We want you to feel well informed about your decision to convert to natural gas. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions - and answers - about natural gas. If you have other questions, please call us anytime at 1 877 836 7427 or 466 2003 (HRM area).
Natural gas is delivered to your home or business through a system of underground pipelines. This pipe ends at a gas meter that we will install on the outside of your home or business.
Because natural gas is delivered directly to your property, it is always there, ready for use 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You won't have to wait for delivery trucks, clutter up your yard, or use valuable basement space for a storage tank. No interruptions to service regardless of weather and no worries about spills.
Natural gas is distributed using materials such as stainless steel, copper, or black iron piping installed in your home or business by a licensed gas technician. New flexible piping and state-of-the-art venting systems mean you have a greater choice of where natural gas appliances can be located. Connections can be easily made for space heating systems, water heaters, fireplaces, cooking equipment, clothes dryers, and barbeques.
Natural gas is one of the safest forms of energy available. Because natural gas is 40% lighter than air, it will dissipate harmlessly into the air in the unlikely event of a leak.
Heritage Gas adds an odour, similar to the smell of rotten eggs, to natural gas so that you'll quickly know if there's a problem. This allows even the smallest leaks to be detected, thus enabling repair situations to be identified immediately…your nose is your natural gas leak detector. Our strict safety codes ensure that before delivering gas to any building, we will inspect the installation to ensure that it complies with all the necessary regulations. Natural gas heats more than half the homes in Canada and is used by schools, hospitals, restaurants, churches and many other businesses safely everyday.
Heritage Gas is responsible for the local distribution of natural gas from the main pipeline to the meter at your home or business. You will have the option to purchase natural gas from us and in the future, a gas marketer licensed by the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board.
Heritage Gas Authorized Dealer Network Members would be pleased to assist you with all your residential and commercial natural gas options.
Yes! The residential and commercial Natural Gas Equipment Rebate Program is industry funded through the Gas Market Development Fund. Heritage Gas administers the Natural Gas Equipment Rebate Program which is designed to encourage Nova Scotian residential and business customers to convert to natural gas using the highest efficiency equipment available. Details of the new program beginning April 1, 2010 are expected soon.
Additional Rebates / Grants Available
- EnerGuide Programs can help you achieve permanent energy savings in new and existing houses and multi-residential buildings. These programs offer rebates too! Please view the following link or call for more information.
View www.efficiencyns.ca or call 1-800-670-4636
- Natural Resource Canada’s ecoENERGY Retrofit Program provides financial support to home and business owners implementing energy savings projects in their: - Commercial / Institutional Buildings
- Industrial Facilities
Visit www.ecoaction.gc.ca or call 1-800-O-CANADA (1-800-622-6232) to learn your eligibility.
You may want to consider installing a propane heating system that is easily convertible to natural gas in the future. Such a system would be classified as "dual-certified" for the use with natural gas, and would have a natural gas conversion kit available from the manufacturer for use at the time of conversion. Please contact one of our network members to learn more about these systems.
Please refer to the Availability Section to see when natural gas will be available in your area.
If you're remodeling your home or building a new home, you should consider pre-piping your home to accept natural gas heating systems and appliances. For example, you could install natural gas piping throughout the house with termination points where the furnace, water heater, stove, clothes dryer, fireplace, and barbeque would be located in the future. Natural gas shut-off valves can be installed at these termination points to facilitate easy installation of gas equipment when you are ready.
Our "No Charge Natural Gas Service Line" requires a minimal annual consumption of 95 GJs, the equivalent of 2,480 liters of furnace oil. A refundable deposit of $500 is required in order to proceed with the installation of the service line.
Upon activation of your service, the $500 will be credited to your account.
It is expected that activation will occur within 90 - 120 days of the service line being installed. Failing to activate within this time period could result in a forfeiture of the deposit.
If customers request service for an appliance other than the central heating equipment (e.g. a fireplace, cook-top, range, BBQ) Heritage Gas will request an upfront customer contribution to offset the cost of the service line that is not covered in our rates. We will be submitting a proposal to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board (NSUARB) in the near future which will provide complete details as to how the required contribution will be calculated. A key aspect of the proposal will be that the contribution will be refundable should the customer convert their central heating system to natural gas within the first five years of the service line being installed. It is our expectation that the NSUARB will endorse our proposal.
The cost to convert your home will vary based on the size and construction of your home, the age and type of heating system currently in place, and the energy efficiency of the new natural gas equipment selected. Contact a Heritage Gas Authorized Dealer Member (found under Sign Up) to provide you with a free quote to replace your equipment.
Heritage Gas recommends that customers get a quote from one of our Authoized Dealers (found under Sign Up). These companies / contractors are knowledgeable about natural gas options and offer competitive rates. It is important that you are comfortable with your quotation and it is up to you to decide whether you need more than one quote and who you would like to have install your equipment.
Your Heritage Gas Authorized Dealers (found under Sign up), chosen by you to complete your installation can also service your natural gas equipment. For non-equipment related matters such as natural gas safety, account administration, billing issues, etc., please call Heritage Gas at 466 2003; for natural gas emergencies please call 1 866 313 3030.
Yes. Natural gas equipment can be modulated to match the heating requirements at various ambient temperatures. This provides efficiency gains over other equipment and results in savings on fuel costs.
ENERGY STAR is the international symbol for energy efficiency. It is a simple way for consumers to identify products that are among the most energy-efficient on the market. Using ENERGY STAR appliances enable consumers to save energy, save money and help protect the environment.
For more information about ENERGY STAR please visit ENERGY STAR Canada or Natural Resources Canada.
Heritage Gas will bill you monthly for the following:
For more information refer to the explanation on "How to read your gas bill".
The Heritage Gas Fixed Monthly Charge and Base Energy Charge are regulated by the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board. Heritage Gas must apply to the Board for approval to change these rates. The current rates are in effect until December 31, 2012. The Gas Cost Recovery Rate is reviewed every month and adjusted as required to match the current market prices for natural gas.
Natural gas is measured and billed in Gigajoules (GJ), which is the metric equivalent to the British Thermal Unit (BTU). A Gigajoule is a unit of energy that has a heat value of approximately 948,000 BTUs. One GJ is roughly equivalent to 26 litres of heating oil, 39 litres of propane and 277 kWh of electricity.
The supply of natural gas is very secure. Sable Island natural gas is our local source of supply and there are other sites off the coast of Nova Scotia that are being drilled for natural gas. We are also connected to a North American natural gas pipeline grid, so you can rest assured that we will not run out of natural gas for your home and/or business. Other sources of supply will come from the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plant in New Brunswick and on-shore gas supplies in the Maritimes.
Natural gas is composed mostly of methane. The emissions from methane combustion are carbon dioxide and water. Natural gas emits fewer greenhouse gases than any other fossil fuel. It also burns more efficiently, so it requires less fuel to produce an equal amount of energy.
To see if you have access to natural gas or will be part of our expansion plans, please see Availability.
Expansion of the natural gas system is dependant on interest, economic feasibility and commitment from customers to convert their central heating equipment to natural gas. If you would like to express your interest in natural gas please contact us today!