The Isle of Man Government’s plan to prohibit the installation of gas heating in new buildings and extensions will increase the cost of heating for Manx families who are directly harmed by this policy. The Isle of Man Government’s Office of Fair Trading recently revealed that the cost of electricity is approximately double the cost of gas on the Isle of Man.
In the new report published just days ago, the Office of Fair Trading reported that the standard cost of electricity was 33.73p per useful kWh. The Office of Fair Trading reported that the standard All Island Tariff for gas was 16.93p per useful kWh.
Despite the fact that electricity is approximately twice as expensive as gas, the Isle of Man Government is banning the use of gas for home heating in new buildings and extensions. This prohibition is being implemented under intrusive new laws coming into effect that will effectively prevent the installation of new gas facilities.
EnergyFM reports:
As part of the Island’s “commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050”, building control authorities will “reject new applications” for new buildings and extensions containing fossil fuel heating systems, “instead new builds will need to include low-carbon heating systems”.
According to the Isle of Man Government, this change is in preparation for the legal ban, which is set for the January 1, 2025. This is when it will be illegal to install a fossil fuel heating system in new buildings and extensions, including where planning permission or building control has already been granted.
Isle of Man to ban fossil fuel heating in new buildings
“Working Manx families already pay through the nose for the high cost of housing. The Isle of Man Government’s rules will make this even worse, with Manx families forced to pay approximately double the cost for electric heating, compared to gas,” said Michael Josem of the Manx TaxPayers’ Alliance.
Cooking with gas is collateral damage
In addition to paying more for heating, the Isle of Man Government will effectively stop Manx families from cooking their family dinner with gas. While targeted at heating appliances, the subsequent effect will be to discourage the installation of gas facilities entirely in new buildings and extensions.
“These new rules will harm businesses and working Manx families who want to cook the family meal with gas,” said Michael Josem of the Manx TaxPayers’ Alliance. “These meddling municipal menaces are going to stop you from cooking your family’s dinner with gas. Because electricity is around twice as expensive as gas, these higher costs will harm Manx families.”
These rules will end the installation of gas connections in homes. Gas-fired barbecues, operated by relatively expensive gas bottles, may continue to be allowed to limp on a little longer.