Gas conversion factor (Units to Kwh)

JohnB47

I moved from Scottish Power to GB Energy for my dual fuel a few weeks ago and only now have I asked about the calculation that GB Energy uses to convert the Units reading on my gas meter to Kwh.

Scottish powers conversion factor was 31.5132 whereas GB Energy tell me that theirs is 25.676785 which means that GB's gas is around 18% cheaper even if their unit cost and daily standing charge was exactly the same as Scottish Power.

GB said in their email to me:

"We can confirm that the current calculation used to convert gas units into kWh is as follows:

Units Consumed
x Metric Conversion (2.3)
x Volume Correction (1.02264)
x Calorific Value (39.3) / 3.6= kWh"

I'm assuming that this is (2.3 x 1.02264 x 39.3) / 3.6 which works out at 25.676785

I'm happy about this but a bit worried about it being so much lower than Scottish Powers factor. If it is correct, why is this factor not more apparent when comparing quotes - it does make quite a difference.

Any thoughts?

silverwhistle

The difference you describe does seem larger than I would have expected, but calorific values do vary over time and location.

notbritishgas

JohnB47 wrote: »

I moved from Scottish Power to GB Energy for my dual fuel a few weeks ago and only now have I asked about the calculation that GB Energy uses to convert the Units reading on my gas meter to Kwh.

Scottish powers conversion factor was 31.5132 whereas GB Energy tell me that theirs is 25.676785 which means that GB's gas is around 18% cheaper even if their unit cost and daily standing charge was exactly the same as Scottish Power.

GB said in their email to me:

"We can confirm that the current calculation used to convert gas units into kWh is as follows:

Units Consumed
x Metric Conversion (2.3)
x Volume Correction (1.02264)
x Calorific Value (39.3) / 3.6= kWh"

I'm assuming that this is (2.3 x 1.02264 x 39.3) / 3.6 which works out at 25.676785

I'm happy about this but a bit worried about it being so much lower than Scottish Powers factor. If it is correct, why is this factor not more apparent when comparing quotes - it does make quite a difference.

Any thoughts?

You have got the metric conversion factor wrong. It should be 2.83.

JohnB47

Yep, you're right.

I've checked my paperwork from Scottish Power and it confirms that the 2.3 figure should be 2.83 although it wasn't my mistake. The calculation I gave is a direct cut and paste from the email GB Energy sent to me.

I'll contact them again to confirm. A pity that, I thought I was getting a much better deal.

Just out of interest, how does 2.83 relate to a 'metric conversion'. My meter reads in cubic feet but there are around 31 cubic feet to a cubic metre. Just wondering.

Thanks and thanks to the Mods for moving this post for me.

stewie_griffin

The units on your meter are actually hundred cubic feet (hcf). There are 2.83 cubic meters in 100 cubic feet.

notbritishgas

JohnB47 wrote: »

Yep, you're right.

I've checked my paperwork from Scottish Power and it confirms that the 2.3 figure should be 2.83 although it wasn't my mistake. The calculation I gave is a direct cut and paste from the email GB Energy sent to me.

I'll contact them again to confirm. A pity that, I thought I was getting a much better deal.

Just out of interest, how does 2.83 relate to a 'metric conversion'. My meter reads in cubic feet but there are around 31 cubic feet to a cubic metre. Just wondering.

Thanks and thanks to the Mods for moving this post for me.

One cubic foot is approximety equal to 0.0283 cubic metres.
Your imperial gas meter reads in 100s of cubic feet, ie one unit is 100 cubic feet.
So to convert one unit to cubic metres you must multiply by 2.83.

Edit: did not notice stewie had replied.

JohnB47

OK, thanks folks. That's clarified things for me. I didn't factor in the meter showing 100s. No need for me clarify further. Cheers.