I live in a Victorian town of similar size. Houses have mains gas even when they don't have sewage, and it has been this way at least 30 years. I'm guessing the

I live in a Victorian town of similar size. Houses have mains gas even when they don't have sewage, and it has been this way at least 30 years. I'm guessing the mains gas didn't get to your town. I've visited houses further afield who use bottled gas, and the gas delivery truck is a not uncommon site. But I imagine usage has plummeted and more people getting themselves disconnected to avoid the connection fees, with solar visible on roughly half the roofs.