Singapore legislation
Clause 22
of Gas Bill
Clause 22
Duty to connect
(1)
Subject to the provisions of this Act, a gas transporter shall, on the request of the occupier of any premises in respect of which subsection (2) applies —
in the case of premises referred to in subsection (2)(a), provide and install a gas service isolation valve, provide and lay a gas service pipe from the relevant gas main to the gas service isolation valve and connect such premises to the relevant gas main; and
in the case of premises referred to in subsection (2)(b), connect a gas service pipe provided and laid by the occupier or any other party to the relevant gas main.
(2)
The premises to which subsection (1) applies are the premises situated in the area specified in the gas transporter’s licence and are —
premises situated within 20 meters of a relevant gas main belonging to the gas transporter; or
premises which can be connected to a relevant gas main by a gas service pipe to be provided and laid by the occupier of such premises or any other party requiring the connection, being a gas service pipe which has at its other end a gas service isolation valve to be provided and installed by the occupier or party.
(3)
The occupier shall grant the gas transporter rights of access for laying, installing, maintaining, repairing, altering or removing the gas service pipe or gas service isolation valve, and in the case of a connection to premises under subsection (2)(b), the gas service isolation valve and the gas service pipe from the relevant gas main to the gas service isolation valve shall vest in and become the property of the gas transporter at no cost to the gas transporter.
(4)
Where any premises are connected under the provisions of this Act, the gas transporter shall maintain the connection until it is no longer required by the occupier of the premises.
(5)
Where any connection is made —
under subsection (1)(a), the costs of providing and laying the pipe, providing and installing the gas service isolation valve and making the connection; and
under subsection (1)(b), the costs of making the connection,shall, subject to the conditions of the gas transporter’s licence, only be recovered from the occupier or other party by the gas transporter to the extent they have not been previously recovered from any other person.
(6)
Nothing in subsection (1) shall require the gas transporter to connect, or maintain a connection of, a relevant gas main to any premises, if —
the gas transporter is unable to do so by circumstances beyond its control;
there exist circumstances which by reason of the gas transporter doing so would involve a danger to the public; or
in the case of subsection (1)(b), the gas service pipe or gas service isolation valve provided, and laid or installed, as the case may be, by the occupier or other party is, in the gas transporter’s reasonable opinion, not fit for its purpose.
(7)
Where any person requires a connection to be made or maintained under subsection (1) which —
will result in a new or an increased supply of gas to the premises; and
the new or increased supply of gas cannot be made without the laying of a new, or the enlargement of an existing, gas main or the undertaking of other works related to the conveyance of gas,the gas transporter may refuse to make or maintain the connection until such time as the person enters into an agreement with the gas transporter to make payment of a reasonable amount having regard to —
the costs to be incurred by the gas transporter in laying or enlarging the relevant gas main or undertaking other works related to the conveyance of gas; and
the extent to which such costs can be recovered from other persons.