My friend has moved into his brand new built property few weeks ago and unlike electricity, he has not contacted any gas companies for gas connection. However he says the gas connection is still turned on at his property to use everyday. How does this work with gas connections because in case of the electricity, it would have been disconnected by now.
Natural Gas Connection at a Brand New Home
MKBHD on 09/11/2022 - 17:00
Last edited 09/11/2022 - 17:00
Last edited 09/11/2022 - 17:00
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A brand new house would have got connected to a utility retailer by the builder under their business account (they have one or more retailers they work with). If the owner doesn't sign up to a retailer himself and thereby claim the account under residential rates then they will get a bill backdated from when the Builder handed over the property. You friend will be hit with a nice big bill eventually. Usually the retailer and plan the builder signs up with is not even the best deal in the market.
I'm going through the opposite process ATM. Changing gas appliances to electricity (thanks solar).
My gas retailer said I would be charged the daily service fee even if I closed my account with them and turned of my gas at the meter.
The wholesaler is 'capping' my gas connection to stop the service fee. An 'aboloshment' is where they remove the meter entirely if you want to permanently get rid of gas.
A few years ago a different retailer told me that gas connections are rarely disconnected due to the hassle/work involved. Generally only occurs when customers refuse to pay bills.
Hope that helps.
You can always tell your gas retailer that you are moving out. Then they will disconnect your billing against the meter. This should save the abolishment fees.
I'd look at switching away from gas, electricity is replacing everything, soon gas is going to be a stranded asset with the only users industry and commercial.
That is good advice to anyone building, but surely the horse has bolted for the OP now?
I'm in WA, and using gas only for hot water now. I pay about $200/year. The disconnection fee is $875!! I'll stick with gas.
Strange
Im in wa as well and we stopped using gas all together and asked them to turn off our connection which was done for free.Admittedly we did berate them for a few months before they did anything. Atco were useless.
Interesting. Is the meter still there? Perhaps it is only when demolish/rebuilding that developer would have to pay.
https://www.atco.com/en-au/self-service/gas/disconnection-re…
@bargaino: Yeah $875 to remove a meter is ridiculous.
I think the meter is still there, just has been isolated somehow?
Your friend will need to contact and signup with a provider to get billed.
Since gas/water use physical taps onsite, I'd expect eventually the gas network will audit the meter and they'll get a letter/bill in the post.
Electric smart meters need to be switched on remotely by the provider they signed up with.
Electricity may not have been disconnected either, except maybe if it’s got a smart meter.
At some point the gas co will check the meter and see it’s changed then send you a bill.
When we moved into our house I left the gas for ages to see what would happen. Usage on the first bill was high!
If the meter is broken or still running somehow without going via a retailer, it will flag with APA (or the gas wholesaler in his state).
APA run constant meter reports for unbilled, out of the ordinary and unaccounted for usage. This then gets a meter reader sent out and either a bill generated back through the retailer (who is attached to the property, even if the homeowner doesn't know it - might be the conveyancer) or, APA will chase directly.
Nothing is free. Especially utilities.