In short:
Redacted emails show ATCO Australia and the WA state government discussed the future of the Albany gas network months before customers were told it would be scrapped.
asserted
it → redact → network
ATCO will transition customers off the network over the next three years, forcing customers onto alternative energy sources.
What's next?
asserted
What → transition → sources
The government has ruled out taking over the network.
asserted
government → rule → network
When Hayden Jones and his wife bought an Albany laundromat three and a half years ago, it seemed a sensible investment decision.
asserted
it → buy → laundromat
The City of Albany, 400km south of Perth, is one of Western Australia's largest regional cities, fuelled by relatively cheap and available liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
asserted
City → fuel → gas
But news earlier this year that Albany will lose its reticulated LPG gas network has put the Jones's business in jeopardy.
asserted
Albany → lose → jeopardy
Without gas, you don't have dryers, you don't have hot water systems, and electric isn't an option,"he
asserted
electric → have → systems
In January, energy provider ATCO Australia announced it would decommission the Albany network over the next three years, citing aging infrastructure and high maintenance costs.
asserted
it → announce → infrastructure
However, emails obtained by the ABC under Freedom of Information show the Canadian-owned company and the state government had been discussing the network's future eight months before affected customers were informed.
asserted
customers → obtain → future
The redacted emails include a confidential briefing note sent to the Department of Energy and Economic Diversification (DEED) on May 28, 2025, under the subject line "In Strictest Confidence: Albany Gas network".
uncertain
emails → redact → Confidence
They also show a meeting was held between the utility and Energy Minister Amber Jade Sanderson a week later to discuss the network's future.
asserted
meeting → show → future
Ms Sanderson said she did not receive a copy of the briefing note, but confirmed she attended the meeting.
asserted
she → say → meeting
"The conversation was courteous, but frank,"she said
"ATCO put the view that the network was no longer commercially viable … and that they were considering making that commercial decision to walk away.
asserted
they → say → decision
"I put the government's view that we would prefer they did not walk away."
asserted
they → put → view
City left out
asserted
City → leave → ?
News of the 2025 meeting was criticised by City of Albany Mayor Greg Stocks, who said residents had been blindsided by the abrupt announcement, and should have been told earlier to assist the city in retaining the network.
asserted
residents → criticise → network
"I think it was particularly rude that ATCO had not informed us and all businesses that they were connecting," he said.
"
asserted
he → think → us
We would have used that time to try and negotiate with the second supplier."
asserted
We → use → supplier
In a statement, ATCO said any change to its licence conditions required approval by the WA's Economic Regulation Authority, prompting its meeting with the state government.
asserted
change → say → government
"When ATCO began considering the future of Albany gas network, it was therefore appropriate to consult first with the state government," a spokesperson said.
asserted
spokesperson → begin → government
Thousands sign petition
But business owners, including Jones, say the consultation did not go far enough, and want to see an alternative put on the table.
asserted
alternative → sign → table
In August, a petition signed by more than 2,500 people was tabled in parliament calling for the state government to intercede.
asserted
government → sign → parliament
"Either a local supplier or the government take the network back, which is what the Albany community really wants," Mr Jones said.
"
asserted
Jones → take → what
They want the government to stand up, right the wrongs of the past, and take this network back into government hands."
asserted
government → want → hands
Energy Minister Amber Jade Sanderson said the government was not considering that option.
asserted
government → say → option
"I understand that Albany residents are frustrated and angry that ATCO has made the decision to walk away.
asserted
ATCO → understand → decision
I absolutely understand, and I share that frustration and anger," she said.
asserted
she → understand → frustration
"The reality is this gas network is at the end of its technical life and would need to be entirely rebuilt.
asserted
network → need → life
"The least-cost result is to allow customers to transition either to bottled gas or to electrification."
asserted
customers → allow → electrification
The Aporia