A seamless switch to gas for Magherafelt resident Chris

For many households, changing a heating system can feel daunting.

For Chris McKee, a homeowner in Magherafelt who recently connected to the gas network with Evolve, the experience was refreshingly straightforward.

“It was pretty seamless, to be honest, from start to finish,” he said.

“Paperwork was easy. It was promised within a short period of time, and it wasdone within that time schedule.”

That reliability is central to how Evolve approaches the expansion of its gas network in Magherafelt and across the west of Northern Ireland, where demand continues to grow as households look to transition away from oil and solid fuel towards more efficient and sustainable energy.

“The fitters were here for one day for the install,” Chris explained.

“I was shown how to use the systems, how to use the app, and how to use the heating system – and it's been brilliant ever since. I have no complaints whatsoever. From start to finish, it's been brilliant.”

Once connected, the day-to-day benefits quickly become clear for this Magherafelt resident.

He said: “You wake up in the morning, have a quick shower and there's hot water, go and do your dishes and its instant hot water. The heating heats the house really, really quickly too – it’s really good.”

The switch has also brought practical gains around the house for Chris.

“The benefits have been brilliant, from the space and getting the smelly old oil tank away out in the garden. It has left me a lot more space in the hot press with no cylinder, and obviously, as I say, the convenience and instant hot water.”

While convenience is the immediate draw, efficiency and carbon reduction are increasingly part of the conversation.

“It's more carbon-friendly and more efficient,” said Chris. “It helps the environment, and certainly with me not being in the house too much – back and forward – it's very handy as you can switch on the gas with the app on your phone. Come home, the house is warm.”

Experiences like Chris’ reflect why Evolve continues to invest in expanding and upgrading its state-of-the-art gas infrastructure, increasing capacity so more homes and businesses can connect, while futureproofing the network for renewable gases such as biomethane.

Since going live in 2020, the network recently celebrated a key milestone by passing the 5,000 connection mark, while also facilitating the first-ever direct-to-grid injection of biomethane on the island of Ireland. It is a combination that reflects Evolve’s dual focus on present day connections whilst playing a leading role in the longer-term energy transition for Northern Ireland.

To find out more about the Evolve network, including incentives and offers for connecting to gas, visit evolvenetwork.co.uk