When Hayden Jones and his wife bought an Albany laundromat three and a half years ago, it seemed a sensible investment decision.
The City of Albany, 400km south of Perth, is one of Western Australia's largest regional cities, fuelled by relatively cheap and available liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
Hayden Jones wants the Albany LPG network retained. (ABC News: Andrew Chounding)
But news earlier this year that Albany will lose its reticulated LPG gas network has put the Jones's business in jeopardy.
"Gas is vital … Without gas, you don't have dryers, you don't have hot water systems, and electric isn't an option,"
he said.
In January, energy provider ATCO Australia announced it would decommission the Albany network over the next three years, citing aging infrastructure and high maintenance costs.
Redacted emails between ATCO and the state government. (ABC News: Andrew Chounding)
Strict confidence
However, emails obtained by the ABC under Freedom of Information show the Canadian-owned company and the state government had been discussing the network's future eight months before affected customers were informed.
The redacted emails include a confidential briefing note sent to the Department of Energy and Economic Diversification (DEED) on May 28, 2025, under the subject line "In Strictest Confidence: Albany Gas network".
They also show a meeting was held between the utility and Energy Minister Amber Jade Sanderson a week later to discuss the network's future.
Amber Jade Sanderson said the government tried to persuade ATCO to remain in Albany. (ABC News: Armin Azad)
Ms Sanderson said she did not receive a copy of the briefing note, but confirmed she attended the meeting.
"The conversation was courteous, but frank,"
she said
"ATCO put the view that the network was no longer commercially viable … and that they were considering making that commercial decision to walk away.
"I put the government's view that we would prefer they did not walk away."
Greg Stocks said ATCO should have told the city of its plans sooner. (ABC News: Andrew Chounding)
City left out
News of the 2025 meeting was criticised by City of Albany Mayor Greg Stocks, who said residents had been blindsided by the abrupt announcement, and should have been told earlier to assist the city in retaining the network.
"I think it was particularly rude that ATCO had not informed us and all businesses that they were connecting," he said.
"We would have used that time to try and negotiate with the second supplier."
In a statement, ATCO said any change to its licence conditions required approval by the WA's Economic Regulation Authority, prompting its meeting with the state government.
"When ATCO began considering the future of Albany gas network, it was therefore appropriate to consult first with the state government," a spokesperson said.
Hayden Jones's business relies heavily on LPG gas. (ABC News: Andrew Chounding)
Thousands sign petition
But business owners, including Jones, say the consultation did not go far enough, and want to see an alternative put on the table.
In August, a petition signed by more than 2,500 people was tabled in parliament calling for the state government to intercede.
"Either a local supplier or the government take the network back, which is what the Albany community really wants," Mr Jones said.
"They want the government to stand up, right the wrongs of the past, and take this network back into government hands."
ATCO customers will have to transition to bottled gas or switch to electricity. (ABC News: Andrew Chounding)
Energy Minister Amber Jade Sanderson said the government was not considering that option.
"I understand that Albany residents are frustrated and angry that ATCO has made the decision to walk away. I absolutely understand, and I share that frustration and anger," she said.
"The reality is this gas network is at the end of its technical life and would need to be entirely rebuilt.
"The least-cost result is to allow customers to transition either to bottled gas or to electrification."