Gas meter - m3 vs ft3..?

martin2345uk

My gas meter look like it shows cubic feet rather than cubic meters.... this may be a stupid question but will my new energy supplier know this? Is it up to me to tell them? Are meters usually in cubic meters?

MWT

It is recorded on the central register so the supplier should know.

Just check the first bill and make sure...

Newer meters are in m3

Gerry1

New meters are in cubic metres, old meters are in cubic feet.  Your new supplier should be aware of the units used because the info is on the national database.

You can check that the correct calculation has been used here.

martin2345uk

Thank you!
One thing - when converting to from cubic feet to cubic metres, I'm a bit confused as to the conversion factor - is it 2.83, or 0.0283?

Gerry1

1 cubic metre (1m x 1m x 1m) is slightly bigger than a cubic yard (3ft x 3ft x 3ft = 27cu.ft), it's actually 35.3 cubic feet.

Therefore to covert from the cubic feet shown on the meter to cubic metres, multiply by 2.83. 

Note that a reading of 1 on an Imperial meter is actually 100 cu.ft.

The figure you quote should be always in 100s of cu.ft, exactly as shown on the meter (apart from any red dials / figures or those after a decimal point).

martin2345uk

Ah right! So they always measure in 100s of cu. ft? Never just in single cu.ft?

MWT

martin2345uk said:

Ah right! So they always measure in 100s of cu. ft? Never just in single cu.ft?

There are two decimals that you do not report when giving a reading, so they do measure lower you just don't include them when giving a reading.

Gerry1

If it says 1234 then it's used 123,400 cubic feet from new.  But you'd send a reading of 1234 and that's wahy will show on the bill.  The energy company will do the number crunching.  It's just to make the readings simpler, it avoids the use of huge numbers that would confuse people.

martin2345uk

Great thanks guys!!!

Gerry1

For your amusement, here's how NOT to do it. 

Still wondering if it's deliberately trolling...