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New Natural Gas Service
Natural gas is the best choice for space and water heating in new
construction. Converting to natural gas for heat or adding a new
gas fireplace may be more affordable than you think, especially if
you already have natural gas in your neighborhood. Please review
this general overview of the requirements for new gas service.
Each construction project differs, so contact Montana-Dakota to
discuss your project. We’ll be happy to help.
Getting Started
On Site
Montana-Dakota reserves the right to specify the meter location.
All meters must be outside. The gas meter should be located on
the side of the building nearest the local electric transformer.
New construction gas meter locations should be within 10 feet of
the electric meter to allow for a shared service trench, reducing
the costs to the builder/homeowner. Montana-Dakota requires a
4-foot clear zone in front of the gas meter.
1. Contact Montana-Dakota to confirm natural gas service at
your location.
2. Be ready to provide the following information:
• 911 address of building site.
• Mailing address.
• Capacity of equipment or total connected load (in BTUs) to
be served by natural gas.
• Knowledge of customer-owned underground facilities.
3. Obtain a building or mechanical permit from the city or
county building department.
Know the following information in advance to avoid service
delays or having to do an expensive relocation someday:
• Septic system location
• Building plans
• Cooking exhaust location
• Electric routes
• Future landscaping
• Phone routes
• Foundation vent location
• Deck conflicts
• Furnace exhaust location
• Roof drainage
• Bathroom exhaust location • Window/Door
• Dryer exhaust location
• Cable routes
When you have completed these steps, schedule a site visit with
one of our representatives. We schedule two to 10 weeks in
advance, depending on how busy the construction season is, so
call early.
Customers must pressure test all customer-owned natural gas
piping systems per local jurisdictional code. The system can be
pressure tested through the ¼-inch tap on the meter bar.
Prepare For Service
Your lot must be at final grade and the foundation backfilled and
compacted at the meter location. Should an aid to construction
be required, it must be paid to Montana-Dakota before we install
your service.
The “Gas Meter Location” diagram on the reverse side of this
page illustrates meter location and clearances. Be sure the meter
and associated equipment are protected from falling ice, snow,
water, etc. The “Optimal Building Entry” area is identified as the
green shaded area. The gas line should stub out of your building
in the green shaded area.
Pipe stubbed from a mobile home must be at least ¾-inch in
diameter. A kink-proof mobile home connector from the piping
to the gas meter must be provided.
Contact Us…
Hook-Up
The meter bar and riser must be level and plumb after customer
piping is connected. If Montana-Dakota’s facilities are under
stress before the meter is set, a service call charge may be assessed
and the meter will NOT be set. Your mechanical contractor
will have to re-pipe the connection and an additional call to
request the meter will be required. At the time we witness the
pressure test, or receive notification indicating it was tested, our
representative will set the gas meter.
You are responsible for inspecting and maintaining piping
downstream of the meter, including buried lines that may be
subject to corrosion and leaks. NO structures or buildings can be
located over Montana-Dakota
In
owned natural gas lines. You
may contact Montana-Dakota for
advice or assistance at any time.
the
Community
to
If you are excavating, call the
universal 811 number to have utility
lines located and marked at least two
working days before you begin. It’s
free and it’s the law. Calling before
you dig can save lives and prevent
accidents.
Serve
®
Montana
Billings
Glendive
Wolf Point
South Dakota
Mobridge
Rapid City
Spearfish
North Dakota
Bismarck
Devils Lake
Dickinson
Jamestown
Minot
Watford City
Williston
Wyoming
Sheridan
Contact Montana-Dakota at
1-800-MDU-FAST
(1-800-638-3278)
www.montana-dakota.com
Gas Meter Location
*NOTE*
“Optimal Building Entry” area is shaded in green.