Getting Your Gas Connected In Sydney

How the Sydney gas network works

Grid operator Jemena Gas Network controls the overall distribution of gas and electricity in Sydney, and its surrounding areas. However, to get your gas connected you’ll need to contact one of the gas retailers which services your area of Sydney. You’ll more than likely have a few different retailers to choose from, so it’s important to find the one that suits you.

Choosing a gas provider

The New South Wales Department of Energy has some handy tips¹ for negotiating the best deal on your energy plan. They recommend having your most recent energy bill available to help you compare energy deals.

Then you can call each gas provider directly to get more information about plans. However, this can be incredibly time consuming. Instead, you can compare Sydney gas plans the easy way with iSelect, and select the one which suits you.

What you need before ordering your gas connection

Finding a company to manage your gas installation in Sydney shouldn’t be too hard. The difficulty is often in deciding which plan is right for you. The NSW government has suggested questions to ask² when you’re comparing gas suppliers. Here’s what you should consider:

• What’s the name of the business and the particular supply plan?
• What are the tariff rates in cents per megajoule (MJ) of gas supplied?
• Are there fixed / standing charges over and above this usage?
• What are the fees for opening the account, and closing the account?
• What about late payment fees, disconnection fees, and reconnection fees?
• Are there conditional discounts, for example if you pay on time do you benefit?
• Are there any Guaranteed discounts for which you might qualify?

Any company providing gas in Sydney must also specify the length of the contract, the cooling-off period, and the full terms and conditions.

What’s better for you: A standard retail or market retail contract?

All gas providers in Sydney offer standard retail contracts with core conditions. There aren’t any exit fees, and you can change your supplier any time you choose. However, you may prefer to negotiate a better deal under a market retail contract - it all just depends on your circumstances. If you’re unsure, the standard retail option may be better, this is because you can follow the market until you find a better deal.

What are the gas fitting standards in Sydney?

Remember to make sure your gas fitter holds a current registration with NSW Fair Trading. This rule applies to any type of gas connection in Sydney, whether you’re installing new equipment, or maintaining and servicing existing parts. You can check a gas fitter’s licence online³.

NSW Fair Trading controls all gas connections and installations. These include natural gas, butane, and LPG. Make sure you know your type of gas before buying gas appliances.
Make sure any appliance, whether new or used, has a label approving it for use in NSW. These have undergone tests for safety, combustion, efficiency, durability, and serviceability. Never risk your insurance cover for a saving elsewhere.

Insist on a certificate of compliance for network gas, or a certificate of inspection for bottled gas. This will confirm a licensed gas fitter did the work. This is an important document so keep it somewhere safe, just in case you need it

Ready to compare gas plans?

Now you know the basics, you should be able to go ahead with your gas installation project with more peace of mind. If you’re ready to compare gas plans from our range of providers*, feel free to give us a call on 13 19 20.

Sources:
1.https://www.yourenergy.nsw.gov.au/
2.https://www.energy.nsw.gov.au/energy-consumers/energy-providers/choosing-providers
3. https://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/help-centre/online-tools/home-building-licence-check