the conversion works.
