Gas smell inside the house?
Walk everyone out first, then ring 000 and ask for NSW Fire and Rescue. If you can reach the meter safely, shut the gas off there, turn every appliance off, electrical ones included, along with pilot lights, and open doors and windows. Put out any flame or cigarette. After that, contact a licensed gasfitter and the gas supplier shown on your bill.
Who owns which part of the gas supply
| Who is responsible | What that means for you | |
|---|---|---|
| The service line up to your boundary | Jemena installs and maintains it | Report faults on Jemena's side to Jemena, through the faults line on its website |
| The meter | Jemena supplies and maintains it | Keep it safe and secure, and let Jemena in to read and maintain it |
| The service pipe inside your boundary | You, as the owner | Keep it in a safe condition. If it's damaged or faulty, the repair is on you, surfaces included |
| Pipes from the meter to each appliance, and the appliances | You, as the owner | Only a licensed gasfitter may install, alter, extend or repair them |
Gas facts for Newcastle homes
One network across the coast
Jemena's networks distribute natural gas to Newcastle, Sydney, the Central Coast and Wollongong, and to more than 20 regional centres.
Dig carefully
Jemena asks customers to contact Before You Dig Australia before any underground or landscaping work. A gas service pipe damaged by digging on your side is yours to pay for.
Disconnected doesn't mean empty
After a temporary disconnection, the service pipe from the street to the meter still holds gas, Jemena says, so trenches near it need extra care.
Going electric, renovating or knocking down
Only Jemena and its authorised contractors may disconnect or abolish gas on Jemena's assets, and your energy retailer charges for it. A temporary disconnection turns the supply off at the meter and leaves the meter and pipework in place. Demolition, a rebuild or a major renovation needs a permanent abolishment, which SafeWork NSW's demolition code requires. Even then, the service pipe stays on the property because it's consumer-owned.
Taking an old cooktop or heater off your own pipework is different. That's gasfitting work, so a licensed gasfitter caps it properly. We haven't found any NSW rule that forces homes off gas, so whether to switch is your decision. Our gas disconnection page explains the steps.
Licence and certificate
NSW law requires a licence for any gasfitting, under the Gas and Electricity (Consumer Safety) Act 2017. Before you book, look the gasfitter up on the NSW Public Register and make sure gasfitting is among the licence categories.
For work on a networked installation like Jemena's, the gasfitter has 5 business days after finishing to test it for defects and lodge a certificate of compliance with Building Commission NSW. Since 1 March 2026 that goes through the online eCert portal. Ask for your copy, with the gasfitter's name and licence number on it.
Questions for a Newcastle gas fitter
- Is the problem on my pipework, or on Jemena's side of the meter?
- Does your licence on the Public Register include gasfitting?
- If I'm removing a gas appliance, will you cap the supply and certify it?
- When will the certificate of compliance go in, and when do I get my copy?
What we would do
Work out which side of the meter the job is on before you book. Anything on Jemena's side, including a leak in the street, is Jemena's to deal with; anything on yours needs a licensed gasfitter. If you're planning a renovation or knock-down, ask your retailer about abolishment early, because Jemena does that work, not your builder. For the rest, a gas fitter who does your kind of job every week, checked on the Public Register, is the right call.