Frequently Asked Questions

You can save up to 50% on your annual heating costs by switching from oil to natural gas. We provide current natural gas rates on our Rates page. You can view current fuel/oil prices for your state at one of the following links:

• Maine
• Massachusetts
• New Hampshire

The process depends on which state you live in:

Maine

Before the meter can be set and turned on, Unitil will need access to the equipment that will be using natural gas in order to perform a required safety check. The equipment must be installed, wired and ready, and the contractor will have performed a pressure test on the system. Paperwork is required to be completed by your installer/contractor and made available at the job site for Unitil (most contractors already have a copy of this document and are aware of this requirement). We schedule appointments in four-hour blocks, between 8:00 a.m. and noon, or noon and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Please call 207-541-2570 to set up an appointment.

Massachusetts

A gas inspection number must be called in to Unitil by your local gas inspector. This lets us know that they have approved your internal piping and it meets state plumbing code. You must call your local Customer Project Coordinator at 978-353-3221 to have an account and a meter order set up in your name to authorize the meter installation.

Once the inspection number is called in and your meter order is complete, we schedule your meter set. Please note: if new gas equipment has been installed, your plumber must be present to light all the gas equipment or the meter will be set in the locked position. If your meter is set in the locked position, you must call our Customer Service team at 1-888-301-7700 to create a work order to have the meter turned on. Our Meter & Service Department will work with your plumber to coordinate the installation of the meter.

New Hampshire

After the gas service line is installed, the plumbing and heating contractor has performed a pressure test, and your local inspector has approved the installation, please contact us at 603-294-5155 to schedule your meter installation.

Depending on your specific location, it may be possible to extend the gas main. For many potential customers, if your home is located less than 100 feet from a natural gas main and you intend to use natural gas to heat your home, installation of a natural gas service line from the street to your home could be free (some restrictions may apply). Call us directly at 1-888-486-4845 — we can help determine if natural gas is available for you.

We anticipate natural gas will be cheaper than oil or propane as a home heating source for many years. Of course, the energy markets are always shifting and we cannot guarantee natural gas will always be less expensive than other sources.

If you’re already using natural gas in your home, it’s likely that you can also use natural gas to heat your home — but it depends on your precise location. The best way to know for sure is to call us: 1-888-486-4845, or fill out our online form.

Natural gas is a safe, affordable, convenient, reliable, versatile and clean-burning source of energy when used correctly in equipment that is properly installed and maintained. View our natural gas safety page for more information.

Net metering is the process of measuring the difference between the electricity supplied over the electric distribution system (by your utility company) and the electricity generated by an eligible on-site generator and fed back into the distribution system.

Historically, the electric grid has been a series of one-way streets with power flowing from a power plant to your neighborhood, street, and eventually your home. However, the concept of net metering is changing the way poles and wires are used. Homeowners who generate more electricity than they need through home-installed solar, wind, or other systems can push that electricity back out through their meters as a surplus. The “net” in net metering refers to the process where a customer’s overall account bill now reflects both the power being used and the amount of power being generated.

Yes. If an electric generation facility can be connected to the electric system, you need to apply for interconnection. Properly installed emergency generators with a transfer switch do not need to apply.

Upload your documents securely through your Interconnection Program Portal.

The Budget Billing Program is a free service available to residential customers. You may enroll anytime, provided your account is current with no overdue balance.