Permanent abandonment is required if you anticipate that you will not use gas for a year or more. This entails Washington Gas permanently disconnecting the gas line connected to your home/project at the main pipeline, which is often located in the street and will therefore require Washington Gas to obtain the necessary permit(s) before the work can be started. This will be performed at no cost to you. However, should you choose to start natural gas service again in the future, there may be a cost associated with that service.

Washington Gas will also issue a “Service Abandonment” letter, verifying Washington Gas’ completion of the permanent abandonment of service. This official document will not be issued until the natural gas service line has been physically severed and a technician has taken possession of the gas meter.

Note: The “Service Abandonment” letter is an official document that may be required by local permitting authorities before a demolition permit will be issued for the property. Furthermore, the letter is essential verification to customers that their gas service has been permanently abandoned and no longer presents a safety hazard or impediment to tear down of their structures.

Temporary abandonment is appropriate if you plan to resume gas service within one year of the disconnection of your service. If you choose this option, Washington Gas will temporarily disconnect the gas service to the property in question by excavating and capping off the gas service line at the point where the service line enters the customer’s private property. While this temporary disconnection is performed at no cost, there may be a cost associated with reconnecting and restoring service. For this option, customers will also receive a “Service Abandonment” letter from Washington Gas after the natural gas service line has been physically severed and a technician has taken possession of the gas meter.

Note: Temporary disconnects will not be allowed to remain disconnected indefinitely. Washington Gas may initiate activity to permanently disconnect the service at the main if a request to reconnect the gas line is not received within six months after the end of the one-year, no gas use period.