IT’S first stop Ramsey for the natural gas conversion team next week as the final stage of one of the Island’s largest infrastructure projects gets underway.
Monday (27 February) marks the start of the ten-month scheme to convert more than six thousand properties to natural gas.
At the heart of the conversion work will be the Manx Gas mobile support unit, a blue bus which will travel around the Island as work progresses. The bus will act as a drop-in centre for customers wishing to find out more about the process.
Project manager Aidan Baglow said: “We want to ensure that customers get the support where they need it, right outside their homes, so the support centre will be based in the conversion areas throughout the project.”
The bus will also offer a secure key-holding service for the benefit of customers who are working and away from home throughout the day, allowing engineers to carry out the work with minimum inconvenience.
“Our support team is here to help,” Mr Baglow added. “We understand that there may be some inconvenience, but this work will not be possible without the kind co-operation of our customers.”
Every customer will receive at least one month’s notice of when their conversion will take place, plus further reminders in the week leading up to their conversion day. Information will also be posted on a dedicated website at naturalgasiom.com and the new conversion Facebook page at Facebook.com/ManxGasConversion.
After leaving Ramsey, engineers will move on to Castletown, Ballasalla, Colby, Ballakillowey, Port Erin, Port St Mary, Kirk Michael, Peel, finally completing the project in Ballaugh in December. All these networks will be split into smaller sectors of around 100 properties, with every home and business in each zone converted at the same time.
“I’m proud to say that all of the gas conversion work will be completed by local engineers who have undergone extensive further training to give them the required skills,” said Mr Baglow.
He added: “Using local engineers has been vital to the success of the project so far. All the investment in training will benefit the whole Island as the skills these engineers now have will stay on the Island after the project has finished.”
Once converted, customers will instantly switch to the lower natural gas tariff which already applies to customers in the Douglas, Onchan and Middle areas. By January 2013, every central heating gas customer on the Island will pay the same for their fuel.
Anyone wishing to find out further information can contact the dedicated conversion call centre on 644445.
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