New Gas connection - too expensive

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Stalemate
Stalemate Posts: 9 Forumite
in Energy
Hello,

I recently bought a home which has an EPC rating of F. I have been taking measures to improve the energy performance to the place e.g. insulation, led lights, etc but one thing which is the biggest issue is my heating. I don't have gas so everything is heated by electric room heaters (not storage) which are very inefficient.

I'm trying to get a gas connection but have been quoted £3000 for it. I can't afford this amount and have looked at other government schemes as well.

Should I get this gas connected? Is it better in the long run? The main reason for getting gas is to convert to a central heating system.

I have a 3 bedroom maisonette above a shop (first floor) and live there with my wife only.
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  • RandomQ
    RandomQ Posts: 221 Forumite
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    I have lived in three properties that did not have Gas and hated it, Gas is so much cheaper for heating and better for cooking too.

    I think it might add some value to your home when you sell which is probably why you are being charged so much.
  • LewisHamilton
    LewisHamilton Posts: 88 Forumite
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    I think in the long run it will be worth it and you should save money but I also think it would be worth it as (like the above user said) gas is a better form of heating.
  • matelodave
    matelodave Posts: 8,612 Forumite
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    That's what I would have done if we'd has gas anywhere close but the nearest is around 3 miles away so we went for an Air Source Heat Pump instead.

    Oil is another option but by the time you've paid the extra for a tank, it's installation and the extra cost of an oil boiler over gas, probably close to £1.5-£2k then £3k to have gas laid on doesn't sound very expensive at all.

    It will also add a lot more than £3k to the value of your property.
    Never under estimate the power of stupid people in large numbers
  • tacpot12
    tacpot12 Posts: 8,005 Forumite
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    Converting to Gas will definitely add to the value and saleability of your home, but it might not save you much money.

    Most people would get a loan for the installation of the gas supply, but you will also need the loan to cover the cost of a gas boiler, radiators and pipe work, so you are looking for loan of about £8000. Sainsbury's Bank are doing personal loans for Nectar Card holders at 2.8% for 5 years for loans over £7500. Borrowing £8000 over 5 years will cost you £142 per month according to their website.

    You haven't said what your heating bills are currently and this will determine whether the move to Gas will save you any money. I've done a quick calculation and would guess that you will not start to save any money for about 15 years or so. If the electric room heaters fail and need to be replaced, the cost of this will alter the relative cost of moving to Gas (it will reduce the time that it takes for the move to Gas to save you money).


    So I think the best advice is to:

    - Insulate your home as best you can
    - Try to find the cheapest supplier for electricity
    - Try to get a better quote for the connection of the Gas supply (I don't know if you are stuck with just one supplier who can do this)
    - Reconsider moving to Gas when the first room heater fails.
    The comments I post are my personal opinion. While I try to check everything is correct before posting, I can and do make mistakes, so always try to check official information sources before relying on my posts.
  • JC_Derby
    JC_Derby Posts: 806 Forumite
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    are you in the middle of nowhere? how far are they bringing the connection from, if its up the road and there are other houses between you and the connection point can you speak to them and see if they also ant a connection - this may reduce the price to individuals
  • unforeseen
    unforeseen Posts: 7,287 Forumite
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    matelodave wrote: »
    That's what I would have done if we'd has gas anywhere close but the nearest is around 3 miles away so we went for an Air Source Heat Pump instead.

    Oil is another option but by the time you've paid the extra for a tank, it's installation and the extra cost of an oil boiler over gas, probably close to £1.5-£2k then £3k to have gas laid on doesn't sound very expensive at all.

    It will also add a lot more than £3k to the value of your property.
    Your suggestion of oil assumes that the OP's maisonette above a shop has rights to use the ground within the curtilage of the building. Normally with these arrangements the shop has control of front and rear ground space.
  • System
    System Posts: 178,097 Community Admin
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    Caveat Emptor - the ASHP option may seem attractive; however, during the course of a recent EPC assessment, the energy assessor told me that ASHPs can have a negative effect on an EPC rating because of the weird way that energy efficiency is assessed. ASHPs use, rather than save, electricity.

    I am currently exchanging e-mails with BRE about smart heating controls which under UK ECoDesign Regulations now carry an ErP (energy saving) classification. Some controls have stated efficiency benefits of 5% but, for EPC purposes, smart controls have been listed in the BRE EPC database as only having an efficiency saving of 0.5% unless BRE has assessed them. Most manufacturers seem reluctant to pay for BRE when ErP is a process of self certification. Sorry for going off topic.
  • Stalemate
    Stalemate Posts: 9 Forumite
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    Thank you so much everyone for your advice.

    My electricity bill for the last 2.5 months was £340. The bill is for one person using a room heater in one room at night only. Lights and heating is off during most of the day as I'm in the office. My family size will increase soon which means more heating and appliances being used. If the cost is already £340 for 2.5 months then it'll definitely be crazily high if more is used.

    The nearest pipe is just across the street so I'm not sure why I'm being charged so much. I'll ask them to see if they can reduce it slightly.

    I'll probably go ahead with the gas connection because of the savings.
  • spiro
    spiro Posts: 6,403 Forumite
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    Which company gave you the quote for £3k? There may be more than one operating in your area.
    Suggest you also get a quote for GSH as you need will need to know that to gauge the total cost.
    IT Consultant in the utilities industry specialising in the retail electricity market.

    4 Credit Card and 1 Loan PPI claims settled for £26k, 1 rejected (Opus).
  • PasturesNew
    PasturesNew Posts: 70,698 Forumite
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    Gas is cheaper, per hour, to run ... but the overall cost is often hidden from the user/they don't think of it.

    £3000 to get gas
    £3000+ to install a gas boiler etc, which might last 10 years
    Gas boiler servicing and fixing ... possibly a monthly "plan" at £25/month

    It all adds up.

    For, say, 10 years, without that first £3000, it can cost you £600/year just to have it there before you turn it on!

    So don't feel too short-changed.
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