Disconnecting and connecting gas in an apartment building or private building

Laws

The conditions for supplying and shutting off gas and operating gas equipment are regulated by the following laws:

• Federal Law No. 69-FZ “On Gas Supply in the Russian Federation” is the main document that covers most of the issues of providing citizens with resources.
• Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation “Rules for the provision of utility services to owners and users of premises in apartment buildings and residential buildings” - establishes the conditions for using housing and communal services, payment for them, restricting access, and more.
• Decree No. 410 “On measures to ensure safety during the use and maintenance of in-house and intra-apartment gas equipment” - determines the procedure for turning off gas in the event of emergencies and resuming its supply.
• Resolution No. 549 “On the procedure for supplying gas to meet the household needs of citizens” - contains the rules for concluding and suspending an agreement between the supplier and the consumer, and calculating payment.

It is these regulations that providers and customers of gas supply services are required to follow.

Disconnection from gas supply

In their apartment, residents have the right to refuse gas supply services and install an electric stove. This desire can be caused by several reasons:

• using electrical equipment is safer than a gas stove;
• in connection with the redevelopment of the apartment and renovation of the kitchen, it became necessary to clean gas pipes and install compact kitchen equipment;
• an electric stove is more convenient to use;
• a preferential tariff for electricity has been established.

Application to the management company for installation of an electric stove: sample

The name of the management company, full name and address of the applicant are indicated in the upper right part of the application.

The application is handwritten or typed using a computer and must contain a request to install an electric stove.

The application is accompanied by documentation on the possibility of installing electrical equipment and carrying out the reconstruction, a reconstruction project and a conclusion on the safety of the installed equipment and its compliance with standards and safety requirements, as well as the consent of the homeowners on the reconstruction.

Technical feasibility of installing an electrical appliance (house electrical power)

To install an electric stove, it is necessary to find out the possibility of connecting the stove to the electrical network, since not every house can withstand the load and increased energy consumption. To clarify the issue, you need to contact the network company.

Coordination of redevelopment. Getting permission

Redevelopment and installation of an electric stove are subject to mandatory agreement on the allocation of electricity with the management organization and the energy sales company.

According to clause 5.6.19 of Gosstroy Order No. 170, electric stoves must be connected to the electrical network with a special plug with grounding.

Application to the gas supply organization for disconnection: sample

The application is submitted to the head of the gas service; the details, address and full name of the applicant are indicated. The application must contain a request to disconnect the gas supply, indicating the reasons.

Possibility of changing the electricity tariff

Installing an electric stove allows you to apply a reduction factor for the electricity consumed in accordance with Government Decree 1178 of December 29, 2011.

The use of a reduction factor is possible in relation to slabs installed in agreement with the gas supply organization and the energy sales company.

To apply for a new tariff, you must submit the following to the management company:

• a new technical passport of housing with the location of the electric stove;
• permission to obtain the necessary power for installing an electric stove, issued by the network company;
• design documentation and technical conditions for connecting a new slab;
• certificate of lack of gas supply;
• permission from Rostechnadzor to operate the stove.

In what cases can they disable

The reasons for gas shutdowns are divided into 2 categories: with and without prior notice. Let's list them.

With prior notice:

• meter readings are not transmitted for more than 2 months;
• user 2 months and no longer pays for the service;
• debt has accumulated in an amount equal to two calculated indicators (2 months);
• gas service representatives are not allowed to check meters and gas equipment;
• gas equipment does not meet technical requirements;
• no contract for the supply of the resource has been concluded (unauthorized connection).

Without notice:

• gas leak;
• network failure;
• planned repairs;
• equipment malfunctions that can lead to emergency situations.

The time for which the gas can be turned off is also regulated. When carrying out repair work and maintenance of gas networks - 4 hours per month in total. If they last longer, then for each extra hour the payment is reduced by 0.15%. In case of an accident - for a day.

If the disconnection occurred for non-payment, the supply of the resource is resumed within 5 days after the debt is repaid.

Now let's look at the most common cases in more detail.

Can the gas be turned off if the inspectors do not get into the apartment?

Yes they can. But if only the residents were warned about the inspection in writing two days in advance.

Starting from 2021, according to changes in Government Decree No. 410, if inspectors are unable to get into an apartment twice, they can turn off the gas in it. And since checks of the condition of gas meters and equipment must be carried out once a year, shutdowns threaten many people.

The reason is simple: inspections are carried out during the daytime, and many residents are at work. Or payment debts have accumulated.

Those owners whose apartments the inspectors entered without hindrance may also suffer from the shutdown. Because most often entire entrances are turned off. Utility workers explain that not all buildings have the ability to turn off individual apartments. Or maybe sometimes they don’t want to bother.

An indicative case occurred in 2021 in Kaliningrad. Two entrances to the eight-story building were disabled because inspectors were unable to enter several apartments. The gas was started only after 3 weeks. After all the owners paid their debts for housing and communal services, and gas service employees checked all the apartments.

At this time, dozens of people bought electric stoves to cook food. And this despite massive complaints to the local administration and prosecutor's office. No comments needed.

Let's now figure out whether it is legal to turn off the gas to the entire entrance because of one intruder.

They turned off the gas to the entire entrance because of one apartment, is this legal?

In some cases, disabling is prohibited, here they are:

• there was no prior notice of the termination of the resource supply;
• they didn’t pay for gas, but there is no debt (this happens when the owner lives in another place and a gas meter is installed in the apartment);
• in a private house, if after that it becomes unsuitable for living;
• if the gas is automatically turned off for other owners who have not violated contractual obligations.

That is, if your neighbors owe utility bills or do not allow inspectors into the apartment, then you should not be inconvenienced because of this!

The gas was turned off because of a neighbor, what should I do?

If your gas was nevertheless turned off illegally, due to debts or other violations of the neighbors’ contractual obligations, then the procedure is as follows:

1. Call the police to record the fact that there is no gas (you need to call during the daytime).
2. Write a claim to Mezhregiongaz. Demand an explanation of the reasons for the shutdown. You should try to get the answer in writing.

to the gas company. ⇐

1. You contact the housing inspectorate with a request to conduct an examination. And to Rospotrebnadzor with a complaint about poor quality services.
2. Write a statement to the prosecutor's office regarding unlawful actions of the service provider.
3. Wait for answers. You must receive a written response within a month.
4. You file a lawsuit in court. Please enclose with the claim the response to your claim from the gas supplier, the results of the examination, an agreement with the company, documents for the apartment, and a certificate of absence of payment debts.

The court will oblige the company to resume gas supplies. It may also award moral damages.

Please note that it is advisable to prepare all statements and claims in duplicate. You give one, and on the other you ask the secretary to sign for acceptance, sign and seal. When going to court, statements to other authorities will serve as evidence.

Can gas be turned off for non-payment without a court decision?

When carrying out their activities, gas supply organizations are guided by Government Decree No. 549 “On the procedure for gas supply...”.

According to the Resolution, if the service has not been paid for 2 months, or there is a debt equal to the amount of payments for the same period, then the supplier has the right to turn off the gas legally.

A court decision is not required for this.

Procedure for shutting off the gas supply in emergency situations

If the supplier receives information about the threat of an accident, the gas is turned off immediately, without prior notification to the subscriber.

The risk of an accident includes the following factors:

• no draft in the ventilation system or chimney;
• there is not enough air supplied to burn the gas;
• a leak;
• faulty equipment.

In the event of an accident, the gas is also turned off immediately.

One day is given to eliminate the accident. But emergency services can extend this period for another two days to restore gas supply in full.

Disconnection in a new building

A house accepted by the state commission must be connected to all communications: gas, water, electricity.

If your gas has been turned off in a new building or has not yet been connected at all, make sure that the supply of this resource is accurately provided. This is stated in the contract concluded with the developer. The contract will need to be referred to when drawing up a claim.

If provided, then write a claim to your construction organization. They are responsible for the quality of the built house and all communications.

In the claim, indicate that the developer is obliged to fulfill its obligations under the contract.

If the complaint is ignored, contact the prosecutor’s office and the housing inspection. As a last resort, go to court. Attach a copy of the claim to the developer and the company’s response, if provided, to the statement of claim.

You have the right to demand a reduction in the price of the rental property (an apartment in a new building) and compensation for losses incurred due to the lack of gas (food was cooked on an electric stove and the cost of electricity increased).

How to write an application?

A sample application for gas shutdown is usually provided by the gas service. The document itself is simple to fill out; just enter the following information:

name of the addressee - the one to whom the applicant is writing the application. Usually this information is already included on the form; applicant’s details – full name, full address of his residence; Title of the document; a text part with a request to turn off the gas at a specific address; indicate the reason for the shutdown (permanent or temporary). The reason must be real, that is, if the owner does not plan to use gas because he will install an electric stove, then this must be indicated in the application; date, signature of the applicant.

How gas is turned off for non-payment in an apartment, rules

As already written above, if the owner has not paid for gas for 2 months, or a debt has accumulated equal to the amount for 2 calculated indicators, then the contractor has the right to turn off the supply of the resource.

Notice of disconnection is sent 20 days in advance. Delivery methods:

• bring it personally to the owner;
• send by registered mail;
• send SMS, e-mail.

Please note that if the notification was simply thrown into your mailbox, and you were going on vacation at that time, then the disconnection is considered illegal. Because you didn't even know about him.

The owner is usually notified twice about a shutdown due to a violation of safety rules (inspectors cannot enter the apartment; faulty stoves are used) - 40 and 20 days before this event.

They can also warn you 3 days before the shutdown.

But notification is a must!

Termination of resource supply can be done in two ways:

1. If it is possible to enter the apartment, then the gas equipment is sealed. Special plugs are also installed along the riser to make it impossible to turn on the gas independently.
2. If there is no access to the apartment, then the part of the pipe that runs to the defaulter’s premises is disconnected.

There is no particular difference between the shutdown procedure in an apartment building and in a private house. There are only purely technical details in the shutdown methods.

In dormitories, the gas is turned off only if it is connected to a separate room. If it is available in a common kitchen, then it cannot be turned off.

Please note that it is prohibited under any circumstances to turn off the gas in winter with gas heating.

conclusions

Gas supply in MKD apartments can be terminated not only by the decision of the service provider, but also at the request of the consumer. In this case, turning off the gas and transferring the apartment to electricity supply is carried out with the permission of the management company and in agreement with all owners of the premises.

The project must also be approved by official authorities. Energosbyt specialists will explain to the applicant whether it is possible to turn off the gas in one apartment in a multi-storey building and switch to electricity supply.

The gas was turned off without warning, notification of what to do

Let's take a closer look at the cases in which disconnection for non-payment is unlawful.

Of course, the gas company has the right to stop supplying the resource if it is not paid for. But you need to follow the correct procedure.

For example, you did not pay for the months of January and February. The billing period ends differently in regions. Let's take the 15th as an example. That is, no earlier than March 15, you must be sent a notice warning you that you need to liquidate the debt. Otherwise delivery will be stopped.

And only after 20 days can the gas be turned off.

In what cases can you challenge the company's actions?

• payment was not made for only 1 month;
• there was no payment, but there was no debt (who has meters);
• receipts with the gas bill did not arrive;
• deadlines were not met;
• the notice was not served properly - they left a note in your absence, threw the document in the mailbox.

If there is at least one of these violations, you have the right to file a claim in court.

If in your claim you demand compensation for material and moral damage caused by the company, you will have to pay a state fee. Its size depends on the amount of the claim.

Sample lawsuit against a gas company.

Delivery cut-off dates

The table below shows the period for which gas can be completely turned off by law.

Gas connection in an apartment after being disconnected for non-payment, cost and documents

If gas workers turned off blue fuel for non-payment in compliance with all requirements, then we need to act differently.

First of all, pay off your debt. Then the reason for the shutdown will disappear.

Next, write a notice to the gas company. It is written in any form. It states that the debt has been paid, contractual obligations have been fulfilled and, in accordance with the aforementioned Decree No. 549, the gas supply must be restored within 5 days.

Write the notice in two copies and ask to sign for receipt.

Be sure to include photocopies of your payment receipt.

Work on disconnecting and connecting is paid separately by the user. The price depends on the region, on the house itself (for the “private sector” it is usually higher than for apartments). You will find it on the website of the supplier company.

You can pay in advance. Then also attach a photocopy of the receipt to the notification.

If you pay an employee of the organization who connected your apartment, be sure to ask for a receipt.

There is one more nuance: he himself is responsible for the debts of the previous owner. The new owner is required to pay for housing and communal services from the moment of purchasing the home. It is this point that utility workers violate most often. In this case, you can prove your case only in court.

Procedure for calculating the debt amount

The gas pipeline in an apartment or private house is shut off after the homeowner has owed payment for two calendar months.

In this case, the gas company must notify him in writing of the planned shutdown 20 days in advance. This time is given to pay off the debt and avoid drastic measures.

Many gas companies make concessions, giving permission to restore gas supply until the debt is fully repaid. In this case, the owner pays half of the debt and connects the gas, and pays the remaining amount in installments according to an individual schedule

But if this has already happened, then the total amount will consist not only of gas payment at the tariff and accrued late fees, but also of reimbursement of gas workers’ expenses for disconnecting, dismantling, connecting, and sealing equipment. Prices for services can be found in the subscriber service department.

I want to turn off the gas in my apartment, where should I go?

Switching to electric stoves is most often the reason for giving up gas. If you also want to refuse it, then first of all you need to contact the management company. They must give permission. If there are co-owners of the property, then their consent must be provided.

Then you need to go to your local gas company. You will be given an application form for termination of the gas supply contract. Attached to the application:

• passport;
• title documents for the apartment;
• a receipt confirming the absence of debts;
• permission of the Criminal Code.

After this, gas company employees will inspect the equipment and draw up a drawing. You will enter into an agreement to perform the work and pay for it. The cost of the service varies in regions. The price is specified in the contract or can be viewed in advance on the company’s website.

You will have to wait for the trimming itself on a first-come, first-served basis for up to 20 days. The team on duty will remove part of the gas pipe leading into the apartment and weld the hole.

Do not forget that all work on trimming an apartment or private house from gas must be carried out by licensed specialists. Otherwise, you will face a fine. After all, unauthorized behavior threatens to shut down other apartments and even cause an explosion.

What can you do to avoid paying a fine?

If an illegal connection to a gas pipeline falls under the definition of “gas theft,” the penalty will be large. You won't be able to avoid the consequences. In order not to have to pay a large fine, as well as suffer from other types of punishment, it is necessary to legalize tapping into the pipeline.

Unauthorized connection of a private house

To do this you should:

1. Visit a design office specializing in the gas industry to obtain a certificate of conformity for an illegal project.
2. Contact Regiongaz employees. They will check the work that has been carried out by the consumer and find out whether the connection complies with fire safety requirements.
3. Pay state fees and penalties. How much to pay is determined after an inspection scheduled on the day the application is submitted.
4. If the requirements are met, the applicant will be issued a permit and the tie-in will be legalized.

In addition to the legal connection to the gas pipeline, the consumer must operate gas appliances in accordance with the requirements. According to current gas supply regulations, owners of gas equipment, such as stoves and water heaters, must carry out regular maintenance.

If you do not comply with this obligation, evade signing the contract, do not allow gas workers into the apartment, or refuse to comply with the order to replace faulty appliances, you will have to pay a fine of up to two thousand rubles.

Gas pipeline near a private building on a summer cottage

An additional penalty for illegally connecting a private house or apartment and non-compliance with the rules will be the cessation of gas supply for some time. The user undertakes to pay the fine and follow all instructions.