World · East Asia & Pacific · 2 hrs ago
Albany LPG customers were not told of network plans during early talks
ATCO plans to close Albany’s LPG network over the next three years, putting businesses that rely on the gas at risk.
Albany is a regional city in Western Australia, about 400 kilometres south of Perth, where many customers use a piped LPG network.
The company cited aging infrastructure and high maintenance costs when it announced the closure in January.
Emails show ATCO and the state government discussed the network’s future eight months before customers were informed.
Albany’s mayor said the city should have been told earlier so it could explore alternatives.
A petition with more than 2,500 signatures called on the state government to intervene, but the government is not considering taking over the network.
Customers will need to switch to bottled gas or electricity as the network is decommissioned.
ATCO Australia announced it would decommission Albany’s reticulated LPG network over the next three years.
Emails show ATCO and the state government discussed the network’s future eight months before affected customers were informed.
Albany Mayor Greg Stocks said the city and businesses should have been told earlier.
ATCO said it was appropriate to consult the state government first because changes to its licence conditions require regulatory approval.
A petition signed by more than 2,500 people called on the state government to intervene, but Energy Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said the government was not considering taking over the network.
- Who
- ATCO Australia plans to decommission Albany’s LPG network. Affected customers, businesses and the City of Albany say they were not told early enough.
- What
- ATCO announced it would decommission the network over the next three years.
- When
- The state government received a confidential briefing on May 28, 2025, and met ATCO about a week later. ATCO announced the plan in January.
- Where
- Albany, Western Australia.
- Why
- ATCO cited aging infrastructure and high maintenance costs. The state government meeting took place because changes to ATCO’s licence conditions require approval from the Economic Regulation Authority.
Albany businesses and city
ATCO Australia
Timing of consultation
Albany businesses and city
The city and businesses should have been informed earlier so they could try to retain the network or negotiate with another supplier.
ATCO Australia
ATCO said it was appropriate to consult the state government first because licence changes require regulatory approval.
ATCO sent the Department of Energy and Economic Diversification a confidential briefing note about the Albany gas network.
ATCO and Energy Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson met to discuss the network’s future.
ATCO announced it would decommission the Albany network over the next three years.
A petition signed by more than 2,500 people calling for state government intervention was tabled in parliament.
- Network
- Albany reticulated LPG network
- Owner
- ATCO Australia
- Planned decommissioning
- Over the next three years
- Confidential briefing
- May 28, 2025
- Petition
- More than 2,500 signatures
- Affected city
- Albany, 400km south of Perth
What people are saying
The conversation was courteous, but frank
I think it was particularly rude that ATCO had not informed us and all businesses that they were connecting
When ATCO began considering the future of Albany gas network, it was therefore appropriate to consult first with the state government
Gas is vital … Without gas, you don't have dryers, you don't have hot water systems, and electric isn't an option