The Case For Keeping Your Natural Gas Meter In All-Electric Homes
We've built all-electric homes in Toronto. They work beautifully.
So why do we tell homeowners to keep their gas connections?
Because your backup generator runs on natural gas. And when the power goes out in February, that detail matters more than any environmental goal.
The Financial Reality
Enbridge charges between $2,000 and $5,000 to remove and reinstall a gas meter. Site-specific, non-negotiable.
Keeping an inactive meter costs roughly $30 per month. You can even shut it down completely while maintaining the infrastructure.
The math is simple. Pay thousands upfront to remove something you might need later, or pay $360 annually to keep your options open.
For future resale alone, you might as well keep it.
What Actually Happens During Outages
During the most recent ice storm a few years ago that knocked out power across Toronto, we followed up with clients who had just moved into a home with a gas fireplace.
They stayed comfortable. The fireplace kept things warm enough to ride out the outage without leaving.
Meanwhile, homeowners North of the city reported indoor temperatures dropping to less than 16°C. They needed portable generators that required refueling every six hours at significant expense to their wallet and time.
Weather-related power outages have increased 60% in the most recent five-year reporting period. This trend suggests backup heating is becoming more critical, not less.
The Generator Paradox
Here's what most homeowners don't realize until it's too late.
Permanent backup generators, the kind that automatically kick in during outages, run on natural gas (or propane). They can connect directly to your gas line and provide unlimited runtime without refueling (unless you live in an area that requires a propane tank, but you would have fuel for a significant amount of time in that case).
Remove your gas connection and you eliminate your most reliable backup power option.
You're left with portable generators that need constant refueling during the exact conditions (cold weather) that make refueling difficult.
The Balanced Approach
When environmentally-conscious clients come to us wanting full electrification, we start by understanding their goals.
Then we explain they can have both. Run all standard appliances on electricity while maintaining gas infrastructure for emergencies.
We're all for going green. But it has to be within reason.
A future-proofed home isn't one that commits entirely to a single energy source. It's one that maintains flexibility for whatever comes next.
Whether that's extreme weather events, grid instability, or energy technology we haven't seen yet.
The most robust homes we build use electric systems for daily operations and keep gas connections for the scenarios that matter most.
About BVM COntracting
BVM Contracting is a full-service General Contractor or Home Builder located in Toronto. We provide home renovation and building services for major home renovations and custom home builds (full interior renovations, home additions, lot severances, new home construction, garden suites, and laneway suites). Our goal is to help guide our clients through the process of building their home, from concept to completion.
Further than providing General Contracting and Project Management for major home renovations, we also offer value-added services such as renovation financing, renovation rebate consultations and services, building permit and design services, smart home installation services, and real estate investor services.
To learn more about our offering by visiting our services page. Learn more about our vision, mission, and values here.