Affordable Pipeline Gas Connection: Everything You Need to Know

Introduction

If you are looking for a reliable, convenient, and eco-friendly way to cook your food at home, you might want to consider getting a PNG connection. PNG stands for Piped Natural Gas, which is a type of natural gas that is supplied through pipelines to your home. It is a clean and efficient fuel that can save you money and hassle compared to traditional fuels like LPG cylinders, kerosene, or wood. In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know about pipeline gas connection for a home in India, including its benefits, how to get it, how much it costs, how to maintain it safely, and our experience. Let’s start with the basics, to know more about it.

Overview of Piped Natural Gas

Natural gas is a fossil fuel that is formed from the decay of organic matter over millions of years. It is mainly composed of methane, which is a highly flammable gas that can be used for various purposes like heating, cooking, electricity generation, and transportation. 

Natural gas is extracted from underground reservoirs or wells and then transported through pipelines to different locations. A pipeline gas connection is a service that delivers natural gas directly to your home through a network of pipes. It is also known as City Gas Distribution (CGD) or Domestic Piped Natural Gas (DPNG).

Pipeline gas connection is becoming more popular in India as an alternative to traditional fuels like LPG cylinders, kerosene, or wood. This is because pipeline gas connection offers many advantages over these fuels in terms of cost-effectiveness, environmental friendliness, convenience, and safety. The Indian government has been promoting the use of natural gas as a part of its vision to make India a gas-based economy and reduce its dependence on imported oil.

Benefits of Pipeline Gas Connection

There are many reasons why you should consider switching to a pipeline gas connection for your home. Here are some of the main benefits of PNG connection

Cost-effectiveness

A pipeline gas connection can save you money in the long run compared to traditional fuels. This is because pipeline gas connection has a lower price per unit of energy than LPG cylinders, kerosene, or wood. Using our tool in a later section of this article, you can compare the cost with a Domestic LPG Cylinder. Moreover, the pipeline gas connection has a fixed tariff that does not fluctuate frequently with market conditions or international prices. You also do not have to pay any extra charges for transportation, handling, or storage of the fuel.

Environmentally Friendly and Sustainable

A pipeline gas connection can help you reduce your carbon footprint and contribute to a cleaner environment. This is because natural gas is a cleaner fuel than LPG cylinders, kerosene, or wood. It emits less carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter when burned. It also does not produce any smoke, soot, or ash that can pollute the air and affect your health. Furthermore, natural gas is a renewable resource that can be replenished over time by nature.

Convenience and Safety Aspects

A pipeline gas connection can make your life easier and safer at home. This is because the pipeline gas connection provides you with a continuous and uninterrupted supply of gas 24/7. You do not have to worry about running out of fuel or booking refills for your LPG cylinders. You also do not have to deal with the hassle of storing or handling heavy and bulky LPG cylinders that can pose a fire hazard or cause accidents. Moreover, pipeline gas connection has a lower risk of leakage or explosion than LPG cylinders as it has a lower pressure and higher ignition temperature.

How to Get a PNG Connection

If you are interested in getting a PNG pipeline gas connection for your home in India, you need to follow these steps:

Contacting the Gas Distribution Company

The first step is to search for the authorized City Gas Distribution (CGD) company that operates in your area. You can search for the CGDs in your state or city by visiting the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) website.

Then check the official website of your CGD from the below list for more information. Before you apply for a PNG connection, you should see if there are pipelines in your area. Maybe ask your neighbors if they have it. You can also call CGD’s customer care number or visit their office to inquire about the availability and feasibility of the pipeline gas connection in your locality. Your local city gas distribution (CGD) company can give you an estimate when it is available in your area.

List of City Gas Distribution (CGD) Companies

Here I’m consolidating the official websites of most of the CGDs for your convenience. Click your CGD below to open the official website.

GAIL Gas Limited
Rajasthan State Gas Limited
Sanwariya Gas Limited
Bhagyanagar Gas Limited
AGP City Gas Private Limited
Indian Oil Corporation Limited
Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL)
Gujarat Gas Ltd
Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited
THINK Gas Bhopal Private Limited
Adani Total Gas Limited
Torrent Gas Private Limited
Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited
Indian Oil Adani Gas Private Limited
Assam Gas Company Limited
HCG (KCE) Private Limited
A consortium of Dinesh Engineers Limited, Resonance Energy Private Limited & Tolani Projects Private Limited, called Gasonet.
Megha Engineering & Infrastructure Limited
Maharashtra Natural Gas Limited
IRM Energy Private Limited
A consortium of HCG (KCE) Private Limited, Haryana City Gas (Kapil Chopra Enterprise), and others, called HCG Yanam Private Limited.
Central UP Gas Limited
Haridwar Natural Gas Private Limited
Godavari Gas Private Limited
Sabarmati Gas Limited
Goa Natural Gas Private Limited
Unison Enviro Private Limited
Naveriya Gas Private Limited
Sholagasco Private Limited
HPOIL Gas Private Limited
Purba Bharti Gas Private Limited
East Coast Natural Gas Distribution Private Limited
Dholpur CGD Private Limited
Tripura Natural Gas Company Limited
Green Gas Limited

Our Experience

In Bengaluru, the city gas distribution (CGD) company is GAIL Gas Limited and it took more than a year to get the pipelines to our society since we contacted them. Sometimes they can speed things up if there’s more demand from a place. So, try to contact your neighbors and tell your CGD how many people want the connection from your area or society. If required, please share this blog post with your neighbors for awareness and count their interest.

Application Process and Required Documents

The next step is to fill out an application form and submit it along with the required documents to the CGD. The application form can be obtained from the CGD office or website. The documents may include proof of identity (such as an Aadhaar card), proof of address (such as an electricity bill), proof of ownership or tenancy (such as a sale deed or rent agreement), etc. You may also have to pay an initial registration fee or security deposit depending on the CGD policy.

Our Experience

In our case, the application process to GAIL was online and you can check the procedure here. There were various payment options and based on our chosen plan, the initial payment was ₹4500 including a refundable security deposit of ₹4000, but you can check the current fees in the given link. Also, they’ll share other guideline docs once you contact them. Application Processes, fees, and rates are different for different CGDs.

Installation and Connection Procedure

The final step is to get the installation and connection done by the CGD technicians. The CGD will conduct a site survey and feasibility study to determine the best location and route for the pipeline. They will also provide you with a gas meter, a pressure regulator, and a gas stove (optional) that are compatible with the PNG pipeline gas connection.

The CGD will then lay the pipeline from the main pipeline to your home and connect it to the gas meter and the gas stove. The CGD will also conduct a safety test and a demonstration of the PNG pipeline gas connection before handing over the service to you.

Our Experience

This process will vary for individual houses and society. In our society, it took more than 6 months to complete installations in the entire building. Few important points I would like to mention here.

1. Installation happens in 4 phases for our society but it may differ for individual houses.
   1. Pipeline installation from outside society to inside.
   2. The outer wall pipelines of the whole building connect each floor.
   3. Installation of Meter and GI Pipes for Individual apartments.
   4. Rubber Pipe connection from GI valve to your hob or stoves. This includes safety tests and demos.
2. During installation at the outer side of the building, they prefer to install the main floor-to-floor pipelines on the outer wall of the building, not via any concealment or duct inside the building.
3. Existing LPG copper pipes cannot be used and new drilling will be required for new pipes. The entire installation will be done by their team but our advice would be to check their plan and align it with your requirements.
4. The entire yellow color GI Pipeline is required to be installed on a visible open wall, so plan accordingly. You’ll get more specifications in CGD’s guidelines.
5. They may charge additional fees for various reasons like kitchen slab cutting if required for your hob, extra rubber pipe length, extra connections, LPG to PNG conversion for your existing LPG stove or Hob, etc. Check the standard rates on the CGD website before any payment.
6. If you’re buying a new stove, then better take any PNG stove that will work seamlessly with PNG Connection. Otherwise, ask the CGD technician to convert your existing LPG Stove to a PNG Stove for nominal charges. If you’re planning to purchase a PNG Gas Stove, you can check the following PNG stoves to purchase online from top e-commerce websites.

Curated List of PNG Stoves

Check the following points before you purchase a Gas Stove

Number of Burners (2/3/4): More burners mean more pricey but they save time while multitasking.
Brass Burner: More durable, heat resistant, and good heat distribution.
Auto Ignition: Automatic ignition is useful and pricey, as you don’t have to use a gas lighter or matchbox, But sometimes it takes multiple attempts to ignite, especially if you’re using it after a long gap.
ISI Certified: You can expect standard quality.
Toughened Glass Finish: Easy to clean, and looks wise elegant but a bit pricey.

Cost Analysis

One of the main factors that may influence your decision to switch to a PNG pipeline gas connection is the cost. Here are some of the costs that you need to consider:

Initial setup costs

These are the one-time costs that you have to pay to get the PNG pipeline gas connection installed and connected. These may include the registration fee, security deposit, gas meter, pressure regulator, gas stove, and pipeline laying charges. The exact amount of these costs may vary depending on the CGD policy, the distance from the main line, and the complexity of the installation. You can check with your CGD for the exact details and charges.

Monthly expenses and savings

These are the recurring costs that you have to pay for using the PNG pipeline gas connection. These include the gas consumption charges, which are based on the volume of gas used as measured by the gas meter. This measuring unit is called a Standard Cubic Meter (SCM). The gas consumption charges are calculated by multiplying the volume of gas used by the SCM tariff rate, which is fixed by the CGD and approved by the PNGRB. The tariff rate may vary depending on the city, zone, category, and slab of consumption. You can check with your CGD for the current tariff rate in your area.

The monthly savings are the amount of money that you can save by using a PNG pipeline gas connection instead of traditional fuels like LPG cylinders, kerosene, or wood. The monthly savings depend on various factors such as the price difference between PNG and other fuels, the efficiency of your gas stove, and your cooking habits.

You can estimate your monthly savings by comparing your current fuel expenses with your expected PNG consumption charges. For your convenience, we have created the following cost comparison tool between LPG and PNG.

Savings Calculator between Domestic LPG Cylinder and Domestic PNG

To get a better idea of how the pipeline gas connection compares with Domestic LPG Cylinder in terms of cost-effectiveness, you can use this saving calculator based on the Domestic 14.2 KG LPG Cylinder (Price) and Domestic PNG Standard Cubic Meter (SCM) rate of your CGD.

Note: The LPG Cylinder price and PNG SCM rate are approximate values for Bengaluru (while the post is created) and may vary depending on location and time. You can edit the values and recalculate. In case a negative value comes in Savings, then PNG is costlier for you than LPG.

Our Experience

The GAIL Technician explained to us that the Gas Meter is a GPS-enabled smart Meter. However, we got our first bill based on the assumption that 0.5 SCM is used per day for the entire billing period, which was mentioned in the bill. As per the meter reading, we found that it does not match the bill. Once we raised a complaint with the meter reading photo the new bill was regenerated quickly with the correct amount. Also, GAIL has the option to self-generate bills using meter reading photos during the billing period using their Mobile App SAHAJ – PNG Mitra. Let’s see, how you can read SCM from your meter and you can calculate your usage as follows

Latest Unbilled SCM Reading = Your current SCM reading in Meter (Numbers in Black Portion of Meter) – Last Bill SCM Reading

Safety Measures and Maintenance

PNG pipeline gas connection is a safe and reliable service that does not pose any major risks or hazards if used properly and maintained regularly. However, there are some safety measures and maintenance tips that you should follow to ensure a smooth and trouble-free operation of your PNG pipeline gas connection:

Importance of Regular Maintenance

Regular maintenance is essential to keep your PNG pipeline gas connection in good condition and prevent any problems or issues that may affect its performance or safety. It would be best if you got your PNG pipeline gas connection inspected and serviced by the CGD technicians at least once a year or as per their schedule. You should also check your gas meter regularly for any signs of damage or tampering and report any issues to the CGD immediately.

Safety tips for handling PNG connection at home

Here are some safety tips that you should follow while using your PNG pipeline gas connection at home:

Do’s

Always turn off the valve when not using the gas stove.
Always use a lighter or matchstick to ignite the burner or use auto ignition if your stove has one.
Always keep the flame low or medium while cooking.
Always keep children and pets away from the gas stove.
Always keep flammable materials away from the gas stove.
Always use good quality utensils and cookware on the gas stove.
Always keep the kitchen well-ventilated while cooking.
Always check for any smell of gas in the kitchen or around the meter. The PNG smell is a bit different than the LPG.
Always report any leakage, malfunction, or damage to the CGD immediately. They’ll provide an Emergency Number.

Don’ts

Do not tamper with or modify any part of your PNG pipeline gas connection without authorization from the CGD.
Do not use any unauthorized or incompatible appliances or devices with your PNG pipeline gas connection.
Do not obstruct or cover your gas meter or pressure regulator with any objects or materials.
Do not allow any flammable or combustible materials near your PNG pipeline gas connection.
Do not smoke or light any matches or candles near your PNG pipeline gas connection.
Do not leave your gas stove unattended while cooking or turn it off when not in use.

If you follow these safety measures and maintenance tips, you can enjoy your PNG pipeline gas connection without any hassle or worry.

Conclusion

PNG pipeline gas connection is a great option for your home in India. It can provide you with many benefits, such as

Convenience: You can get a continuous and uninterrupted supply of gas at your home without any booking, refilling, or storing hassles.
Safety: You can avoid the risks of handling LPG cylinders, such as fire hazards, explosions, or accidents.
Cost-effectiveness: You can save money by paying only for the actual consumption of gas based on the meter reading and tariff rate.
Eco-friendliness: You can reduce your carbon footprint by using natural gas, which is a clean and efficient source of energy.

So, what are you waiting for? Switch to a PNG pipeline gas connection today and enjoy its advantages. Contact your nearest CGD and apply for a PNG pipeline gas connection now!

You can also check the comprehensive list of kitchen appliances, that can make your life easier in the Kitchen.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Question for you

Have you ever considered switching to a pipeline gas connection for your home?

Please feel free to share your answer in the comment box below.

Thank you for reading this blog post. I hope you found it informative and useful. I would love to hear your thoughts and opinions on this topic. Please leave a comment below and share your feedback, suggestions, questions, or anything else you want to say. I appreciate your support and engagement.

Author