New Business Services
Welcome to New Business Services. This section is dedicated to business owners, building owners, builder's business managers, developers, architects, engineers or conversion customers who are involved in new construction, increasing an existing gas load, adding a gas appliance, or are interested in learning more about converting to economical, clean and reliable natural gas.
We offer a convenient way for you to inquire about natural gas availability or for you to request a gas tap or meter set. In order to assist you with your particular energy needs, we have provided a series of forms for you to request the products and services you need.
Guidelines for Establishing Natural Gas Service for Commercial Customers
If you have any questions about our guidelines, please call our New Business Team at 1-800-440-6111.
Application
Establish an account for natural gas service with Columbia Gas.
Natural Gas Availability
To learn more about gas availability to serve your business or new development, please contact our New Business Team at 1-800-440-6111 or submit your information on-line by filling out our Gas Availability & Cost Estimate Form Depending on the scope of your project, we may need development drawings to be submitted. Our New Business Team representatives will be happy to assist you in determining the location and suitability of Columbia's closest mainline facilities.
Conversions
If you currently have natural gas service to your business and are interested in converting either an existing appliance, water heater, heating or other equipment from an alternate fuel source to one fueled by natural gas, please visit (insert products link) for product and cost savings information.
If you do not have natural gas service at this time and you wish to explore how natural gas may be made available to your business, please contact our New Business Team at 1-800-440-6111 or complete the easy, on-line request form Gas Availability & Cost Estimate Form Our New Business Team representatives will be happy to assist you.
Service Line/Tap and Meter Process
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) has shifted responsibility for installing and maintaining customer service lines from the customer to Columbia Gas. This means Columbia is now responsible for installing new service lines from the main to the outlet of the meter. Only Columbia or its agent may install service lines (including the meter setting), relocate the service line at the customer’s request, or upgrade the service line due to a load increase (e.g. installation of a natural gas-fired generator).
Customers are still responsible for installing and maintaining house lines (all lines downstream of the outlet of the meter). Call our New Business Team at 1-800-440-6111 to schedule a service line/tap and/or meter installation. Columbia Gas will tie in, visual, and test at the time of the tap installation.
Service Lines/Taps: Before calling for a service line/tap installation:
- The meter location should be clearly marked on the foundation.
- Area near tap, service line and meter location needs to be clear of obstructions and within 6 inches of final grade.
- The construction site should be within 6 inches of final grade.
Columbia’s crew will install the service line, tap and meter setting. They will also test the customer service line up to the pre-fab and leave gas off.
Meter Sets: The following is required to have a meter installed:
- If your construction is located within an area requiring a city inspection prior to gas service being established in the building, a city building inspection sticker or report needs to be available at your site prior to requesting a gas meter being set.
- If your construction is located outside an area requiring a city inspection prior to gas service being established in the building, Columbia must inspect and test al house piping prior to covering with drywall.
- A house line with at least one appliance drop must be installed before you contact Columbia Gas for a meter. All appliance drops and branch connections shall terminate with approved shutoff valves that are properly capped or plugged.
- The section of house line piping which extends through the outside wall to connect to the meter setting must extend:
- 4-6 inches outside the building wall, with a threaded end for piping smaller than 2 inches,
- 6-8 inches outside the building wall for piping 2 inches and larger if the connection to the meter setting will be threaded, and
- 10 inches outside the building wall for piping 2 inches and larger if the connection to the meter setting will be welded.
House lines that will be tied into large volume meter settings should terminate 18 inches above finished grade. The meter setting size will be determined and communicated by the New Business Team during the application process.
5. There are additional metallic house line requirements when extending house lines through exterior walls. In addition to existing requirements, Columbia Gas of Ohio requires that the piping used on the section of house lines that extends through the exterior walls to connect to the meter setting be a minimum of Schedule 40 steel pipe. This section must be securely anchored inside the structure, which will enhance the stability of the meter setting. It will also simplify the placement of bonding clamps when using CSST products.
Additionally, on multiple meter installations, each house line stub must be plainly and properly identified with a weatherproof tag or other approved means of designating the apartment or the part of the building it supplies.
Should you have questions regarding this information, you may contact our New Business Team at 1-800-440-6111.
The provisions in this document are subject to change and are not intended to be all-inclusive. Local codes, ordinances, and governmental regulations will govern when they are more stringent than the requirements contained herein. When in doubt as to the proper procedure, consult your Gas Company before proceeding with the work.
In addition to the above requirements, the following existing requirements must be met to have a meter installed:
- House line(s) and appliance(s) must have been installed in accordance with the "National Fuel Gas Code"; and manufactured home installations shall be in accordance with Title 24, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 3280, Subpart H.
- IMPORTANT: All piping and appliances must be visible and accessible. Where piping enters the building, access to the building is required.
When the house line(s) and equipment, if applicable, have been installed, inspected, and tested, the party responsible for the payment of the gas bill should call our New Business Team at 1-800-440-6111 to schedule meter installation. The required Columbia Gas inspection and testing for the meter will be done at the time the meter is installed.
*Important note: Customer Charges
The first inspection or test at any premises shall be without charge. In the case of leak, error, patent defect or other unsatisfactory condition resulting in the disapproval of the line by the Company, the necessary correction shall be made at the customer’s expense and the lines will be inspected and tested again in accordance with Chapter 4901:1-13-05(A)(3) of the Ohio Administrative Code. Each additional inspection or test, when required after the correction, shall be subject to a charge of $60.00 covering the cost. A tag will be left at the premise stating the reason for the return trip.
We highly value your business and believe that this process will result in better scheduling efficiency and improved response time. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please contact our New Business Team at (800) 440-6111.
When requesting the installation of a service line and meter, Columbia Gas of Ohio, Inc. will comply with the process set forth by Ohio Minimum Gas Standards implemented by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio on January 1, 2007. To learn about the Ohio Minimum Gas Standards, please click on the link below.
PUCO Minimum Gas Service Standards
If you have any questions about our guidelines, please call our New Business Team at: 1-800-440-6111.