John is first to join gas network

John is first to join gas network

17 January 2018

BALLYNAHINCH’S John McCoy has become the first customer to connect to the Phoenix Natural Gas network in the town.

The company is investing £60m to bring natural gas to 13 towns across Co Down with its contractors currently working in Downpatrick.

Having constructed the natural gas pipeline throughout Ballynahinch over recent months, Phoenix has now completed the distribution build programme across 80 per cent of the town, with 1,240 properties now able to connect to the natural gas network. 

John said when he saw Phoenix was coming to Ballynahinch, he knew it was the “perfect time” to upgrade his home heating system.

“My oil boiler was 18 years old and was performing poorly and became expensive to run. It was something that I was just living with, but I knew that by upgrading to natural gas I could install a more efficient combi-boiler and enjoy a better performing heating system,” he explained.

“After contacting Phoenix, I was delighted to learn that the whole connection and installation process would take around two days to complete. 

I contacted my local qualified gas installer to complete the installation work and was delighted at how straightforward the whole process was, with a quick and tidy job finished to a high standard.”

Phoenix energy advisor, Jane Kilpatrick, is delighted customers in Ballynahinch are now able to connect to the natural gas network and congratulated John on being the first to install natural gas in his home.

She continued: “For the past year, we have been engaging the Ballynahinch community and communicating the many benefits of upgrading to natural gas. With natural gas now available to half of properties in the town, I look forward to connecting even more customers over the coming months. It’s great to see people here are switched on to the benefits of natural gas and enjoying warmer, cosier homes this winter.”

In addition to Downpatrick, other towns set to benefit from natural gas include Castlewellan, Crossgar, Dromore, Drumaness, Dundrum, Newcastle, Saintfield and Spa.