What is the average bill for a new gas connection?

When you move to a new home, it’s tricky to budget for your new utilities. As well as paying new rates, you might also need to pay a connection or set up fee, which can vary between providers. Knowing the average price for new property electricity and gas connections can help you set a budget and avoid any unpleasant surprises.

The average household gas bill for a new home is made up of the installation (if needed) and connection fees, as well as the price of gas.

These costs will vary depending on the region you are moving to, household size, the appliances you use and the season. 

This guide will take you through the costs you can expect to pay for your gas bill in a new home. Remember, this is a guide to average prices only. To determine the exact amount that gas will cost you, give Move-In Connect a call and one of our experts will be happy to help.

Contents

• Fees to connect gas
• Gas plans
• Fees and charges
• Gas price regulation
• How do I move gas providers?

Fees to connect gas

When you are moving gas to your new home, you will be charged a connection fee by the gas distributor. You will pay this to your gas retailer as part of your first bill. The cost of the new gas connection fee varies between distributors, depending on where you live. 

The table below shows how much you can expect to pay. It’s important to check with your distributor to confirm the price to your specified address.

Other charges for the initial set up of gas supply might include the fees for a gas fitter, metering installation, service line installations or a meter upgrade. You can check with your builder or gas distributor to see if any of these services are needed to make your site ready.

Gas plans

After your initial bill, which will include any applicable set-up fees, your new gas plan will be charged bi-monthly (or as scheduled in the terms and conditions of your plan). 

Below are some of our favourite plans to use as a guide. These monthly costs are based on ‘medium’ usage, so remember that your actual cost may vary depending on your unique energy needs.

*Based on the providers’ estimated ‘medium’ household gas usage (~50,000MJ per year)

^Rates for customers in Melbourne postcode 3000

^^Rates for customers in Canberra postcode 2600

Fees and charges

Whichever gas plan you choose, your bill will be made up of the following fees and charges:

• Usage charges

Your usage charge is the cost for the amount of gas your household consumes. It will be measured in megajoules per hour (MJ/hr).

Depending on your plan, you will be charged either a set rate for all gas usage or in time blocks, so prices will vary depending on how much you use.

• Supply charges

The supply charge is the cost for the maintenance and running of the mains network to supply gas to your home. The distributor charges the retailer for this service, and the retailer will pass on a portion of the charge to customers as a flat fee on each bill.

• Additional or Hidden fees

When you sign up for a new plan, it’s important to understand all the fees that will be payable. Some of the most common additional or hidden fees include credit card and paper bill surcharges, connection fees and late payment fees. 

You might find these included in the fine print of your product disclosure statement, so make sure to read everything that is supplied to you.

• Incentives 

Some retailers, particularly the larger providers, include incentives and rewards in your plan. This might be a discount for paying on time or going paperless, reduced rates for bundling your utilities or rewards points and discounts with partner companies such as Qantas or RACQ.

Gas price regulation

The gas industry is regulated by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER). They are responsible for enforcing the National Electricity Law, National Gas Law, National Energy Retail Law and the states’ Rules and Regulations.

In addition, the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) conducts independent reviews to ensure that the legislation is being followed and to provide advice to governments on the future development of gas markets.

For consumers, these rules exist to make sure that your new property electricity and gas connections are charged at a fair market rate and that the market is supported to provide a reliable source of energy.

How do I move gas providers?

Moving gas providers to your new property can be as simple as a phone call to Move-In Connect! To decide on a new gas plan, it’s important to consider every aspect of your new provider, including the usage charges, supply charges, hidden fees such as connection charges, customer service and the providers available in your new location.

You can also unlock extra savings by bundling your electricity and gas or choosing a plan with rewards and incentives. 

One of our experts will do all the hard work for you and find you the cheapest deal for your home, based on each of these factors.

Please contact our gas experts on 1300 786 045 or enter your details online to compare gas plans today and book your move!