Gas Meter and npower

snowshine

We are with npower since Oct 2012.
After having seen on the BBC business news about Energy firms getting wrong with the meter readings some householders in not recognising imperial meters from metric ones, I decided to check my details.

The bill I received from npower does not state if it is read as Metric or Imperial but has annual consumption in kWh.

My online chat person could not tell me if they were recorded as Imperial or Metric units... After long chat (I have the transcript printed out) I am no better to find out what had gone on..
All what the spoke person was to say:
""We will check each and every details and will do the best for us"
""This is an issue which needs to be dealt by both of us"
"I would request you to please let the concerned team work upon it and contact you if required"

But I do not know if our reading was taken as Imperial or Metric meter reading for the energy calculations.

What could we do to find out if the calculations on our meter readings were carried out correctly?

MothballsWallet

Have you looked at your gas meter yet?

It should have either m3 or ft3 on it - the latter being Imperial units.

snowshine

Yes I looked at it prior to contact them and ours is Imperial. It has Ft3 on it. I have photographed it too thinking if they want some information.
Our is Imperial but how could we find out if the energy company has recognised it on the meter reading and calculations?
I sure you are aware of the BBC report on this issue. Here is the link if anyone wish to see: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-37079287

[Deleted User]

Your gas bills show how things are calculated. Just check them.

SammenForLivet2

How many digits is your meter? Do they not show the conversion factor on your bill?

Try this and check the KWH used works out correctly:

1. Subtract the previous meter reading (obtained from your last bill) from the current reading on your meter.
2. Multiply the result by 2.83 to obtain the volume used in cubic metres. (This step is not required for customers with a metric (m3) gas meter(s).)
3. Multiply this number by the calorific value* shown on your invoice in MJ/m3.
4. Multiply the result by the meter correction factor shown on your invoice.
5. Divide the result by 3.6 to obtain the number of kilowatt hours (kWh) used.
6. Multiply this number by the pence per kWh rate to obtain the approximate cost of gas you have used.

snowshine

Ours have 4 digits with 2 small red digits(alltogether 6 digits).
We have direct debit with npower. We do not get a bill. We have electricity and gas with npower.

From time to time meter reader takes the reading but we do not have a bill to find out the units used to follow the calculation as mentioned above.
Last letter we received from npower has
Assumed annual consumption 17011 kWh

[Deleted User]

@snowshine
You need to register online at the npower website . All your bills will be available there once you've registered.

And you need to start reading your own meters and submitting meter readings monthly to get accurate bills and therefore accurate DD payments. You cannot trust npower to get the bills correct using a few meter readings from a passing meter reader.

nPower

snowshine wrote: »

We are with npower since Oct 2012.
After having seen on the BBC business news about Energy firms getting wrong with the meter readings some householders in not recognising imperial meters from metric ones, I decided to check my details.

The bill I received from npower does not state if it is read as Metric or Imperial but has annual consumption in kWh.

My online chat person could not tell me if they were recorded as Imperial or Metric units... After long chat (I have the transcript printed out) I am no better to find out what had gone on..
All what the spoke person was to say:
""We will check each and every details and will do the best for us"
""This is an issue which needs to be dealt by both of us"
"I would request you to please let the concerned team work upon it and contact you if required"

But I do not know if our reading was taken as Imperial or Metric meter reading for the energy calculations.

What could we do to find out if the calculations on our meter readings were carried out correctly?

Hello snowshine

Thank you for your post.

If you can please email the address shown in our signature, marking the message for my attention, I'll have a look into your account and confirm whether you're being charged as metric or imperial.

Thanks

Beth

dogshome

No wonder customers are confused, today the Daily Telegraph has a banner article on page 2 about this, and have got it totally the wrong way round
Quote
Households whose imperial meters have been read as as if they were the newer metric one's have been paying too much, while households whose metric meters were read as if they were imperial ones have been paying too little.

The truth is that Imperial meter customers billed at Metric rates pay for only roughly a third of what they use, whilst the Metric customer billed on an Imperial tariff is overcharged to the tune of 183%

Harrison123

Tried your formula but my invoice doesn't show calorific value -

Units Consumed (100s of Cubic Feet)
x Metric Conversion (convert to cubic metres)
x Volume Correction (for temperature &pressure)
x Calorific Value (energy in each m³ of gas)
÷ 3.6 (convert from joules)
= Usage (in kWh)

Also- does anyone know if this conversion error is limited to your current provider as I have had 5 providers in the last 10 years

dogshome

Following the 5 step formula listed on the bills isn't necessary, unless that is you want an answer to the last decimal point

One unit on Metric meter delivers appx 11.2 Kwh
One unit on an Imperial meter delivers appx 31.5 Kwh

Dividing the number of KWh charged by the number of meter units used, gives an exact figure of what has been delivered, and a quick failsafe check that the bill is based on the correct meter.