TORONTO - Provinces must stop natural gas expansion and invest in electrification to keep home heating reliable and cost-effective, a new report says, suggesting ratepayers and governments could otherwise be on the hook for billions of dollars in underused and overbuilt gas infrastructure. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * TORONTO - Provinces must stop natural gas expansion and invest in electrification to keep home heating reliable and cost-effective, a new report says, suggesting ratepayers and governments could otherwise be on the hook for billions of dollars in underused and overbuilt gas infrastructure. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? TORONTO – Provinces must stop natural gas expansion and invest in electrification to keep home heating reliable and cost-effective, a new report says, suggesting ratepayers and governments could otherwise be on the hook for billions of dollars in underused and overbuilt gas infrastructure.

The Canadian Climate Institute report says for the country to hit its target of net-zero emissions by 2050, there needs to be a dramatic increase in electric-based building heat and a declining use of gas, “starting right away.” “The stakes are high: a passive, reactive policy approach is a recipe for higher emissions, higher costs, or both,” said the report published Thursday. Regulated gas utilities make their money from the infrastructure they install.