Disconnecting from the gas grid: a guide for businesses
Direct answer
Disconnecting from the gas grid means having the grid operator permanently remove your gas connection: the gas meter is taken out and the service pipe is removed or permanently made gas free. This applies once a building is fully natural gas free, after switching to all-electric or a heat network. Cancelling your energy contract alone is not enough: as long as the connection remains, the fixed grid charges continue.
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- Practical next steps
Disconnecting from the gas grid: scattered information versus Energy Intelligence
More and more Dutch buildings are going fully natural gas free: an office running on heat pumps after renovation, an industrial hall with electric processes, or a neighbourhood switching to a heat network. The gas boiler disappears, but the gas connection is still there. Many owners only discover on their annual bill that they keep paying for a connection they no longer use. Disconnecting from the gas grid is the final, often forgotten step of electrification and the switch to sustainable heat.
- You request disconnection from your regional grid operator, such as Liander, Stedin or Enexis; a technician removes the gas meter and disconnects the service pipe.
- Cancelling the gas contract alone does not stop the fixed connection charges: they continue as long as the physical connection remains in the building.
- Arrange a fully working alternative for heating, hot water and cooking first, because removal is permanent and reconnecting requires a new application with costs and lead time.
Insight
Traditional approach
Information is scattered across portals, documents, invoices or separate spreadsheets.
Modern approach
Data, context and interpretation are brought together into a clear decision picture.
Decision-making
Traditional approach
Choices are made based on averages, assumptions or occasional analyses.
Modern approach
Scenarios, KPIs and current measurement data make the trade-off more concrete and repeatable.
Follow-up
Traditional approach
Actions often stay non-committal or disappear into separate reports.
Modern approach
Follow-up actions, monitoring and reporting are linked to the same energy data.
What does disconnecting from the gas grid involve?
Disconnecting means having your gas connection permanently removed by the grid operator. A technician takes out the gas meter and removes the service pipe or permanently makes it gas free. You are not allowed to do this yourself: the connection is owned by the grid operator and safety comes first, because an unused gas pipe left in place is a risk. Do not confuse disconnection with cancelling your energy contract. The contract only covers the supply of gas by your supplier. The connection itself belongs to the grid operator, and as long as it is in place, the fixed grid charges continue, even if you no longer use a single cubic metre of gas. Temporary disconnection also exists, but only for a limited period; after that you still choose between reconnecting and permanent removal.
- The grid operator removes the gas meter and the service pipe; you may not do this yourself.
- Cancelling the contract only stops the gas supply, not the fixed connection charges.
- As long as the connection is in place, you keep paying the periodic grid charges.
- Temporary disconnection is possible for a limited period; a permanent choice follows afterwards.
When will you encounter this?
Disconnection becomes relevant once a building can truly operate without natural gas. That happens in three recognisable situations. The first is an individual switch to all-electric: heating with heat pumps, electric cooking and electric hot water. The second is connecting to a heat network, where heat from outside the building replaces the gas boiler. The third is the neighbourhood approach: Dutch municipalities draw up plans to make neighbourhoods natural gas free step by step, and disconnection is then organised collectively. The gas connection must also be removed before a building is demolished or redeveloped. Note: a hybrid heat pump is not a reason to disconnect, because it still uses the gas grid as backup on cold days. Disconnection only fits a fully natural gas free situation.
- With a complete switch to all-electric heating, cooking and hot water.
- When connecting to a heat network that fully replaces the gas boiler.
- In a municipal neighbourhood approach towards a natural gas free district.
- When a building is demolished or redeveloped.
- Not with a hybrid heat pump: it still needs the gas grid.
How do you arrange it and what should you watch?
First make sure the alternative fully works: heating, hot water and cooking must be arranged without gas before the connection disappears. Then submit the request to your regional grid operator; this can be done online through a step-by-step process on the website of, for example, Liander, Stedin or Enexis. The grid operator schedules a technician and removes the meter and the service pipe. Allow for lead time between application and execution. On the cost side there is no single national arrangement: what you pay differs per grid operator and per situation, and policy on who bears the removal costs is in motion. Therefore check the current arrangement with your grid operator before applying. Finally, remember that disconnection is permanent: anyone who wants gas again later applies for a completely new connection, with the associated costs and waiting time.
- Arrange a fully working natural gas free alternative first, then the removal.
- Request the removal online from your regional grid operator and allow for lead time.
- What you pay differs per grid operator and policy is in motion; check the current arrangement.
- Going back is costly and slow: a new gas connection requires a completely new application.
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