NPower using seasonal ity table to calculate gas consumption.

espresso

Haza wrote:

1kWh = 3.60MJ. This is where the dividing by 3.6 comes from so why should it vary?:mad:

You would think these conversion values were more strictly regulated? Where can we check this?

HAZA

It's the calorific value that changes every few months. see this thread for more info.

matto

I can only think that you and/or CS must be referring to npowers method of working out the standing charge.

In common with most tariffs nowadays npower's standing charge derives from charging a higher rate for the first x kwh and then a lower rate for anything above that. However whilst most companies apportion this equally over the year npower don't. In fact most companies quote this as a quarterly allowance whereas npower refer to it an annual allowance.

Take for example the case where someone only has gas central heating which isn't used in the summer so their summer gas bill is zero. Because npower only allow a small amount of the high rate allowance in the summer they don't lose out too much - they charge the higher rate when you are actually using the gas.

Bear in mind that because of the two tier pricing, if you use half the amount of gas, provided the higher amount of gas usage take you into the lower tier price bracket, your bill will not be hlaf as much.

Haza

No we are not talking about the calorific value, which I know varies and is set by Transco. We are also not talking about the higher rate for the first x kWh.

According to Npower, and most supliers,the following info is given on the back of your bill:

Take the units used [100] and multiply by 2.83, then multiply this number by the correction factor and calorific value [both shown on the front of the bill].

Then the info tells you to divide by 3.6 to give kWh used.

The 3.6 does not seem to be fixed it also appears to vary giving you varying kWh. I've put all my bills in a spreadsheet and seen that it does not tally with what is calculated by Npower? Unless there is another variable it does not make sense why the value we have calculated differ from our bills?

matto

Let me put it this way:

The seasonality table is used by npower to adjust the number of kwh you pay at the higher rate so that it varies across the year. The figures given by OP are the percentage of the total higher rate units (4572kwh) charged at the higher rate month by month.

If you wish to try and replicate this on a spreadsheet you need to know how npower have assumed your monthly usage as the seasonality figure varies month by month.

gotnobread

Also worth noting that the numebrs you list total 100 (100.1). I suspect that these figures are actually percentages and relate to degree day data - this is a factor used by gas suppliers when producing estimated readings - it just looks at weather history for a given day of the year.

Haza and other posters are quite right, the value of 3.6 is static and is enshrined in the Calculation of Thermal Energy Regulations - all gas companies must follow these.

Could just be that the CS person you spoke to got their wires crossed.

Cheers,
Gotnobread.

Cardew

matto wrote:

I can only think that you and/or CS must be referring to npowers method of working out the standing charge.

In common with most tariffs nowadays npower's standing charge derives from charging a higher rate for the first x kwh and then a lower rate for anything above that. However whilst most companies apportion this equally over the year npower don't. In fact most companies quote this as a quarterly allowance whereas npower refer to it an annual allowance.

Take for example the case where someone only has gas central heating which isn't used in the summer so their summer gas bill is zero. Because npower only allow a small amount of the high rate allowance in the summer they don't lose out too much - they charge the higher rate when you are actually using the gas.

Bear in mind that because of the two tier pricing, if you use half the amount of gas, provided the higher amount of gas usage take you into the lower tier price bracket, your bill will not be hlaf as much.

Matto,
Thanks! That explains the OP's first post I believe.

What a cunning ploy by NPower.

I have a little used annex that uses virtually no gas in the 2 x summer quarters. I am with BG who charge at the higher tier 1 price for 1,143 kWh per quarter. As I only use, say, 100kWh in each those 2 quarters and, say, 2,000kWh in the other 2 quarters. Thus I will only pay for 2,486kWh at tier 1 rates(100+100+1,143+1,143).

The way NPower structure their charges I would pay far more at tier 1 rates.

All the more reason to change to Ebico with their single price tariff methinks.

Haza

The rate does not appear to be the issue or how the rate is split it is the total usage that does not match up?

Nov 05:correction factor 1.02264. Calorific value of 39.0507.

Previous reading 5044 Ft3, current reading 5175 Ft3, converts to 370.73m3, which calculates to 4113kWh.

But the bill is split into 929kWh (unit rate 1 charges) and 3180kWh (unit rate 2 charge) totalling 4109kWh.

How does that work even if it is seasonal split?

This would make the convertion of m3 to kWh 3.60307406, not 3.6? On other months this varies more.

Cardew

Haza wrote:

The rate does not appear to be the issue or how the rate is split it is the total usage that does not match up?

Nov 05:correction factor 1.02264. Calorific value of 39.0507.

Previous reading 5044 Ft3, current reading 5175 Ft3, converts to 370.73m3, which calculates to 4113kWh.

But the bill is split into 929kWh (unit rate 1 charges) and 3180kWh (unit rate 2 charge) totalling 4109kWh.

How does that work even if it is seasonal split?

This would make the convertion of m3 to kWh 3.60307406, not 3.6? On other months this varies more.

Are you concerned about the 4kWh they have 'undercharged' you(4,113 - 4109)? or the bill being split 929/3180kWh?

Haza

Not concerned by the split as i understand this is Npower's way of charging more during high useage seasons.

Not really that concerned that they have undercharged me(actually really happy about that), but I am concerned that it appears a standard unit convertion can be varied to either under charge or over charge (which has happened over last year) when it suits a company?

I really can see how a unit convertion calculation provide by npower on the bill can be wrong?

Haza

Looking at my spreadsheet the 4KWh that I was undercharged in Nov05 for appears to have been overcharged by 4kWh in Jan06 when the unit rate charge had gone up! So overall I have to pay more.

Now I'm actually concerned about the way they have split the unit charges!