AFI have made a submission to the consultation on the Pathway to Electrification in the ACT. In our submission, which was endorsed by ACTCOSS, we focus on issues concerning the gas to electricity transition period and broader considerations. Specifically, we seek to ensure disability perspectives and issues are incorporated in the move away from gas and toward electrification.
AFI supports measures to move our energy supply onto a more sustainable footing, specifically the commitment to move away from fossil fuels. However, this undertaking is significant and presents challenges which need to be overcome to ensure a fair, equitable and just transition occurs. The transition to electrification offers opportunities to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities. To grasp these opportunities, issues surrounding accessibility, cost, and the reliability of new energy infrastructure need to be dealt with in order to ensure that no one is left behind.
We point out the significant work to be done to understand the impacts of energy transition on people with disabilities, and to identify ways to realise the potential for the transition to improve outcomes