Slovenia to ban gas boilers in new homes

Boilers in new Slovenian homes will be banned under a reformed energy law passed by the government last week despite the move having already drawn criticism.

In a bid to phase out gas, local communities would no longer be allowed to grant new concessions for the construction and management of gas distribution networks unless the providers can demonstrate that at least 80% of the gas can come from renewable sources.

Existing concessions could be extended under stringent conditions for no more than seven years.

Gas distributors came out against the plans, with their association commissioning a legal opinion that found that several provisions violate the Constitution.

They plan to challenge the provisions in court.

Urban Odar, the head of the Business Association of Gas Distributors, told reporters last week the problem was the curbs would only affect households. There is a lack of accessible alternative sources, and heat pumps will only make the power grid more unstable, he added.

Responding to criticism, the government says the plans are just the continuation of a gradual process that will help accelerate the green transition and reduce dependence on imported energy.

“A new residential building must be nearly zero-emission as it is, and it does not make sense to connect such buildings to the gas network. There are alternatives that are significantly better for wallets and the climate,” Tina Seršen, State Secretary at the Environment Ministry, said on Monday.

According to the Association of Gas Distributors, 86 of Slovenia’s 212 municipalities have a gas distribution system.

Meanwhile, only about one in seven households has a gas connection.

(Sebastijan R. Maček | sta.si)

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