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The process
Step 1: Find out if there’s gas in your street
Either visit or call your appliance or gas retailer. They can quickly establish whether gas is available to your property.
To check whether gas is available in your area contact any of the following gas retailers: Directenz, Genesis, Mercury Energy, Nova Gas Wanganui Gas or Contact Energy
Step 2: Select your appliances, then sign up for a connection
Once it’s confirmed gas is available to your property you need to choose the gas appliances you want from an appliance retailer, and then sign up with a gas retailer.
Step 3: Site Visit
Your gas retailer will arrange to visit your property to take measurements and complete a site sketch. These will be used by the retailer to cost and approve your connection.
Step 4: Installation of the gas meter
Your gas retailer or their agent will then come and install the meter.
Step 5: Connection to the gas network
Your gas retailer will then connect you to the network. This involves connecting an underground gas pipe from the gas network main in the street to your gas meter.
Before starting work, the gas retailer must obtain a ‘Road Opening Notice’ from the local council. Once approval from the local council has been obtained, the relevant maps and plans from other utility companies (such as telecommunications, electricity and water suppliers) will be sourced.
Other factors that should be taken into consideration include:
- Right-of-ways and cross-lease properties
Consents will be required from all interested parties for right-of-ways and cross-lease properties.
- Soil conditions
Ideally, the underground connection to your property will be made using trenchless techniques such as thrusting or drilling. If soil conditions don’t allow this the gas network company will have to dig a narrow open trench to your gas meter.
- Weather
Heavy rain can make on-site soil conditions hard to work with and can slow up the connection process.
- Specific council requirements
Additional consents or approvals – to manage traffic; to allow for proximity to sewer, stormwater or mains water supply; if trees will be affected, for example – may be required from the local council.
- Specific utility company requirements
If bulk utility services are nearby, the utility company may place special conditions on the job to avoid damage to their services.
Step 6: Installation of your appliances
A certified gasfitter will install your new appliances and all gas pipes, bayonets and connection points you require. Your gas appliance retailer will organise this for you unless you would prefer to make arrangements with your own gasfitter.
Step 7: Turn on the gas
Your gasfitter will turn on the gas, and then ensure the installation is completely safe and legally compliant with all gas standards and codes. You’ll get a copy of the gasfitter’s certification and another copy will be sent directly to your gas retailer to confirm the gas is on.
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