STEPS FOR REQUESTING A NEW NATURAL GAS SERVICE FOR A NEW CUSTOMER
STEP #1 - SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR NEW SERVICE LINE
Please come by one of our offices in Chester or Great Falls and submit an application for a new service line. Chester County Natural Gas Authority charges a tap/service line fee to help defer the cost of extending gas service to our customers.
For all residential customers (Rates 1, 10, 20), there is a $100.00 tap/service line fee that will be collected at the time of service application.
For all business or public building customers (Rates 21, 24, 30), there is a $200.00 tap/service line fee that will be collected at the time of service application.
For all industrial customers (Rate 25, other industrials), there is a $300.00 tap/service line fee that will be collected at the time of service application.
There is not a tap/service line fee for service lines to shops (Rate 30), if the customer has an existing residential service line on the same property.
Service line piping up to 500 feet as measured from the nearest gas main to the meter set is furnished by CCNGA. For installations in excess of 500 feet, the customer must pay CCNGA a fee of $1.75 per foot for piping length of 500 to 1,000 feet. Piping length installation of 1,000 to 1,500 feet is a cost of $2.25 per foot. 1,500 feet is the maximum piping allowance.
Chester County Natural Gas Authority shall install and maintain the necessary service connection to the main service line piping, meter, pressure regulator and necessary fittings to furnish gas service to our customers. The entire service line, regardless of length, shall be the property of Chester County Natural Gas Authority.
CCNGA reserves the right to refuse gas service to the applicant and refund all monies (if applicable) if, in the sole discretion of CCNGA, gas service to the applicant is uneconomical or the application for gas service is made by an applicant which is not located on or adjacent to the CCNGA gas system.
STEP #2 - RESPONSIBILITY OF CUSTOMER AND CCNGA FOR A NEW SERVICE LINE
After you have applied at one of our offices for a new service line, you will be contacted by a CCNGA representative. He/she will need the following information:
1. The location of any buried structures in your yard such as water lines and sewer lines
2. Your property line boundaries
3. The type of appliances you plan to use with natural gas along with BTU ratings
4. Confirmation of billing address and service address on the application
After your service has been flagged, a construction crew will be sent to your home to install your service. It will not be necessary for you to be home during the installation of your gas service.
It is hereby understood and agreed upon between CCNGA and the applicant for gas service that CCNGA is under no obligation to extend a service line to the applicant's premises unless the applicant has gas burning appliances on their premises ready for immediate connection, or the applicant furnishes CCNGA satisfactory evidence that he/she has purchased and will have available such gas burning appliances ready for immediate connection and service when the service line is extended to its premises.
CCNGA shall have the right of determining meter location on the owner's premises. CCNGA meters are read electronically; thus meters should be positioned to allow for good reception.
Federal regulation and the Gas Code also prevent us from placing regulators or meters within three feet of openings in buildings to include: crawl spaces, vents, windows and doors. And they must also be at least three feet from ignition sources including electrical, TV or telephone connections, electric meters and furnaces.
CCNGA will install a new natural gas service and will be digging on the highway right-of-way as well as on your property, and naturally, when we leave there will still be some evidence of the same. We are not equipped to landscape, and do not have the personnel to return later to touch up yards. However, we do understand and respect your concern, and promise to put forth all reasonable effort to leave your yard as near as possible to its original condition.
If your property has any of the following it will be your duty to ensure their location is visibly and sufficiently marked prior to the gas line installation: sprinkler lines and heads, drain lines, water lines, sewer lines, septic tanks and lines, electrical wiring, fuel lines or underground pet fencing. We cannot be responsible for items either unmarked or insufficiently marked. Neither can we be responsible for plants or trees in the area, but will extend them as much care as is reasonably possible.
CCNGA will arrange for all public utility owned equipment to be located. This will assist us in avoiding unnecessary damage.
The applicant agrees that all meters, pipes, regulators and any kind of property placed on the premises by CCNGA shall not constitute a part of the real estate but shall remain personal property. Title to such is retained by CCNGA. The applicant further agrees to keep in repair all appliances and piping on said premises (other than meters and regulators maintained by CCNGA) and to report immediately to CCNGA any leaks discovered.
CCNGA shall have the right and privilege of connecting the service line of another applicant to the service line serving the applicant which is located on the applicant's premises and extending gas service to the adjoining or nearby property so long as it does not adversely affect service to be rendered the applicant. Any disturbance in the yard shall be restored as near as possible to its original condition.
STEP #3 - CUSTOMER'S STEPS FOR HAVING GAS SERVICE TURNED ON FOR A NEW SERVICE
Obtain a reputable contractor to do your system (house) piping. Be sure they know the technical requirements of Chester County Natural Gas Authority, such as, but not limited to, delivery pressure, type of pipe, cut-offs for each appliance, pressure test requirements, etc. If there are questions about any requirements of Chester County Natural Gas Authority, call us to verify before you do your work. Chester County Natural Gas Authority requirements may differ from other gas companies.
CCNGA shall have the right, but shall not be obligated, to inspect any gas installation at a time before gas service is introduced, or at any later time, and reserves the right to reject any piping or appliances not in accordance with CCNGA standards. However, such inspection or failure to inspect or reject shall not be regarded as an insurance against defects in installation, piping or appliances and shall not render CCNGA liable or responsible for any loss or damage resulting from defects in the installation, piping or appliances, or from violation of the official code(s) as might be applicable, or from accidents that might occur upon applicant's premises.
Once your piping is complete with a pressure test in place, call our office for an inspection. Our service personnel will come out as soon as possible and visually inspect your piping, your pressure test, your appliance installation and venting, and do an overall inspection. There is no charge for this service. If, at this time, everything is satisfactory, our personnel will unlock your meter and your contractor can then tie house piping into the meter outlet. If for some reason you do not want the service on at this time, we will make note that your system has been inspected and turn your service on at a time of your request.
Please keep in mind that Chester County Natural Gas Authority does not want to delay your service being connected, but we do want to provide you with natural gas in a safe manner.
RULES, REGULATIONS AND POLICIES GOVERNING SUPPLY AND CONSUMPTION OF GAS
Customer is responsible for damage to any gas meter or equipment belonging to CCNGA placed on the premises occupied by the customer and will immediately reimburse CCNGA for all cost of repairing or replacing the same equipment. A customer who has damaged CCNGA equipment or tampered with the lock on a meter set may be refused service or charged an increased deposit amount.
Customer will use gas supplied through CCNGA meter only. Use of other metering devices or bypassing equipment and tampering with adjustments on CCNGA owned metering facilities by customer are prohibited. Tampering with a natural gas service, a meter, or bypassing the meter will not be tolerated. Any such occurrences may be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Tampering is a violation of state law and conviction can lead to a sentence of imprisonment or a fine.
In the event that the meter fails to register gas consumption in whole or in part, the customer will pay such reasonable sum as is ascertained to be due for the period involved.
CCNGA employees or its authorized agents shall have access to customer's premises at all reasonable times for the purpose of constructing, reconstructing, maintaining or repairing a service line and have free access to the premises of the applicant for the purpose of installing, inspecting, reading meters, repairing and/or removing property of CCNGA when gas service is discontinued at the meter.
The customer shall be liable and shall pay for all gas passing through the meter until it is turned off. When termination of service is requested, customer must ensure that CCNGA receives written or verbal notice at least two days prior to the desired date of termination.
The applicant agrees in the event that any bill for gas or services performed under this contract remains unpaid for thirty (30) days after such bill has been rendered and/or the applicant or the owner shall tamper with, or otherwise interfere with any meters, lines, regulator or other equipment of CCNGA, then CCNGA, at its option, retains the right to terminate service.
The policies of Chester County Natural Gas Authority are subject to change from time to time. The customer will observe all the rules, regulations and policies that are now and may be hereafter prescribed by CCNGA.
TURN ON FEES AND DEPOSITS
A connection (turn on) fee of $30.00 is required on all accounts.
If the account was disconnected for non-payment, or there is a past due on the account, a re-installation fee of $60.00 is required and $90.00 is required if past due is over 90 days.
The Authority may require a deposit based on the applicant's credit score. Deposit amounts are initially determined by credit scoring from a national credit agency. If the customer has account history with the Authority, that history will be used to determine the deposit amount.
A $100.00 deposit is required of customers with a good credit history.
A $200.00 deposit is required of customers with marginal credit history
A $300.00 deposit is required of customers with bad credit history.
Information obtained from your Experian credit report.
You are advised that you have the right to disclosure of the contents of your Experian credit file due to the fact that adverse action was taken because of the contents of your Experian credit file. The fact that adverse action, in the form of an increased deposit, has been taken entitles you to a copy of your credit file free of charge by writing to Experian within 60 days of this date and requesting a copy of your credit report. The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires that Experian respond to your request for disclosure within 30 days of your request. Experian's address is:
Experian
Attn: NCAC
PO Box 9600
Allen, TX 75013
You may also call Experian's consumer service center at 1-888-EXPERIAN (1-888-397-3742) to obtain a copy of your Experian credit report. Please understand that this is an automated system, which will walk you thru ordering a consumer copy of your Experian Credit File. When you receive your consumer copy there will be a phone number as well as directions on how to dispute items on your credit file.
Information supplied to us by ONLINE Information Services.
You have the right to obtain disclosure of the contents of information regarding unpaid bills obtained from the database maintained by ONLINE. Those bills are detailed below. If this information is inaccurate, or you would like to dispute this information, you may do so by contacting ONLINE Information Services at:
ONLINE Information Services
Customer Service
202 W. Firetower Rd.
Winterville, NC 28590
You may also call ONLINE's customer service center at 1 (800) 234-7683 for assistance.
Deposits are refunded once the customer has left the system and final bills have been paid in full. Deposits are applied to outstanding final bills. Deposits cannot be transferred from one account to another. CCNGA requires the customer to put up a separate deposit for the new account. CCNGA cannot waive a deposit. CCNGA does not accept letters of credit or co-signers as forms of deposit. Deposits may be refunded based on payment history.
Commercial and industrial deposits are two times the estimated historical gas bills. New customers with no history will pay an estimated deposit based on anticipated gas consumption.