How many units of Gas are you using daily?

Mazio_2

I still think that it depends on other factors which will be different for most properties. Each property will be built differently so you really need to test this out individuallay and for longer period. This may indeed work for you but may not for others. I totally agree that the system uses allot of energy at startup so there is logic in this.

Some factors to consider

1) How well insulated the house / rooms are
2)How modern the boiler is and well the system has been designed
3)How accurate the controls eg TVRs, zone controls (if any) are
4) How quickly the house and system gets upto temp from cold
5) How long the house is empty for

Do you leave your heating on at night as this theory would suggest never turning your heating off in winter?

I am in no way disputing your findings just interested in saving money and being comfortable in my own house.

Watson12

Just had our latest online bill from E-ON and as I keep an eye on the usage each month and therefore the cost I have noticed that the calculation they make to work out the kilowatts for the gas used has changed in their favour - what a surprise!!. On my May bill they used a calorific value multiplier of 39. Now they are using 39.1. I Why the increase? I have e-mailed them and not had a reply so far.

As a matter of interest we were paying £92 per month and they have asked to increase it to £108 a rise of 17% even though we are £83 in credit. No way am I accepting that so I guess it is time for a change of supplier.

Magentasue

Watson12 wrote: »

As a matter of interest we were paying £92 per month and they have asked to increase it to £108 a rise of 17% even though we are £83 in credit. No way am I accepting that so I guess it is time for a change of supplier.

But will you still be in credit by Christmas? By February? By April?

It looks as if your monthly payments are sufficient to build up a credit to offset winter use but that your payments must increase to cover increased unit costs.

espresso

Watson12 wrote: »

Just had our latest online bill from E-ON and as I keep an eye on the usage each month and therefore the cost I have noticed that the calculation they make to work out the kilowatts for the gas used has changed in their favour - what a surprise!!. On my May bill they used a calorific value multiplier of 39. Now they are using 39.1. I Why the increase? I have e-mailed them and not had a reply so far.

As a matter of interest we were paying £92 per month and they have asked to increase it to £108 a rise of 17% even though we are £83 in credit. No way am I accepting that so I guess it is time for a change of supplier.

So you must be in the south west then, because the CV refers to the amount of energy released when gas is combusted under specified conditions and the CV is dependent upon the composition of the gas, which varies around the country.

The calorific value of natural gas is measured, in accordance with statutory regulations, using chromatographs and combustion calorimeters located on the pipeline system. Gas chromatographs separate natural gas into its constituent compounds (methane, ethane, carbon dioxide etc) and measure the amount of each in the gas. The physical characteristics of each component are programmed into the chromatograph and an overall CV is derived from the measured composition.

Regarding your month DD payments, you may well be in credit at the moment after lower summer usage but your DD is calculated to pay for your annual usage, divided into 12 monthly payments. You can easily calculate this for yourself and check that the DD is correct.

RHYSDAD

espresso wrote: »

You have not used 25 cubic feet since 3rd October, you have actually used 2500 cubic feet, because imperial gas meters register 100's of cubic feet. To convert to kWh, an imperial unit (100 cu FT) is in the region of 32kWh and a metric unit (1 cu M) or approx 11kWh. If you want a more accurate conversion see here.

Thanks for the link, very useful. But why is a cubic foot of gas higher in kw/h than a cubic meter, 32kwh as opposed to 11kwh? Surely a cubic meter of gas is, in fact, a higher quantity? What's the obvious thing i'm missing?

espresso

RHYSDAD wrote: »

Thanks for the link, very useful. But why is a cubic foot of gas higher in kw/h than a cubic meter, 32kwh as opposed to 11kwh? Surely a cubic meter of gas is, in fact, a higher quantity? What's the obvious thing i'm missing?

Because it's not a cubic foot of gas, it's 100 cubic foot as the meters register in 100's of cubic feet as stated on the meter dial.

RHYSDAD

espresso wrote: »

Because it's not a cubic foot of gas, it's 100 cubic foot as the meters register in 100's of cubic feet as stated on the meter dial.

But cubic meters are just that and not 100's of cubic meters?

espresso

RHYSDAD wrote: »

But cubic meters are just that and not 100's of cubic meters?

Yes, metric meters register in cu M and imperial meters register in 100's of cu F.

RHYSDAD

Cheers for the explanations...

Watson12

Magentasue wrote: »

But will you still be in credit by Christmas? By February? By April?

It looks as if your monthly payments are sufficient to build up a credit to offset winter use but that your payments must increase to cover increased unit costs.

Cheers for that, will keep a very close eye on the usage over the next few weeks. Watson12