Piped gas (PNG) connection name change after buying in Vijayawada or Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh (Bhagyanagar Gas)
Short answer: in Vijayawada and Kakinada, piped natural gas (PNG) for homes is supplied by Bhagyanagar Gas Limited (BGL). Before you buy, ask the seller for the latest bill and CRN and a no-dues certificate, and agree in writing who keeps the refundable deposit (Rs 6,000 plus Rs 1,000 on BGL's current form). After registration, ask BGL to change the name; PNGRB rules give the company seven days for a valid request.
Buying in Visakhapatnam (Vizag) or another AP town? BGL's site lists operating areas only in Vijayawada, Kakinada and Hyderabad. We have not verified which city gas company serves Vizag (to verify). The PNGRB rules below apply to every authorised city gas company, so the steps are the same: bill and customer number, no-dues certificate, deposit settled in writing, then the name change.
A gas bill is not proof of ownership
BGL's own terms say: "PNG invoice issued by BGL at customer registered address is only limited for billing purpose and the same cannot be treated as a valid ownership proof towards the residence/premise." A seller with a gas bill in their name has shown only that they pay for the gas. Check title through the sale deed, the encumbrance certificate and a lawyer.
Check it before you pay the balance
| Step | What to do (official pages read 22 Oct 2026) |
|---|---|
| 1. Is the area on the BGL network? | BGL publishes a list of operating areas in Vijayawada. A gas pipe in the kitchen does not tell you the connection is live, so ask the seller to show a recent bill. |
| 2. Get the CRN | Ask for the latest bill. BGL's PNG FAQs say the CRN (Customer Relationship Number) "is available on your bill copy"; it is the number used to pay bills and raise requests. The billing cycle "is bi-monthly", so ask for at least the last two bills and receipts. |
| 3. Ask for the no-dues certificate | The seller should apply for it before handover (PNGRB Reg 5(2)). If the connection is already disconnected, you can apply yourself, and BGL says it will give "a written response regarding the dues or issue the "No Dues Certificate" within seven days". |
| 4. Settle the deposit | Agree in writing whether the deposit moves to you or the seller takes the refund (see below). |
| 5. After registration, apply for the name change | Contact BGL with your sale deed copy, ID, CRN and the seller's consent letter if you have one. BGL's customer services page lists a self-service portal to "Update personal details" and "Raise service requests". BGL's name-change form, documents list and fee are to verify: we did not find them on the pages we read, and its customer services tariff card (w.e.f. 01.02.2024) has no name-change row. |
What the regulator says happens when a home with gas is sold
City gas companies follow the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) Code of Practice for Quality of Service for City or Local Natural Gas Distribution Networks Regulations, 2010 (we read the version consolidated up to the 15 March 2018 amendment; later changes are to verify). The parts that matter to a buyer:
| Who | What the regulation says |
|---|---|
| Seller (existing consumer) | Reg 5(2): "Consumer shall inform the entity before any change of ownership of premises and clear all pending arrears and apply for "No dues Certificate" and obtain refundable of security deposit from the entity." |
| You (new owner) | Reg 5(3): "The new owner of the premises may apply to the entity alongwith necessary documentation and security deposit." |
| Gas company, on a name change | Reg 4(2)(b): it must verify that you are "the new lawful owner of the premises" or that the request comes with "a consent letter from the existing consumer", check "the status of transfer of refundable security deposit from the previous owner of the premises to the new owner", make the change "within a period of seven days of receiving the request", and "inform both previous and new owner" within thirty days. If no deposit is available to transfer, it "may seek fresh refundable security deposit from the new owner". |
| If the connection is already cut off | Reg 4(1)(h) and (i): a buyer of "a property with gas connection lying disconnected" applies for a "No dues certificate", and the company must state the dues in writing or issue the certificate "within seven days". |
| Inherited home | Reg 4(2)(c): the connection "may be transferred to his legal successor subject to such requirements as the entity may specify." |
The deposit: settle it with the seller in writing
On Bhagyanagar Gas Limited's domestic PNG registration form, a new connection costs Rs 7000 at registration: "an interest free refundable security deposit of Rs 6,000 per domestic connection" plus "Rs 1,000 towards consumption security deposit". Its terms then say: "If the registered customer sells out his/her property, he/she is liable to surrender the connection to BGL or has to settle the security deposit & any other charges dues w.r.t. to PNG with buyer and BGL will not be responsible for any claims."
So in Vijayawada and Kakinada, the gas company leaves the deposit between you and the seller. Agree one of two routes before you pay the balance, and put it in the agreement of sale (ask your lawyer for the wording):
- Deposit moves to you: the seller signs a consent letter for the name change and the deposit stays on the connection. You may pay the seller for it; the regulation's name-change step checks "the status of transfer" of this deposit.
- Seller takes the refund: the seller clears the bill, gets the no-dues certificate and the refund, and you pay a fresh deposit when you apply.
Two official texts point different ways. PNGRB Reg 4(2)(b) describes the deposit moving from the old owner to the new one, while Reg 5(2) and BGL's terms describe the seller taking the refund or settling with the buyer. Both routes appear in official text; we have not resolved which one BGL uses by default. Ask BGL which route it follows before you sign.
Why unpaid gas bills matter to you
BGL's registration terms say "Any default in the payment of bill will attract a penal interest of 2% per month", that supply may be disconnected for unpaid bills, and that it is resumed "only ... after clearance of all outstanding bills with applicable interest". The terms also give a minimum bill equal to 25 SCM per two-month cycle, even for a locked house.
Reconnection charge: two BGL documents differ. The registration terms say "a minimum amount of Rs 3,000 is charged" for reconnection after a non-payment cut. The tariff card lists Rs 1200 for "Re-connection for D-PNG, C-PNG and I-PNG (If force disconnection done)" and a Rs 1000 force-disconnection penalty for domestic connections. Confirm the current amount with BGL. Either way, the seller should clear it before handover.
Five things to ask the seller for
- The latest BGL bill with the CRN, and the last two paid receipts.
- A no-dues certificate from BGL (or a written dues statement), dated close to handover.
- A signed consent letter for the name change, if the deposit is moving to you.
- For a flat: confirmation from the association that the building's gas line and riser are in order, and whether any society charges relate to gas.
- A clause in the agreement of sale that the seller clears gas dues up to handover and how the Rs 6,000 / Rs 1,000 deposits are settled.
Related guides
- Electricity meter name change after buying
- Water connection check and name change after buying
- Property tax name change after buying
- Flat possession handover checklist
- Agreement of sale vs sale deed checklist
Buying in Telangana? See the Telangana guide.
Not legal advice. This page summarises the PNGRB regulation and Bhagyanagar Gas Limited documents read on 22 Oct 2026. Charges and procedures change; confirm with the gas company and a qualified lawyer before you pay.
A free sample from our Andhra Pradesh property do-it-yourself pack for NRIs: which portal to open, in what order, what to ask for, and what to keep on file.
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Who supplies piped gas in Vijayawada and Kakinada?
Bhagyanagar Gas Limited (a GAIL and HPCL joint venture) lists operating areas in Vijayawada and Kakinada on its website.
How do I change the PNG connection name after buying in Vijayawada?
After registration, apply to BGL with your sale deed copy, ID, CRN and the seller's consent letter if the deposit moves to you. PNGRB rules give seven days for a valid request; BGL's form and fee are to verify.
Who keeps the PNG deposit when a house is sold?
BGL's terms leave it to the seller and buyer: the seller surrenders the connection or settles the deposit and dues with the buyer. Write the agreed route into the agreement of sale.
What about Vizag?
BGL's site does not list Visakhapatnam areas. Which city gas company serves Vizag is to verify; the PNGRB name-change and no-dues rules apply to every authorised company.
Official sources
- PNGRB: Quality of Service Regulations for city gas networks, 2010 (consolidated to 15.03.2018, PDF)
- BGL: PNG FAQs (PDF)
- BGL: domestic PNG registration form and terms (PDF)
- BGL: customer services tariff card (PDF)
- BGL: operating areas in Vijayawada
- BGL: operating areas in Kakinada
Not legal advice. We don't check properties or certify ads. A lawyer must confirm title, and the Authority's own notices override anything on this page.