MANX Gas has said the first stage of the natural gas extension project is running ahead of schedule.

The project was launched five weeks ago and in that time 1,000 properties have been surveyed in readiness for conversion in 2012.

Aidan Baglow, conversion project manager, said: "The pre-conversion survey is crucial to the successful outcome of the project.

"In addition to identifying all the appliances in every property, all appliances are given a full safety check while any remedial work, to ensure an appliance is safe, is carried out by our fully trained engineers.

"Problems encountered have primarily been flue and ventilation issues, which our engineers have rectified without any inconvenience or cost to customers."

The year-long survey project has so far focused on properties in Ramsey. Engineers have another month's work ahead of them, involving a further 1,300 customers, before moving to the south and finally the west of the Island.  

 
The total number of homes and businesses to be surveyed before the conversion to natural gas next year is 6,800.

18 specially trained engineers are carrying out the work. Once gas appliances in a property have been checked the relevant engineer feeds the detailed information through from his laptop, giving the conversion team real-time updates on progress.

Aidan continued: "Months of planning, coupled with the training of our Isle of Man-based engineers, is paying off. So far all is going well but there is no room for complacency - as I've stressed from the very beginning this is a customer driven project."

There has been a 75 percent success rate in Ramsey with customers responding to letters offering dates and times when engineers can carry out surveys at their properties.

Aidan concluded: "I want to urge all customers who have already received a letter to contact our call centre on 644445 as we will not be able to convert their appliances to natural gas in the absence of a survey."