Frequently Asked Questions
Benefits of Gas
Who'd have thought a small, pure blue flame could have such a positive impact on our lives? Yet that's the very beauty of gas. Gas is energy in an instant. Instant heat to warm your home, copious hot water, more efficient cooking and extended use of your outdoor entertainment areas.
If you want to cook like a chef, there's no substitute for the intense, controllable heat of gas. If you want to enjoy more warmth and luxury in your home, gas is the answer.
(as supplied by United Networks Feb 2002)
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to connect to gas?
LPG - This is the quickest form of connection, the only delays being, LPG cylinder & appliance delivery and gas fitter availability.
Natural Gas - From the time you've signed up, connection usually takes 4-6 weeks, the major delay being ordering of all utility plans for all services and councils before we can commence any underground work.
If I connect to natural Gas, won't my driveway or section be dug up?
To connect the gas from the street to your house, usually an underground thrusting or drilling machine is used, or a small trench may be dug and then backfilled ensuring that every effort is taken to restore your property to its previous state.
Is Gas Cheaper or more expensive than electricity?
It all depends on what gas and electric appliances you use and how efficient they are. In general, however, a dual fuel household (combination of gas & electricity) is more energy efficient than a household using only electricity.
Should I worry that there’ll be no gas for my home when the Maui gas field runs out?
No, there is nothing to worry about. The domestic load is relatively small, so there will be plenty of gas for the domestic market for the foreseeable future. There are new gas streams coming on line that will assure the continuation of the supply to the domestic market
(info supplied by Gas Association of New Zealand - March 2002)
One of the selling points of gas is that it’s cheaper than electricity. Will gas become more expensive than electricity?
Unlikely. It’s more likely that gas will continue to be cheaper than electricity. Gas used to heat directly is more efficient than gas-fired electricity, so gas has the advantage of producing more heat at less cost compared with electricity. Some people say they pay more for their gas-heated hot water but that’s because the water’s always hot, so they stay in the shower for longer. With instantaneous gas water heating everyone in the family can take a 10-minute – or longer – shower. If they tried that with water from an electric hot water cylinder, they’d be out of the shower sooner because the water would start running cold. If the gas bill is higher that’s because you’re using more gas to enjoy the luxury of hot water that’s always on tap. A fair comparison would be if both families stayed in the shower for the same amount of time – and in that case the gas bill would be a lot cheaper.
(info supplied by Gas Association of New Zealand - March 2002)
Can I be sure that switching to gas can be justified long term?
Of course you can. As mentioned above, there is sufficient gas now and new finds coming on stream will ensure that switching to gas is a good way to go. Gas is an environmentally good choice and is being seen as the fuel of the future.
(info supplied by Gas Association of New Zealand - March 2002)