The short version: setting up gas service depends on what is already at your address. If the meter is already there, you just pick a retailer. If the service line is in but no meter, the distributor installs one. If it is a new build, the distributor extends the line, installs the meter, and you pick a retailer. Three distinct paths, three different timelines.

The first thing to figure out

Is there a meter on the wall already? If yes, you are 90 percent done before you call anyone. If no, the question becomes whether the service line is in (a less expensive add-on) or absent (a much larger project). Walk the property line and look. The distributor can confirm what they have on file at the address.

The three setup scenarios

Scenario
Existing meter, just moved in

Pick a retailer, sign up online, meter activates next read.

Timing
5 to 10 business days
Scenario
Service line exists, no meter installed

Distributor schedules a meter installation. Retailer setup runs in parallel.

Timing
2 to 4 weeks
Scenario
Brand new build / no service line

Distributor surveys the site, quotes the trench and line, schedules installation. Then retailer setup.

Timing
4 to 12 weeks

Tool: which gas setup path is mine?

Two quick questions narrow it down.

Your scenario

The non-obvious thing about scheduling

Distributor installation calendars get crowded in spring and early summer (renovations, new builds). Getting a meter installed in May can take longer than in November. If your move-in or build timeline is flexible, plan the connection for shoulder seasons. A few weeks of waiting in a peak month can stretch to two months.

What this means for your household

  • Confirm whether the meter is already on the wall before anything else.
  • Existing meter = retailer signup only. Fastest path.
  • New connection = budget weeks and dollars; site-specific quote required.
  • Use a licensed gas-fitter for any indoor work — never DIY.

Frequently asked questions

4 to 12 weeks typically, depending on the distributor's backlog, the complexity of the trench, and whether the gas main needs to be extended.
Yes for any gas-line work inside the home and for the meter installation. Your licensed gas-fitter handles the permits, not you.
No. Gas-fitting requires a licensed trades person under provincial regulation. Self-installed gas line is a safety violation and the distributor will not connect a meter to it.
You just pick a retailer and sign up. The distributor reactivates the meter remotely or with a short visit.
You do, in most cases. New connections include trenching, the service line, and the meter. Cost varies widely by site complexity.