When Do You Need a New Gas Connection?
A new gas connection is the physical pipe that brings mains gas from the network to your property. Although gas feels as standard as electricity, it has to be planned and installed wherever it is not already present.
People most often need one after moving into a property with no gas, switching from electric to gas central heating, installing a gas hob or oven, or building a new home. Before you arrange anything, check whether you genuinely need a full connection: if the property previously had gas, you may only need the supply uncapping or a new meter, which is quicker and cheaper.
Who Do I Contact for a New Gas Supply?
Two separate organisations are involved in getting gas to your property, and it helps to know which does what before you start.
The gas network operator (first)
Lays the pipe from the gas main to your property. The network operator, sometimes called the gas distribution network or GDN, is a regional monopoly fixed by your postcode. This is who you contact to arrange and pay for the connection.
Your energy supplier (second)
Installs the gas meter and bills you for the gas you use. You choose your supplier freely and can switch at any time. The supplier does not lay the pipe, so contact them only once the connection is in place.
Before you contact the network operator, it helps to gather:
- your full property address and postcode;
- the approximate distance from the nearest gas main;
- where you want the meter positioned;
- a site plan, for a new build or self-build;
- any landowner permission needed to cross third-party land.
Who Is My Gas Network Operator?
Your operator is set by your postcode, not by who you buy gas from. There are four mainland Great Britain networks. To confirm yours, read our guide on who your gas network operator is.
| Network operator | Area covered |
|---|---|
| Cadent Gas | North West England, West Midlands, East of England, North London |
| Northern Gas Networks | North East England, northern Cumbria, Yorkshire |
| SGN | Scotland and southern England |
| Wales & West Utilities | Wales and South West England |
In some areas an independent gas transporter owns the local pipes instead, which is common on newer housing developments. Northern Ireland has its own separate networks.
The Steps to Get a New Gas Connection
The process is broadly the same across all the networks. Here is what to expect from enquiry to first use.
-
1
Apply to your network operator.
Submit an enquiry online or in writing with your address, meter location and distance to the main.
-
2
Site survey.
For anything beyond a simple connection, a surveyor visits to assess the route, the digging and any road or pavement works.
-
3
Receive and accept your quote.
The operator sends a written quote. Once you accept and pay, your connection is scheduled.
-
4
Connection installed.
The network lays the pipe to your boundary and fits the emergency control valve. You receive your meter point reference (MPRN).
-
5
Meter fitted by a supplier.
Choose an energy supplier, who installs the gas meter and activates your supply so you can use gas.
If your property already had gas in the past, you can often skip straight to step 5 and ask a supplier to uncap the supply or fit a meter, with no full connection needed.
How Much Does a New Gas Connection Cost?
There is no fixed national price, so always rely on the written quote from your network operator. The cost depends on:
- the distance from your property to the nearest gas main;
- how much digging is needed and whether a road or pavement must be crossed;
- the condition of any existing pipework;
- access and any third-party land that must be crossed.
A standard domestic connection where the main is nearby typically runs into the low thousands of pounds, and longer or more complex runs cost more. Gas connections often cost more upfront than an electricity connection, but mains gas can be cheaper to run day to day.
How Long Does a New Gas Connection Take?
Expect a quote within roughly one to two weeks of your enquiry. After you accept, the physical work is usually scheduled and completed within a few weeks. Straightforward jobs are faster; connections that need road works, planning sign-off or a long pipe run take longer. The operator confirms a firm date once the survey is done.
Do You Have to Pay for a Gas Meter to Be Installed?
A gas meter is separate from the connection. Once gas reaches your property, your chosen supplier installs the meter, and most fit a standard credit meter free of charge when you take out a tariff. The connection (the pipe) is what carries the real cost.
New Build vs Existing Property
New build or self-build
No supply usually exists, so the network lays a fresh pipe to the plot. You will need a site plan, and the operator issues a new meter point reference (MPRN). On large developments an independent gas transporter may own the local pipes.
Existing property
If the home previously had gas, the supply may simply be capped. Uncapping it or fitting a new meter is far quicker and cheaper than a full new connection, so check the MPRN status first before paying for new pipework.
How to Choose a Gas Supplier Once Connected
Once your connection is in and the meter is fitted, you can pick the supplier and tariff that suits you. Weigh up your expected usage, your preferred payment method and whether price or service reputation matters most to you. If you also have electricity, a dual-fuel tariff can be convenient and sometimes cheaper. Use our guide to find out who supplies your gas and compare options before you commit.
For more on how gas reaches your home and who runs the pipes, see our gas network hub.
New Gas Connection FAQs
Contact the gas network operator for your postcode (not your energy supplier) and ask for a new connection quote. You will need your address, the meter location, the distance to the nearest gas main and, for a new build, a site plan. The operator surveys the site, sends a quote, you accept and pay, and the connection is then installed. See who your gas network operator is.
Both, but for different jobs. The gas network operator (GDN) lays the pipe from the main to your boundary and brings gas to your property. An energy supplier then installs the meter and bills you for the gas you use. You arrange the connection with the network first, then choose a supplier for the meter and tariff.
There is no single fixed price. A standard domestic connection where the gas main is close typically runs into the low thousands of pounds, and longer or more complex runs cost more. The exact figure depends on the distance to the main, the digging required, road or pavement crossings and access. Always get a written quote from your network operator before you commit.
Expect a quote within a couple of weeks of your enquiry, then several weeks to schedule and complete the physical work once you accept. Straightforward connections are quicker; jobs that need road works, planning sign-off or a long pipe run take longer. The network operator confirms a firm date after the survey.
A gas meter is different from the connection. Once the network has brought gas to your property, your chosen energy supplier installs the meter, and most suppliers fit a standard credit meter free of charge when you take out a tariff. The connection itself (the pipe) is what carries the cost.
Yes. New builds and self-builds usually have no existing supply, so the network lays a fresh pipe to the plot, and you will need a site plan and the meter point reference (MPRN) the operator issues. In an existing property that previously had gas, you may only need the supply uncapping or a new meter rather than a full connection, which is faster and cheaper.