Gas Supply Disruption
There may be a number of reasons for a significant gas supply disruption including; damage to infrastructure such as a major pipeline and technical failures impacting on key infrastructure such as production plants or storage facilities, particularly when combined with very high demand by the public. During these times, the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) may advise the Victorian government to encourage Victorians in impacted areas to minimise their gas usage.
If there is a gas emergency go to the ‘Incident and Warnings’ tab on Vic Emergency to learn more about who is affected and what they should do.
You can also get information from your gas provider. Click here to find your gas distributor.
Groups exempt from minimising their gas usage
If you fall within one of the following categories, you do not need to minimise your gas usage if this will impact on your safety and well-being, although you are encouraged to keep use to reasonable levels:
- People aged 70 or over;
- People with babies and children five years of age or younger;
- Pregnant women with health complications;
- People with moderate to severe physical, intellectual or psychiatric disability;
- People with chronic illness or other chronic medical conditions (including moderate to severe skin conditions) or whose health will or could be adversely affected by a reduction in gas use;
- People receiving “Hospital in the Home” treatment services;
- People dependent on life-support systems;
- People with a terminal illness and receiving palliative care.
Cold weather can have a significant impact on people’s health. Vulnerable groups including the elderly, families with infants, pregnant women and people with pre-existing medical conditions should ensure they heat their homes to at least 18°C in cold weather and are encouraged use their gas supply at a reasonable level.
Visit BetterHealth for more information: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/servicesandsupport/emergencies--coping-without-gas-or-electricity
Helpful tips to minimise your gas usage at home:
To minimise your gas usage, helpful tips include:
- Minimise the usage of your gas heating.
- Keep warm by adding layers of clothing.
- Take short showers instead of baths. Switch off any spa, jacuzzi or pool heaters that use gas.
- Use an electric kettle to heat water to wash dishes. Make sure you take extra care to avoid the risk of scalds or burns.
- Wash clothes in cold water.
- Reduce cooking times to a minimum and restrict use to one gas burner at a time.
- Cook with microwaves or electric fry pans where available.
- Many household gas appliances now come with energy label ratings. Take the time to see how efficient your gas appliances are.
- Do not turn off the gas supply at your meter, and do not turn off appliance pilot lights.
Please keep an eye out for those that may be at risk including the elderly, the very young, people with medical conditions, family, friends and neighbours.
Keep in touch with friends, family and your neighbours. Check that they are seeking the latest information or share warnings information with them
After a gas supply disruption:
After a gas supply disruption, it’s important you know how to stay safe. If you have turned off the gas at your meter or it has been turned off for you, please visit ESV’s website to ensure you are safe at home.
Safety tips can include:
- Checking that all gas appliances are turned off before turning on your gas meter.
- Locating your gas meter and turning your gas meter on by slowly rotating the handle of the valve 90 degrees to the vertical “ON” position. The meter is on when the handle is in line with the gas inlet pipe
- Lighting a burner on your gas stove top (if you have one). It may take a few minutes for the burner to light while the gas flows from the meter. Once alight, let it burn for at least three minutes to check the gas is turned on and flowing correctly
- Once you have restored gas supply to your stove (or even if you don’t have a stove top), you can now restore supply to other gas appliances. Relight all appliances and any pilot lights in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions
- If you are not confident about doing this yourself or the pilot does not light, call your gas distribution company or a licensed gas fitter. Click here to find your gas distributor.
If you smell gas inside your building or home:
- Turn off all appliances and pilot lights.
- Turn off your supply at the gas meter if safe to do so.
- Open all doors and windows for ventilation.
- Contact a licensed gas fitter.
