Move Your Gas Connection

You will almost certainly need a gas connection in your new home, but it does depend on the kinds of amenities the house comes with – does the kitchen come with gas stove tops? Is the water heated through gas or electricity? Does the house come with ducted heating?

More than 70% of houses in Australia are either already connected to mains gas or use LPG bottled gas. An easy way to tell if your property is connected to gas pipelines is to look for a gas metre around the outside of your property, or call HOOD on 1300 242 824.

Your options when choosing a gas provider depend on the state you live in. Victoria has 15 gas providers available, the most of any Australian state, though not every provider operates in all areas, and some will only provide a gas service if you also purchase your electricity from them. Some states and territories are regulated, and only one gas provider supplies all customers in the state.

If you live in a regional area, and don’t have access to ‘mains’ gas (natural gas delivered via pipeline), bottled LPG can usually be purchased and delivered to your door in most areas.  There are a number of LPG providers to choose from.

Usually gas supply is not physically disconnected between tenants however the process of setting up an account with a provider is commonly referred to as a connection. At the beginning of your tenancy, your provider will arrange a start read of the gas metre. Gas metres are read manually by the gas distributor and data is fed back to the gas provider.

Further reads are taken bi-monthly to determine consumption, calculate costs and prepare your bill. The provider generally requires a minimum of three business days notice to ensure the start read is taken the day you move in. Metre reads are only taken on weekdays so if you are moving in on a Saturday, your start read date will be the Friday before your move.

In some cases, for example if a previous tenant has defaulted on paying their bill, a provider will manually plug the gas line. This stops gas supply to the property. Removing this plug requires a visit from a registered gas plumber organised by your gas provider.

HOOD can arrange your gas connection in one short phone call. It’s best to call us as soon as you know your move date so we can book the connection in advance.

Gas providers generally do not charge a connection fee. Gas distributors however, are responsible for maintaining pipes and metres as well as reading metres, and do usually charge connection and disconnection fees which are passed on through your gas provider. These fees vary depending on the area you live, generally ranging between $10 and $50.

If you are a concession card holder, you may be eligible for a discount on supply and usage charges as well as connection and disconnection fees.

Some properties, such as large apartment buildings or townhouse developments, have a bulk hot water system where water is centrally heated and supplied directly to each apartment. This water is usually heated by gas. Each individual apartment has a hot water metre and the gas company bills individual apartments directly for their hot water usage.  

Individual tenants do not have a choice of provider for this service as it is usually determined by the building owner or body corporate. Your gas consumption for other appliances (e.g. ovens and cooktops) will be included on the same bill if you choose the same provider, or separately billed if you choose an alternative gas provider. Cold water consumption is billed separately by your water provider.

If you are moving into a large apartment, HOOD and your body corporate can help you determine if there is a bulk hot water agreement in place.

Natural gas deposits were formed hundreds of millions of years ago from decomposing microorganisms, plants and animals deep below the earth’s surface. Some of these deposits are located below land (onshore) whilst others are located under the ocean (offshore). Natural gas is extracted from these deposits, processed and distributed around Australia via a large network of pipelines.

Regardless of which provider you choose, your gas will come from the same distribution network. Retailers buy gas from the distributor and on-sell it to their customers.

LPG is a mixture of flammable hydrocarbon gases including butane and propane. These gases come from both onshore and offshore oil and gas deposits. The mixed gas is liquefied under pressure, reducing its volume and allowing it to be bottled and easily transported to users.

If you are vacating a property, remember to contact your current gas provider and advise the date you are moving so that they can take a final metre read and finalise your bill. This will ensure you don’t pay extra fees and charges after you vacate.

You'll be able to learn if your new property can utilise natural gas by contacting a gas retailer. Once your gas retailer has established whether or not you can use natural gas, it'll be updated with your provider.

If you're within a 20-metre radius of the main gas pipe, your gas provider won't charge you a fee to connect your new home to this main supply line. However, they may charge a connection fee, but this will depend on your provider and state.

If you don't have a natural gas line connection, your home will need an installation to connect your property to this main supply line. This installation process will see an inlet pipe run from your gas main in your street to your metre. Generally, this process can take 20-30 business days to complete.

This will depend on your home's situation and location to the main natural gas pipe. Most natural gas installations will have occurred before any paving and driveways were laid, which means that there could be some disturbance. By speaking to your gas provider, they can discuss where your gas pipeline needs to head to try and limit the disruption to your home and its pathways. 

It's important to note that in most cases, the cost of reinstating your paths and driveways will fall to the property owner.

On an annual basis, natural gas appliances are the most cost-effective. By switching to a natural gas line, you can find a plan and energy output that are better suited to your home's lifestyle and its heating, cooking and hot water needs. However, it will likely depend on your installation fees and your chosen energy provider.

Natural gas is one of the most eco-friendly and efficient non-fossil fuel power sources available. Natural gases can be extracted and transported to your home with lower levels of emissions when compared to coal power stations. Compared to grid-supplied electricity, natural gas produces up to 70% emissions. Natural gas pipelines are also underground, which means they face fewer environmental threats and interference.

Current natural gas reserves in Western Australia hold enough gas for around another century when based on a current household's average power usage.

Typically a gas metre will be found directly next to your property within 10 metres from the front left or right of your yard. If you live in a townhouse, unit or apartment, you'll usually find your gas metre in the same location as your other metres.