gas meters

[allotment10]

hi, wondered if anyone out there could help me, last week national grid came and took out my imperial meter to install a new metric one,within this week i seem to have used more digits than on the imperial! ie:116 on the old in two months and the way it seems to be going i'll use that in less than a month. i'm not using any more or different appliances & using the same amount of gas etc,the new meter seems to be doubling it all up! can anyone understand this? or has anyone got the same? any help greatly appreciated.

[brachiopod]

There is a BIG clue in your question. Your meter has been converted from imperial to metric.

The little digits go round each time a specific volume of gas is used. In the case of your new meter, it is measuring a metric volume of gas that is smaller than that measured by your old meter, hence the digits roll by at a quicker rate than before.

For example;

You old meter probably measured in hundreds of cubic feet (cu.ft.). Let's say you used 10,000 cu.ft. of gas, meaning your meter would have 'clicked round' a hundred times.
When you get your gas bill, they convert this figure to cubic metres (m�) by multiplying your 10,000 cu.ft by 0.02832. This means you have used 283.2 m� of gas.

Your new metric meter is probably measuring in cubic meters, so if you used the same volume of gas (283.2m�), it will 'click round' 283 times.

In both cases, you have used exactly the same amount of gas, but one is measured using an imperial meter (100 'units'), the other a metric (283 'units'). When you receive your new bill, they will know that you have a metric meter, and so the imperial-to-metric conversion is not included.

Once the gas board have the volume of gas used, they work out the average calorific value (ie the amount of energy) of the gas supplied during that period (as it can vary), and finally charge you according to the energy you have used by converting to KiloWatt hours (KWh)

[allotment10]

thanks brachiopod, think i understand now youv'e explained, thanks again.

[brachiopod]

Glad to be of help !