Gas Calorific Value.......is this a fiddle ?

Mike_in_Horwich

If you look carefully at your gas bills you'll see the "Calorific Value". It's basically a measure of the amount of energy in a volume of gas. The higher the caloric value the hotter the gas - ie. the higher the energy content.

The calorific value is used in determining the ultimate cost of your gas and I've lately noticed this has increased from 39.0 in summer to 39.7 at the start of winter.

Convenient eh! Now I'm using more gas it costs me more.

It strikes me that the gas entering my premises is the same gas as next door, across the road etc etc. I'm with EDF. My neighbours are with other companies. Their calorific values differ from mine in some cases.

Between 12 Aug and 3rd Sept 09 the cal. val. was 39.3
3 Sept to 11 Nov '09 it was 39.7
between 28 July and 12 Aug it was just 39.0

Check your bills and see if your cal. vals. match up with mine......I'm in the Bolton are of Lancashire but would imagine all the gas in the system at any given time should share the same calorific value.

Thanks

espresso

Mike_in_Horwich wrote: »

Gas Calorific Value.......is this a fiddle ?

Do you believe all of the conspiracy theories?

Read the facts about calorific value here. Tested daily in over 100 locations around the country.

littletommytucker

No, its not a fiddle.

If you went to the petrol pumps and one pump was giving out unleaded at £1.00 a litre and the person at the pump next to you was getting super unleaded for £1.00 a litre as well, would you think that was fair?

The calorific value varies across the country and time of year plays a big part in the measurements, mainly because the main gas pipes expand in hotter weather which has an effect on gas travelling through them.

Your energy company does not determine your calorific value, it is given to them and they are obliged to use it.

Mike_in_Horwich

Thanks Espresso for that link. However, my original worry still stands - made more of a worry now I understand daily cv tests are carried out.

Given that, each supplier, for any given period of time (and within close proximity) should have the same cv.

Please guys, check your bills to compare to those periods I've noted on my initial post - if your cv's differ there's a possibility of a conspiracy

Cardew

Mike_in_Horwich wrote: »

if your cv's differ there's a possibility of a conspiracy

Which would mean someone going to jail!!

Including the independent firm who audit these matters, as presumably they would be in on the conspiracy to defraud. Getting a kick back from every firm for turning a blind eye?

littletommytucker

The CV is averaged out over the duration of your bill. So even if someone has a bill from a similar period in exactly the same area, unless it covers the exact same number of days then there is a possibility the CV will be different... no conspiracy, trust me.

DirectDebacle

Mike_in_Horwich wrote: »

Thanks Espresso for that link. However, my original worry still stands - made more of a worry now I understand daily cv tests are carried out.

Given that, each supplier, for any given period of time (and within close proximity) should have the same cv.

Please guys, check your bills to compare to those periods I've noted on my initial post - if your cv's differ there's a possibility of a conspiracy

What you do need to watch out for is this. If you receive an estimated bill and request it to be recalculated with a reading, ensure that the recalculation is done using the same C.V. as on the original bill.

Because the C.V. fluctuates the recalculation may be done with a higher C.V. causing a slight overcharge. Of course the C.V. may be lower than that used on the estimate, in which case the recalculated bill would be slightly lower.

A matter of conscience if you wanted to point that out.

DVardysShadow

Mike_in_Horwich wrote: »

If you look carefully at your gas bills you'll see the "Calorific Value". It's basically a measure of the amount of energy in a volume of gas. The higher the caloric value the hotter the gas - ie. the higher the energy content.

The calorific value is used in determining the ultimate cost of your gas and I've lately noticed this has increased from 39.0 in summer to 39.7 at the start of winter.

Convenient eh! Now I'm using more gas it costs me more.

But it is better gas if the calorific value is higher. There are 2 factors

• the purity of the gas
• The density of the gas

If the gas contains a small amount of CO2, for example, this will reduce the calorific value. And when it is colder, or air pressures are higher, you will get more mass [in kg] of gas for each cubic meter.

Although you could call this a fiddle factor, it is not a fiddle.

Mike_in_Horwich

Thanks for all the responses. BUT, everyone seems to miss the point. What I'm trying to determine is the relative c.v. figures for a period of time (see my first post for those periods) from a variety of suppliers, ideally in the North West region. The "conspiracy" aspect was light humour.

I'm also up-to-speed now (thanks) on the technical aspects.

I'm really trying to determine if there's a measure of fudge-factor in place here. Let's be honest, none of the major energy suppliers have reduced prices lately even though the market indicates they should have done so.

Anyone want to quote their calorific values for the periods quoted ?

dunloadin

I dont think theres a conspiracy, though it has to be said converting gas use to KWh looks a bit iffy with all the calculating, and the random nature of the cv. You would expect the cv to go up in the winter, as the colder gas will be more denser (Boyles Law).

That said, if two bills from differing suppliers (covering the same period of time) have differing cv values then the OP has a point.

If the cv is taken daily in 100 different locations then averaged out, are these figures available for viewing. If so then the average can be calculated by the customer to check the cv on the bill, if you really want to that is.

C_Mababejive

Well at least in the cold weather,if your meter is outside,you;ll get more heat for your money.