New gas quality specification laws and what you need to know
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Changes to Western Australia’s natural gas supply mean that some domestic natural gas appliances manufactured and installed before 1980 could pose a safety risk and may be replaced free of charge. The changes to the natural gas supply are currently scheduled for early 2013.
To allow for this change amendments have been made to the Gas Standards (Gas Supply and System Safety) Regulations 2000 that broaden the gas quality specification for natural gas supplied to consumers.
Domestic gas consumers will benefit from these changes as it will allow more gas producers access to the market increasing competition and security of supply.
In adopting a broader gas quality specification, it has been recognised that there is potential that some pre-1980 domestic natural gas appliances may not perform as well as they should on the changed gas.
Pre-1980 domestic natural gas appliances that may be affected include:
· cookers, such as cook tops, ovens, freestanding cookers;
· space heaters, including flued, flueless and wall furnaces; and
· water heaters, both storage and instantaneous.
It is important you contact the Appliance Rectification call centre on 1800 110 464 if you have any domestic gas appliances that date pre-1980.
If the appliances following inspection are considered unsuitable for use on the broader gas specification, you may qualify for a brand new replacement appliance(s) at no cost to you.
Note - For safety reasons, EnergySafety proposes to prohibit the use, sale and installation of pre-1980 gas appliances that are not inspected and certified as safe, at a date to be determined by the Director of Energy Safety, but prior to the changed gas coming on stream.