Plumber and gasfitter in Lakes Entrance
Lakes Entrance VIC 3909 plumbing: the natural gas network is closing, so compare converting appliances to LPG with going electric and what a gasfitter checks.
The biggest plumbing question in Lakes Entrance right now is what to do about the town’s piped gas. Solar Victoria says the Solstice Energy natural gas network serving Lakes Entrance will be shut down by mid to late 2026, so households on it need to either convert their gas appliances to LPG or replace them with electric ones. Send a list of every gas appliance in the house with photos of their plates, and the enquiry goes to an independent licensed gasfitter or plumber who quotes the change and does it if you go ahead.
What is happening to gas in Lakes Entrance?
Lakes Entrance is about 40 km south-east of Bairnsdale, with 5,145 residents at the 2021 census, as Wikipedia’s Lakes Entrance page records. Its piped gas comes through a compressed natural gas network run by Solstice Energy. According to Solar Victoria’s Solstice Energy page, the networks in ten towns, including Lakes Entrance and Orbost, will be shut down by mid to late 2026, and customers are choosing between converting to LPG and upgrading to electric appliances.
Check the current timing for your address with Solstice Energy rather than relying on a date you heard second hand. Plan the change well before the supply stops, so there is time to compare quotes and order equipment.
Should you convert to LPG or go electric?
There is no single right answer. It depends on which appliances you have, how old they are and how you want to run the house.
| Question | Converting to LPG | Replacing with electric |
|---|---|---|
| What changes | Appliances are converted to run on bottled gas, with cylinders and a regulator outside | Gas appliances are removed and replaced with electric ones |
| Hot water | Check how the 1 March 2027 replacement rule applies before choosing LPG | Heat pump or electric storage unit |
| Cooking | Gas cooktop can stay if it can be converted | Induction or ceramic cooktop, may need a new circuit |
| Heating | Gas heater converted if the model allows it | Reverse cycle split system or other electric heating |
| Ongoing | Cylinder deliveries or swaps | No gas supply at all |
| Paperwork | Compliance certificate for each conversion | Plumbing paperwork for hot water, plus any electrical work by a licensed electrician |
Some households choose a mix, such as electric hot water with an LPG cooktop. Some older appliances cannot be converted at all, and the gasfitter will tell you when replacement is the only option. More detail on gas appliances, LPG and safety is on the gas fitting page.
How does the 2027 gas hot water rule affect Lakes Entrance homes?
Separately from the network closure, Victoria’s rule from 1 March 2027 says a gas water heater that dies in an existing home is to be replaced by an electric one. The gas hot water rule guide explains who it covers and how it applies. If your gas hot water unit is already old, ask the gasfitter whether converting it to LPG is worth doing or whether replacing it with a heat pump now makes more sense.
What rebates help Lakes Entrance households switch?
Solar Victoria has temporarily relaxed three of its hot water rebate conditions for households affected by the Solstice closure. The income cap is removed, the system no longer has to be at least three years old, and the owner-occupier rule is lifted so rental providers can apply. Check the current terms on the Solar Victoria page before you sign a quote, and ask whether the price you are given is before or after any rebate. Heat pump rebates and installation steps are covered on the heat pump hot water page.
Once you know which way you are leaning, start a Lakes Entrance gas changeover enquiry with your appliance list.
What does a gasfitter need to see?
A gasfitter quoting a Lakes Entrance changeover will ask for:
- A list of every gas appliance: hot water, cooktop, oven, heaters and any outdoor appliance.
- A photo of each appliance’s data plate showing the make, model and gas type.
- Where the gas meter is and where LPG cylinders could stand outside with clear access for deliveries.
- For electric options, the switchboard and whether there is room for new circuits.
- Whether the property is rented, since that affects rebate eligibility and who approves the work.
Under the BPC scheme, converting an appliance to another gas needs a compliance certificate at any value, as do installing or replacing a Type A gas appliance and altering consumer gas piping. The BPC compliance certificate page lists these. A careful gasfitter will refuse to convert an appliance the manufacturer has not approved for LPG, and will not leave a converted appliance running without testing it.
What does the changeover cost?
Every house is different, so get a written quote that lists each appliance separately. As a guide, The Quote Yard’s Victorian figures put connecting a gas appliance to an existing bayonet at $150 to $350. Replacing a hot water system of any type in Gippsland is $1,400 to $5,100. Conversion kits, cylinder setup and electrical work are priced on top and vary by appliance.
Owners further west on the lakes can read the Metung area page for arranging work on a holiday home from a distance.
Next step for a Lakes Entrance gas changeover
List each gas appliance with its data plate photo, say whether you lean towards LPG, electric or a mix, and note if the house is rented. Add a photo of the gas meter and the switchboard. Then send the Lakes Entrance LPG or electric conversion enquiry so a licensed provider can quote it.
Frequently asked questions
- Can my gas heater in Lakes Entrance be converted to LPG?
Some gas heaters can be converted with a manufacturer kit and some cannot. The data plate and the manufacturer's information decide it. Send a clear photo of the plate so the gasfitter can check before quoting, and expect a replacement quote instead if the model is not approved for conversion.
- Where do LPG cylinders go at a Lakes Entrance house?
Cylinders stand outside on a firm base, and the gasfitter picks the spot to meet the gas installation rules. They also need access for the delivery driver to swap them. Tell them about side gates, steps and dogs, since the delivery company will need the same access.
- What happens to my gas meter when the network closes?
Solstice Energy manages the network closure and the meters. Contact Solstice Energy for what happens at your address, and ask your gasfitter to cap off any gas lines that are no longer used once appliances have been converted or removed.
- Can a rental property in Lakes Entrance get the hot water rebate during the closure?
Solar Victoria has temporarily lifted the owner-occupier condition for households affected by the Solstice closure, so rental providers can apply. Other conditions still apply, so check the current rebate terms on the Solar Victoria website before signing a quote.
- Do I need an electrician as well as a plumber to go electric?
Usually yes. A plumber installs and connects the water side of a heat pump or electric water heater, while new circuits, an induction cooktop or switchboard upgrades need a licensed electrician. Ask whether the provider coordinates both or whether you arrange the electrician separately.