how to get gas & electricity connected?

[estherina34]

hi,just wondering if anyone could tell me how i may be able to get gas and electricity connected to my house in nusco avellino,naples.i have seen some have a large gas container outside of the house...?just wondered what is the best and easiest and cheapest (of course) method?
many thanks for all help!

[NickZ]

You have gas tanks? You'll need somebody to come by and fill them. Ask your neigbours who is best.

Electric go to the Enel office and have a chat. If you have a meter already it should be easier.

[AllanMason]

We discovered early in the year that even though our gas tanks were bought by the previous owners rather than supplied by a gas company as part of a contract with them, it is not possible for just any gas company to fill them. There's a lock on the fill valve and only a particular company has the key.

Our understanding is that this is due to that company doing inspections of the installation and certifying it as safe. It would apparently be possible to use another firm, but they'd have to accept responsibility for complying with the relevant safety legislation.

I think your first step should be to check the tanks for a gas company's markings.

As Nick says, electricity is a bit more straightforward. My experience with ENEL was fairly positive in that - unlike Telecom Italia, for example - they actually seem to realise that having customers is a good thing and they try to make it easy to sort out an electrical supply.

Al

[NickZ]

If the tanks haven't been used in awhile they may have been disconnected. My uncle's home had the tanks disconnected by the gas company. Allegedely the setup didn't pass the safety test. Not a big issue for him since the house was vacant .Still if he wanted to use the house during the winter he'd have to get it fixed.

[estherina34]

sorry guys,ive been mis understood,i dont have a gas tank there already...am looking for best way and cheapest to get gas to the house...

[estherina34]

also,does it take a long time to get electricity connected.or is it fairly simple goal?!!

[NickZ]

Do you have mains gas in the area?

How long any of this will take depends on what you have. I didn't have a gas meter so the whole setup had to be approved. The installer had to file all the paperwork. So it took a little longer. For electric all they had to do was get me a new meter so that was done in less then a week. But if you need lines run etc it can take awhile.

[estherina34]

wow,fantastic!well i am right next door to another house,so i guess they must have mains,?im still in the buying process,so havent had a chance to meet neighbours properly,and am based in the uk.
does anyone know if i can get things set up from the uk,so that when i go over to sign the finl papers i can get it connected then..?soory everyone..but your all so useful!this is an amazing site!

[Charles Phillips]

If 'your' house has had electricity recently, getting it turned on again is probably simply a phone call (instant reconnection). If there is mains gas available, go for it, it is cheaper than bottled gas. If there is mains gas in your town or village (but not to your house) then you must ask the gas company for a quote. It would be difficult to do this stuff from the UK: perhaps you are going to need a 'geometra' - like a building surveyor - in the future. If so, get a recommendation for a geometra now, and ask him to advise you on these essential matters.

[lupo]

Estherina,
Ask your vendor, or agent, whether the house is close to, or indeed connected to, town/mains gas, or whether you will need to have a GPL or liquid gas supplier set up a tank and a contract for filling it up on a regular basis. If mains gas is available then you're fortunate in that the cost of this gas is probably not yet prohibitive. GPL, on the other hand, is very expensive - just type it into the building forum search facility and you will see! We are having GPL for cooking only and will be using wood stoves and a wood pellet boiler for heating purposes. There again we're in Umbria and you're in Naples, so perhaps heating is less of an issue for you. Good luck with the purchase and welcome to the forums!