New Gas Service

Anyone planning a new building in New York City (NYC), or enlarging the gas service for an existing building, needs to apply for a new gas service. Anyone planning to convert an oil-burning boiler to one that is fired by natural gas will also need to apply for a new gas service.

There are three categories of building for new gas service in NYC:

1. residential one to five family buildings
2. multifamily units for more than six families
3. commercial buildings

Specifications in codes do vary from one to the other. For example, there are possible waivers for large dwellings, commercial and mixed-use buildings for gas meters to be located inside rather than outdoors.

There are two utility companies that own the gas distribution system and service NYC, Con Edison and National Grid. Con Edison supplies the Bronx, Manhattan, and parts of Queens (northeast and Astoria) while National Grid supplies most of Queens, Brooklyn, and Staten Island. As mentioned above, while you will have to apply to one or other of these utility companies for installation of a new gas service in New York, once you are connected you can choose whether to buy your gas from this company or another natural gas provider or ESCO.

Before the application for a new gas service can be made, a professional engineering firm will need to perform a detailed survey of the site to ascertain gas load requirements and other details. You will also need a gas piping design that complies with local codes and other relevant legislation. This will specify all the important design elements including the size of pipes to be used for the gas piping system and the supply pressure.

Whether you need a new gas service for a building still to be constructed or new gas service for an existing building, it New York Engineers offers the fastest average turnaround time from the moment we are hired to approval. We also offer a flat price which will save you money and enable you to budget accurately.

It may sound obvious, but before applying for a new gas service it is essential to establish whether a gas service is available in your area. Unfortunately, the type and size of gas service requested are not always available. Having established that a new gas service is available, it is essential to apply as far in advance as possible so that all engineering and construction details can be organized in anticipation of the completion date required.

Before any application for a new gas service can be processed, utility companies require customers to complete a gas load letter to provide precise information regarding the new gas equipment to be installed. The gas load letter also formalizes the terms and conditions of the agreement as well as the commitment of customers to pay bills and agree to indemnify the utility company in various circumstances.

While the gas load letters different utility companies require customers to complete vary, basic information required includes the:

• Type of equipment to be used for heating, cooking, powering air conditioners and the whole spectrum of appliances that might be used.
• AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) that is a measure of how efficiently boilers and furnaces utilize fuel, and which is presented as a percentage of how much fuel (in this case natural gas) it can convert into usable heat. Any figure under 100% is lost.
• Number of items (quantity) to be included in the gas service system.
• Model of the items of equipment and appliances that will run off gas.
• Pressure of the gas to be used to operate each piece of equipment or appliance.
• BTU (British thermal unit) input for each piece of equipment as well as the total BTU input. The BTU is the traditional non-metric unit of heat needed to raise the temperature of a pound of water from about 39.2 °F by one degree. It is more commonly used in the U.S. than in Britain!
• Rate at which the gas will be charged, namely either firm or dual fuel, and possibly interruptible if customers agree to burn oil when required to by the utility company.

Energy efficiency is also important, so the gas load letter often asks whether there will be pipe insulation, as well as roof and wall insulation, building controls and so on.

In addition to the gas load letter, Con Edison requires customers applying for a new gas service to sign a standard “hold harmless” agreement which indemnifies the company, employees, agents, affiliates, and so on from liabilities, damages, losses, and anything else that might arise should something go wrong.

Once the application has been received by the utility company they will assess the application and, amongst other things, determine whether the loads required will be adequate. If accepted, excavation and installation of gas service will be initiated in accordance with approved engineering layouts and plans.

Installation of all new gas services in the U.S. must be carried out in accordance with the 2018 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) in addition to any local laws and codes that are applicable. They are usually quite similar although local laws and codes are more specific. For instance, while the Fuel Gas Code of New York State (NYS) is, in essence, the same as the IFGC there are a number of state amendments.

NYC also has relatively new local laws designed to increase safety and minimize risks caused by the aging NYC gas piping infrastructure, including explosions. For instance, the NYC Local Law 159 of 2016 was introduced to try and stop dangerous violations relating to gas piping systems.

• It is now illegal to install, add to, alter, repair, remove, or replace gas, mechanical, or plumbing systems without a valid application and permit.
• It is unlawful to connect gas until a certificate of approval has been received from the Department of Buildings (DOB).
• Once new gas service piping has been installed, it must be locked-off by the utility company and the lock may not be removed until the gas distribution and meter piping has been inspected and certified by the DOB.
• It is illegal to operate or alter a newly installed gas system without notifying the utility.
• Owners must notify the utility company when shutoff of gas flow is required for alterations, extensions, or repairs.
• Gas piping systems must be checked for possible leakage immediately a gas system has been turned on after a shutoff. If there is still a leak the gas supply must be shut off again until all the necessary repairs have been made.

The actual installation process concerns various utility company departments. Gas Operations or Construction Management might oversee third-party contractors that work for the utility, while Gas Operations will usually install company-owned facilities including mains, services, and set-up of gas regulators. Customer Operations will deal with accounts and payments and everything related to these.

Once the installation is complete, customers contact Energy Services or the gas conversion representative to schedule a final inspection. If everything is in order, the utility will set the meters and turn on the gas service.