What to do if the gas is cut off in a private home: an overview of legislative nuances

Debtors' apartments are often disconnected from the gas network, which leads to inconvenience and complications in everyday life.But what if the gas was cut off in a private house, what to do in such a situation and how to solve it in your favor? If you are the owner of a separate house, then you probably do not want surprises on your site.

We are sure that you do not like strangers, no matter who they are. Find out more about your rights and responsibilities. You will gain confidence that everything will be in order with both the gas supply and your property.

As you study our article, you will become familiar with the provisions of regulations in detail. We have collected important information and presented it in a convenient form. Read everything to the end, and you will know how to act in a given situation.

When can gas supply be cut off?

The rules for disconnecting from gas supply take into account the interests of bona fide payers. The sphere falls under the control of the executive and legislative authorities, the Government of the Russian Federation and the State Duma. Government bodies adopt regulations and codes. In some cases, conflicts between consumers and suppliers require the participation of lawyers.

A gas transportation company has the right to suspend the supply of fuel without a court decision, unless it thereby violates the restrictions prescribed by law. The government has established the procedure and conditions under which companies can or must turn off/cut off gas.

They were listed in Part VIII Government Decrees No. 410 dated 05/14/2013 along with amendments dated 10/06/2017. The sphere is also regulated Resolution No. 549 dated 07/21/2008.Since 2019, gas is sold only by gas supply (gas transportation) organizations.

Gas shutdown in a private house

In point 80 PP No. 410 there is a list of cases when a company cannot turn off gas without notice. The right to stop supply arises after 40 days from the date of the 1st notice and 20 days after the 2nd.

The appeal is made in writing, handed over in person or sent by mail.

If a letter is sent by mail, subscribers sometimes do not have time to receive it, in which case you can check for yourself whether there is a debt

Fuel will not be turned off without notice in 7 cases:

1. The subscriber has not paid for gas in full for 2 billing periods in a row.
2. The consumer does not allow the gas distribution or other company to maintain or repair gas equipment. The rule concerns intra-house (VDGO) and intra-apartment (VKGO) communications. The norm also applies to private houses. After the 1st refusal, the right to turn off the gas will not appear.
3. Expired maintenance agreements gas-using equipment. One of the parties terminated the agreement.
4. The gas lines have expired.
5. The citizen provided inaccurate or false information about the amount of fuel consumed and violated the clause of the contract regarding this.
6. The client used other equipment than the one referred to in the agreement.
7. A notification was received from the gas distribution organization about the non-compliance of gas communications with standards.

The supplier has the right to stop the gas supply, including through dismantling. The pipe will not be cut if the debt is small and the fuel has not been cut off in the past.

Before turning off the gas supply to a private home, the company will ask whether the owners can pay for gas in principle. If they are confident in their ability to pay, communications will not be affected.

Cutting a pipe and then restoring gas supply costs a much larger amount than the debt - in some cases the difference reaches 10 times

Trimming/disconnection work is carried out by the distribution organization. In addition to its emergency dispatch service, dismantling is carried out by specialized organizations under an agreement with the client. The latter sometimes enter into their agreements with the gas distributor, and he already does the work.

In both cases, the costs are collected from the debtor. The gas pipe will be reconnected after payment of the debt, dismantling and reconnection work.

Turning off gas without notifying the subscriber

Suppliers are informed about gas leaks, possible accidents, and possible safety problems. Gas distribution organizations, inspectorates, and consumers themselves notify companies about the current situation.

IN clause 77 of PP No. 410 There is a list of cases when the supplier will have to turn off the gas:

• there is no draft in ventilation ducts and chimneys;
• Human unauthorizedly connected the device to the gas network;
• equipment for automatically turning off gas has deteriorated, with parameters deviating beyond normal limits;
• there has been interference with such equipment;
• there is a malfunction on gas equipment inside or outside the house or it is understaffed;
• When gas-powered appliances operate, insufficient air is supplied.

In addition to turning off the gas, there are many fines for violating safety measures when using gas. You can read more about them in this material.

The supplier company will send a notice to the housing control authority, which will inform the consumer. He will be given time to fix the problem.

The state obliges subscribers to contact the gas distribution organization, but the issue can be resolved personally if the problem was caused by external factors.

Insertion into gas communications should be done by specialists - some citizens make their own manipulations at the design stage and end up paying a huge fine, in addition to other expenses

A similar procedure is applied in the case of circumstances from paragraph 78 of the above resolution, in the 1st and 3rd subparagraphs.

We are talking about cases when a gas supply organization can cut off gas, but has the right to continue supplies:

1. Consumer connected the pipe to the main branch, cylinder unit or other fuel source. As a result, he will be fined for unauthorized gasification.
2. The subscriber did not invest in the period to comply with the requirements.
3. The client reinstalled gas appliances in the house and equipment outside and did so in violation of safety standards.

Measures to stop the gas supply are carried out to minimize damage to the consumer. The subscriber will be notified in writing about the date of gas cut-off/stop and the reasons for this - within 1 day after the work.

How to return gas to a private home?

The subscriber will receive gas again if he eliminates the reasons for the disconnection. The gas supplier will check the information within the next 24 hours after notification. Within 2 days the gas will begin to flow again.

To reconnect after a cut, contact the company that owns the gas pipeline near a private house: Gorgaz, Raigaz, gas distribution structures of Gazprom, etc.They take with them a passport, documents for housing, receipts and other evidence of the absence of debt and the elimination of the reasons for which the gas was cut off.

The pipes will be installed in the next month, after which supplies will resume. In the summer, when crews are heavily loaded, you have to wait longer. If the supplier does not comply with the time limits without good reason, then you need to complain to the following authorities.

After cutting the pipe, many stages will have to be repeated; overlaps often occur, as a result of which you need to go without gas for up to a month and a half

At the end, the subscriber will be issued a certificate of resumption of fuel supply. The document will indicate the parties, a list of work to restore the gas supply and the grounds for their implementation.

How to protect yourself from illegal actions?

Restrictions apply during the heating season. The habitability of the home in terms of living conditions must not be affected as a result of the interruption or restriction of fuel supply. The concept is interpreted in different ways.

The supplier has the right to cut the pipeline if there is a safety problem. Gas is shut off both in winter and summer, citing this nuance. As long as the danger remains, the contractor will refuse to reconnect.

Subscribers should assert their rights in 6 cases:

• the contractor violated the terms of the contract;
• the gas was turned off after the debt had been reimbursed, including fines, and they demanded compensation for the cost of the work;
• the rules for the provision of public services were not followed;
• the property of a third party was damaged due to gas cutting;
• the performer violated the rights of other people living in an individual building (house, cottage, etc.);
• the supply of fuel during the heating season was stopped illegally.

The positive response to a complaint depends on where the person applies. Employees of the prosecutor's office and housing inspectors sometimes dispense with their own conclusions and refer to the paragraphs of the decisions that guided the supplier.

As a result, you will have to go to court. The circumstances of the shutdown in this case will be analyzed in detail, including the procedure for the gas company. You can complain to the court immediately, instead of the prosecutor's office.

Stopping supplies in the winter puts residents in an uncomfortable position, and dismantling the pipe at this time often leads to equipment damage

It will not be possible to dispute a correctly calculated debt. Even if socially vulnerable categories of citizens live in a private house: disabled people, people with cancer or large families.

In this case, suppliers have the right to cut off the gas, but they take into account whether the family can pay. If there is a lack of funds, there is an option with installments. The issue is resolved by management companies; all you need to do is submit an application.

You cannot leave without fuel during the cold season for non-payment. Gazprom Mezhregiongaz structures do not turn off gas for debt if the client has no alternative for heating, and the safety issue does not arise in principle. Exceptions do happen. Such actions without a court decision clearly violate the law.

Nuances of paying for gas

The legislation establishes the obligation for the subscriber to pay for used gas by the 10th day of the month after the previous consumption period. This is discussed in Art. 155 Housing Code.

IN PP No. 549 the norm was supplemented: a different payment procedure was allowed if this was stipulated in the contract. Article 544 of the Civil Code confirms this possibility to pay for energy.The consumer's obligation to pay for consumed gas arises upon the onset of the billing period and the first actual supply of fuel.

The figure shows a receipt for 2014: consumers with gas flow meters need to enter data in the “Current readings” column

The amount of charges is calculated based on the volumes determined by the flow meter. Consumers without a meter pay for consumed fuel in accordance with the paragraphs 32—38 PP No. 549.

When calculating they will use norm for 1 person taking into account the volumes for cooking and heating water. Additionally, the area of ​​heated rooms is taken into account. The amount of payment is determined based on retail prices for the population in the constituent entity of the Russian Federation. Regardless of the presence of a meter. There is no need to pay for the time of absence, including if there is no gas meter, but you will have to notify about your departure.

The cost of fuel is reduced due to federal and regional incentives. At the national level, subscribers can be completely exempt from paying for gas. Social support does not always come in the form of a discount, so the fee may not change.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

A special case of gas shutdown in an individual area:

A cut of gas to an individual house for a large debt with a comment from the head of the customer service:

2 months of delay is enough to be left without gas. Owners of private houses should read the laws in more detail; they will be cut off from communications first. In the summer, shutdowns are made due to debts, the state of equipment, and unauthorized actions.

During the heating season the situation is more complicated. At this time, they have no right to cut off gas for non-payment. Gas companies sometimes rely on forced measures to circumvent the law. Consumers should remain vigilant and improve their legal literacy.Reconnecting gas can cost tens of thousands of rubles.

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