Calculating cost of LPG gas used from tank using meter reading

jlmvets

We have a large gas tank in the garden which delivers gas to 4 metres points. Two of the small cottages were new builds and had zero readings. I have a meter reading (new meter, set in m3) which has a reading of 361906. If our gas costs us 46p per litre plus VAT delivered, how on earth do I work out the cost of the 361906m3 that has been used?

Ebe_Scrooge

This thread may help : https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4835269/lpg-meter-reading-m3-litres

There are varying calculations, but a quick Google seems to suggest that the current accepted figure is that 3.85 litres of liquid LPG expands to become 1 cubic metre of gas.

So : 3.85 litres at 46 pence per litre costs £1.771.  Add on VAT at 5%, this gives £1.86 (rounded up).  So each cubic metre of gas is costing you £1.86 based on that price.

I guess the expansion ratio will vary on temperature and pressure, but from what I've been able to find online that figure of 3.85 seems to be a generally accepted benchmark.

(Bear in mind, 1 cubic metre contains 1000 litres if you're comparing like for like.  So 1 cubic metre of water contains 1000 litres.  But in this case, you're not comparing like with like - you're comparing litres of liquid with cubic metres of gas.  I guess an analogy would be "how many cubic metres of steam would 1 litre of water turn into if it were boiled")

collectors

Image below may help?