I receive dozens of messages with this question. As you have already noticed, if you are an EDP or GALP client (we do not yet know the amount of surcharges from the rest), from October 1, the price of gas will almost triple. The bill for 20 becomes 60, from 50 to 150, from 300 to 900 euros. This is serious.

As I explained to you in this article HEREif you have calculated and it is not profitable to continue working in your company because you have other discounts that are very important to you, the best solution is to GO to the regulated market as soon as possible. We still don’t know how it’s done because the government hasn’t explained it yet. You will have to wait.

But do I have to pay 60 to 80 euros or more to change?

This moment is VERY IMPORTANT. The answer is yes and no. It depends on how long ago you last had a gas inspection of your home. I predict that tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of you will have to pay for a new gas inspection if you want to change your gas supplier, regulated or not.

But I want you to understand one simple thing: No one should pay a new gas inspection just to change the gas company. Reviews are required every x years, whether you change supplier or not. What’s happening is that many of us didn’t do this in our time, and now, by law, a supplier (regulated or not) is required to request a valid verification report in order to enter into a new contract.

If you have it and it is valid (within the legal validity period), you change the contract and you do not need to pay anything. If it’s expired, or you can’t find it, or you never had it (at a time when the document wasn’t required), then YES, you’ll have to pay for a new inspection before moving to a regulated market (or another company).

Will there be a place for your inspection?

This is one of the big problems that I foresee. As soon as it will be possible to return to the regulated gas market (we don’t know yet how), there will be a flow of applications for these checks. Will companies be able to respond to tens of thousands of inquiries in the first few weeks? I really doubt.

That is, if you are not very careful and are already requesting a review, you may have to wait a few weeks, a month or more before you can switch to a regulated market. In the meantime, you will pay absurd prices.

Perhaps the government, realizing this problem, will create some kind of exemption / deferment / any other solution so that the bureaucracy does not block the savings of the Portuguese, who want to immediately change the supplier, so as not to fall victim to these terrible increases.

I also want you to understand that this increase is not corporate greed. They can’t afford to buy gas for 300 and sell it to you for 35. This is one of the consequences of the war. We take it to the table.

Who should pay for a new check?

This link has all the information from the Main Directorate of Energy and Geology on this issue:

https://www.dgeg.gov.pt/pt/areas-setoriais/energia/combustiveis/instalacoes-de-gas-em-edificios/

I will summarize for you what is in the law.

Gas installations (IG) are subject to periodic checksin danger of cutting off the gas supply.

In cases of re-equipment, changes to the IG, gas leakage or interruption of its supply due to the presence of a critical defect, the IG is also subject to extraordinary checks. That is, whenever you have a gas problem or change equipment, you are required by law to request a new test. Many people change water heaters, stoves, etc. and they don’t. This is illegal and VERY DANGEROUS.

Change of gas supplier and change of owner in the contract gas supply do not require an extraordinary auditsubject to availability of a valid inspection report or, alternatively, an inspection report with approved results approving the installation.

All GUs are subject to periodic inspection with the following frequency:

In short, look for and see – over time – a valid inspection statement that you have in your home that approves the installation and allows you to confirm that any gas equipment, as well as ventilation and flue gas removal systems, have not been replaced. gas equipment.

When changing the supplier, you do not need to carry out a new inspection if the customer presents a valid inspection certificate and a declaration confirming that no structural changes have been made to the natural gas installation – Declaration of conformity of the installation. You can print this statement from the EDP website, for example using the link in the previous sentence.

When changing the owner of the gas supply contract, a new inspection is also not paid if the customer presents a valid inspection report and a certificate stating that no structural changes have been made to the natural gas installation.

Periodic checks should be carried out:

• 5 after 5 years: in installations with a service life of more than 10 years;
• 3 for 3 years: in gas installations of enterprises and institutions.

In order not to pay for this new verification, you must have these two valid documents with you (to be downloaded when you switch to a regulated market):

• Valid inspection certificate issued by the natural gas inspection body – if the submitted inspection certificate is no longer valid, a new inspection must be carried out. The act of verification does not replace the act of verification.
• Declaration of conformity for a natural gas installation who certifies that, to the best of his knowledge, no changes have been made to the scheme, section or nature of the pipeline (in public places or inside residential premises) or elements of the installation have been replaced by others of a different type.

What am I doing?

Obey the law. If you find your gas inspection is overdue, do it immediately this month so you don’t have to wait weeks after October. If you have an up-to-date inspection (every 5 years, after the first 10), you don’t have to worry about paying these costs (which you will pay later, whether you switch suppliers or not).

Therefore, if you have never considered this aspect of natural gas inspections, expect an additional cost in October of 60, 80 euros or another amount depending on your situation and / or the company you hire to carry out the inspection if you want to switch to a regulated . It’s your responsibility, not the gas company. Go look at your papers.