GANZ national manager Stephen Parker said from Wellington today that North Island consumers on the reticulated network could save money if they used gas for as many services as possible.

“Using gas for water and home heating can cost less than by using electricity alone, even though there are two fixed charges,” Parker said.

“This claim was confirmed by the Consumers’ Institute in their magazine in October last year, and continues to be true, but the price advantage only occurs when using gas for both water and home heating.”

While around 75% of new homes being built in the North Island were installing natural gas as the fuel of choice for heating, water heating and cooking, hundreds of existing all-electric homes with gas pipelines running past them could also take advantage of the savings.

Parker said there was no shortage of gas for residential and light commercial and industrial users, despite the depletion of the Maui field. The Pohokura and Kupe gas fields were due to development and other exploration could find new fields, according to Parker.