Neighborhood Conversion FAQs
Q. I know there is no gas in my neighborhood, but we'd like to investigate the possibility of bringing gas service to our home. What do we need to do?
A. In some areas, there are restrictions on the installation of new gas service. But if we can serve you, there are two ways we can bring natural gas to you:
- An Individual Home Conversion. We need to determine how far away the nearest gas main is from your home. Based on current costs, square footage of your home and the number and type of gas appliances you are planning to install, we will determine if there's a cost to you.
- A Neighborhood Conversion. We need to determine the location of the nearest gas main and measure the distance between your home and the gas main. We'll count the number of homes on both sides of the street, and calculate the number of homes needed to convert their furnace and water heater to gas. Typically, 80% to 100% of the homes on the street need to convert to gas.
Whether you're pursuing an individual or neighborhood conversion, we'll need information to conduct preliminary research.
For neighborhood conversions, we'll need the names, complete addresses (including zip code), and square footage of the homes interested in converting, as well as the name of the nearest intersecting streets in your neighborhood.
Typically, this research takes six (6) to seven (7) business days. Washington Gas will contact you with the results.
Q. What happens if we do not get the required number of conversions in our neighborhood?
A. Should your neighborhood not reach the number of homes required for a conversion, Washington Gas still can provide gas service to homeowners who wish to convert and are willing to pay a deposit. Washington Gas holds this deposit for five (5) years in a non-interest bearing account. A portion of the deposit may be refunded if additional eligible homeowners in your neighborhood convert to gas within this five-year period.
Q. How many homes in my neighborhood must commit before a conversion can be offered at no charge?
A. The number of homes needed to convert a neighborhood varies but the procedure to determine that number is always the same. We need to determine the location of the nearest gas main and measure the distance between the homes in your neighborhood and the gas main. We will count the number of homes on both sides of the street, and calculate the number of homes needed to convert their furnace and water heater to natural gas. Typically, 80% to 100% of the homes on the street need to convert to gas.
Q. Will I be required to sign a contract with a contractor to obtain natural gas service?
A. Yes, you must sign a contract with an HVAC (heating, ventilating and air conditioning) contractor. If for any reason the neighborhood conversion does not take place, however, you are not committed to converting your home.
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