Natural gas connection and disconnection

If you want to switch your home from gas to electricity and no longer require natural gas at your premises – you should arrange a permanent disconnection, also known as an abolishment in the National Rules.

"Permanent disconnection” and “abolishment” describe the same network service and are interchangeable. Evoenergy uses the term “Permanent Disconnection” as it is definitive and aligns with the ACT Policy to prevent future gas connections.

A permanent disconnection must be arranged where building demolition works would be an unacceptable safety risk with gas present on the site.

Contact your gas retailer in the first instance to arrange a permanent disconnection. Alternatively, you can submit an application through the Jemena connections portal.

If you no longer want to use natural gas (all appliances are removed), permanent disconnection is the safest option as it:

• Removes unused gas equipment from your property
• Means your premises will no longer require maintenance, meter reading and routine checking of gas.

Following a permanent disconnection:

• The redundant service pipe will remain in the ground
• The pipe will be purged of gas and physically disconnected from the distribution pipeline in the street at the front of your property.
• The gas meter assembly will be removed.

Basic permanent disconnection

A basic permanent disconnection service applies to a single detached residential house where:

• No cutting or restorations is required for concrete, bitumen and other hard surfaces
• Active traffic management is not required.

For properties with these restrictions or for more complex permanent disconnections, a negotiated complex permanent disconnection service is available. This may include:

• High pressure connections
• Large commercial or industrial sites and
• multi-unit installations

A basic permanent disconnection will be carried out in accordance with works planning and resourcing determined by our field sub-contractor, Zinfra.

If you require the permanent disconnection completed by a particular date, such as before demolition works start, an urgent basic permanent disconnection service is available where the permanent disconnection will be carried out within 20 business days of the application.

Pricing

• Basic permanent disconnection: $747 (excl. GST) for a residential gas meter up to and including 25 cubic metres per hour capacity. (A standard residential gas meter has a capacity of 8 cubic metres per hour)
• Set charges for larger gas meters. See the gas network prices on our website.
• Your gas retailer may charge a higher amount when passing on Evoenergy’s charge.
• Urgent basic permanent disconnection: $981 (excl. GST) charged by Evoenergy.

Indicative timeframe

Urgent basic permanent disconnection

Completed within 20 business days of the application.

Basic permanent disconnection (non-urgent)

Completed in accordance with Zinfra’s works planning and resourcing, typically within 6 months of application.

A Basic permanent disconnection includes:

• Tracing of the service pipe from meter to the gas main.
• Excavation to expose the service pipe near the gas main.
• Cut and cap the service pipe in the public verge, near the gas main.
• Reinstate soil and compact. Replace any grass sods previously removed.
• Cut gas riser at ground level near the meter.
• Remove the metering equipment.

Complex permanent disconnections covers all permanent disconnections that are not Basic (whether urgent or non-urgent) and are individually priced depending on the scope of work.

Typical work scopes include:

• Concrete cutting and restoration;
• Active traffic management;
• High pressure connections,
• Large commercial or industrial sites; and
• Multi-unit sites where coordination between multiple unit-holders and the ownership committee, strata title manager etc. is required.

A temporary disconnection is appropriate if you intend to reconnect your gas supply in the future.

Following a temporary disconnection:

• Gas remains within the distribution pipeline at your property
• Your gas supply can be restored through a reconnection request

Price: $100 (ex GST) for a temporary disconnection and $128 (ex GST) for a reconnection of a standard residential gas meter.

Indicative timeframe

• Evoenergy aims to complete 95% of temporary disconnections within 5 business days from receiving the retailer’s work order.
• National Rules regarding how work is to be carried out for Fridays and days before public holidays apply.

Arranging a temporary disconnection

A temporary disconnection can be arranged through your energy retailer if you need to disconnect from gas for a short period. This method should only be used if:

• you plan to reconnect gas in the future; or
• you continue to protect the pressurised service pipe and metering equipment on your premises.

A temporary disconnection includes

To complete a temporary disconnection, a technician will modify the internals of a gas meter, preventing gas from flowing through the meter. Once completed, this cannot be seen from the outside of the meter and needs special skills to reverse.

A temporary disconnection also prevents gas from entering a building. However, there is still pressurised gas in the service pipe connecting the network to the gas meter assembly. This means there remains a risk of damage to the service pipe if excavation activity comes in contact with it.