Natural Gas

Gas is a flammable substance with a distinctive odour, similar to rotten eggs. If you can smell gas, always eliminate ignition sources. For example:

• Do not smoke.
• Do not operate electrical appliances.
• Do not operate light switches or mobile phones.

If the smell is outdoors then please report the gas leak online. If the Smell is indoors please call our Faults and Emergencies team on 13 13 52* 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. (*local call fee from anywhere in the state excluding mobiles).

For a full and current list of natural gas retailers, see the Economic Regulation Authority website.

Yes, most LPG appliances can be converted to run on natural gas. A licenced gasfitter or your appliance manufacturer can give you advice on converting your appliances. Do not attempt to convert appliances yourself. Only a licenced gasfitter or your appliance manufacturer should undertake this work. You can find your nearest licenced gasfitter by visiting the Master Plumbers and Gasfitters website.

If you contact a gas retailer, they?ll be able to check if natural gas is available at your property?s location. If it is, and you?d like to get connected, they can set up an account for you. Your retailer will then let us know so that we can carry out the work required to connect your property to the gas network.

Connecting your home to natural gas involves running a pipe from the gas main in your street to a meter located on your property. Another pipe is needed to run from the meter into your home, connecting your appliances to natural gas.

ATCO can connect the pipe from the street to your home for free if the distance is less than 20 metres. But you?ll also need to contact a gas fitter who will be able to connect the pipe from your meter to your home.

If you don?t currently have a natural gas connection to your property you can contact a retailer to set up an account - See the New Connections Page. On your behalf, they will let us know that a new connection is needed at your address. We will then schedule in the job and connect your property.

Note: Since mid-2020, Western Australia has seen unprecedented growth in land sales and, the residential building sector thanks mainly to both Federal and Local State Governments offering eligible customers, economic stimulus incentives and funding packages. 

This positive growth has resulted in ATCO Gas Australia experiencing an increase in the number of ?Requests for Gas? (RFG) being received significantly earlier in the construction phase. Approximately 70% of RFG?s received are going ?On Hold? mainly due to the house not being at the construction stage when attending site to complete the installation. The current KPI for completion of a connection to a ?New premise? after a job comes ?Off hold? is five (5) business days.  However, the process distortion being experienced is invalidating the KPI and, is leading to inefficient work practices. 

You may still be able to connect to natural gas. Get in touch with an energy retailer to discuss your options. - See the New Connections Page. 

For commercial properties looking to harness the value of natural gas, contact us and we can help determine the best way to get you connected. 

We won?t charge you a fee if works carried out are within a 20 metre distance from the gas main pipe.* However, your selected gas retailer may charge you a connection fee. Please contact your gas retailer for costs.

*ATCO will offer to connect a premises to the gas distribution system in accordance with its Distribution License: https://bit.ly/3ndqz5a There will be no cost for ATCO to connect residential premises located within ATCO?s licence area, which require 20 metres or less of service pipe and where the gas main is so located that it is practicable in accordance with good industry practice to connect the relevant premises to the main. Contact ATCO for more information. Additional costs for new connections may be charged by the relevant retailer.

The majority of appliance retailers in Western Australia sell natural gas appliances. When you are buying a new natural gas appliance make sure it has the Australian Gas Association sticker on it. This sticker means the product complies with the relevant standards.

For established homes with a long set back or difficult ground conditions, the gas meter is usually located close to the front boundary. For homes in new housing estates, the meter is most commonly located on the building, close to the front of the house. However, the meter location is specific to each property and can depend upon a range of factors. When we install new meter boxes we always consider your preferred location when assessing your property for installation, however we must also follow certain guidelines when placing a meter box on a property. For more information about suitable locations for meter boxes, view our gas meter page.

Connecting your new or established home or business to the natural gas network, including the installation of a gas meter, can only be carried out by trained personnel from ATCO or an approved ATCO contractor. The installation of pipework from the gas meter into your property must be carried out by a licensed gasfitter. To find a qualified gasfitter in your area visit the Master Plumbers and Gasfitters Association website.

We do our best to minimise the impact of natural gas installation work and in new builds the pipework is almost always installed prior to any paving or driveways being laid. Natural gas service lines must be installed underground so sometimes we have to dig a trench to install your connection. We will discuss with you where the gas pipeline will need to run and do what we can to limit the disturbance to the area. Where a new natural gas connection has been requested the cost of reinstating paths or driveways is the property owners? responsibility.

In WA, gas is delivered to a home at around half the cost of grid based electricity on a per c/kWh basis. For more information please see the WA State Government's Electricity & Gas pricing information. 

Western Australia has an abundance of natural gas reserves, primarily located in the north-west of the state. Our underground network of gas distribution pipelines connect to the main transmission pipelines that bring gas from the north-west to the more heavily populated areas of Western Australia. We then deliver it to homes and businesses from Geraldton, right through the Perth metropolitan area, as well as the south-west and Kalgoorlie. The ATCO gas network in Albany is standalone and is supplied from a centralised LPG storage facility in the town.

Natural gas produces less greenhouse emissions for each kWh delivered to a home, than grid based electricity in WA's South West. For more information please see the National Greenhouse Accounts Factors 2024 Report.

Current natural gas reserves in Western Australia hold enough gas for around 100 years or more. Natural gas is a core part of the energy mix and its reliability, effectiveness and efficiency is being utilised as an enabler for the continued introduction and use of renewable energy sources.

Yes, gas powered air conditioning (GPAC) is a great way to both heat and cool your home or business. It is economical to run and works just like electric air conditioning, with the option to have individual units in a room or ducted throughout a home or business.