Getting Your Gas Connected in Sydney

How does Sydney’s gas network work? 

Despite Sydney’s sprawling size, pretty much everyone is on the one gas network — the Jemena Gas Network. However, that doesn’t mean everyone is with the same supplier. The network is just how gas travels to your place; the suppliers are the ones that tell it where to go. 

Which Gas Suppliers operate in Sydney? 

Sydneysiders have their fair share of Gas Providers to choose from, including: 

• AGL 
• EnergyAustralia 
• Origin  
• Simply Energy 
• Red Energy 

The trick is comparing these Gas Providers — and the Gas Plans they have on offer — to find who gives you better value. 

How do I choose a Gas Provider? 

While you could hope a stab in the dark gets you the Gas Plan you’re after, you might be better off with a more structured approach.

Know my usage 

If you want to really be cooking with gas on a new plan, you need to know what your gas situation presently looks like. Grab your latest bill — and some other past ones if you have them — and check out what your usage looks like.

Knowing how much gas you use regularly could help you find a plan that gives you more value. For instance, there may be a plan that offers a discount for any gas used after reaching a certain threshold. Having a rough usage figure in your head can also help you do the maths and work out what your bill on a new plan could look like. 

Compare rates and fees 

As you look over different Gas Plans, you might spot a few similarities. Namely, they all come with charges for supply and usage. Your supply charge is the cost of keeping your place connected. It won’t change from day to day. The usage charge, though, will go up and down as you use more or less gas each day.  

These charges will come with rates assigned. For instance, you could pay $3 daily as a supply charge and $0.05 for every MJ used. If you have an idea of how much gas you use each day, you can then work out what your bill would look like at the end of the month — and see if the rates add up for you and your household. Be sure to check if these are fixed or variable rates too. Fixed rates will stay the same throughout your contract, while variable rates can change. 

Along with casting a keen eye over your rates, be sure to look out for any fees. These could be for ending the contract early or paying your bill late. While they might not feature as often on your gas bill as usage and supply charges, they could still be an important factor when picking a Gas Plan and Provider. 

Check for discounts and offers 

You might find a number of Gas Plans that come with discounts or offers based around usage, sign up times or just about any condition. These can be key to making your Gas Plan work hard for you without actually turning up the heat.  

But, even if the discounts do have you seeing dollar signs, take a breath and double check if the offer is really as good as it looks. For instance, if they’re offering a pay-on-time discount but you’ve got a track record of forgetting to pay until the overdue notice, it might not be worth it. Similarly, if a Gas Plan comes with free Netflix but you haven’t felt FOMO from streaming since Bojack Horseman finished, you may not get a lot out of this deal. 

Review regularly 

Nothing good — or bad — lasts forever, and Gas Plans change all the time. Becoming a regular switcher, in fact, could help you save on gas bills by staying on top of the plans that could be giving you greater value. 

Reviewing your bills and what’s on offer could also be a good nudge to get you saving gas (and on gas bills) at home too. After all, you might not be able to set the gas prices, but you can decide how much gas you use. 

Should I choose a standard or market retail contract? 

In the Gas Plan world, there’s two types of contracts: standard and market.  

Standard retail contracts are a no-frills option without discounts, lower rates and add-ons. However, they do come with terms and conditions regulated by the AEMC (Australian Energy Market Commission) and National Energy Retail Rules. 

Market retail contracts have more bells and whistles; those discounts, fixed rates and bonuses you see advertised. However, they may come with extra terms and conditions decided by the Gas Retailer.  

Each type of contract comes with pros and cons; it just depends on what you’re looking for. Be aware though that if you don’t pick a Gas Plan or you let your plan expire, you’ll most likely end up on a standard retail contract from your provider. 

How do I get a new gas connection? 

Moving is enough of a hassle without throwing a tricky and time-consuming gas connection process in as well. Thankfully, getting your old place disconnected and new place connected is super simple. 

• Step 1: Let your Gas Retailer know you’re moving. They’ll organise a final meter read and send you your final bill. 
• Step 2: Pick a new Gas Plan and/or Gas Supplier to connect your new place 
• Step 3: Wait most often up to three business days for the connection to happen 

If you’re moving into a new build, have done some serious renovations or just want to add a new gas connection for a new appliance that’s pretty straightforward too. 

• Step 1: Get in touch with your Gas Retailer; plumber, gas fitter or builder; or jump on the Jemena online portal to request a new connection. If you’re doing it yourself, you’ll need to know a fair bit of information, like the type of dwelling and where the gas meter will go. 
• Step 2: Wait 10 business days for the request to be processed 
• Step 3: Once your request is approved, it’ll be at least another 20 business days before the connection is up and running 

Clearly, patience is a virtue if you’re setting up a brand-new gas connection. It can take about six to eight weeks all up, plus there are more delays around Christmas time since that’s when lots of people move home. 

Where can I find and compare Gas Plans? 

Getting connected is just one part of the gas puzzle; figuring out which plan is for you needs to come first. But we can make it easy for you. Our online comparison tool, as well as our comparison experts available on 13 19 20, can take you through a range of Gas Plans from different providers. You can deep-dive and compare to your heart’s content or get it done quickly in your fifth bathroom break at work.