Gas Meter - Speed

Killa_byte

Hi,

Does anyone still use the traditional gas meter and can check something for me?  It should look like this;



Back history:
Basically I received my annual gas summary last month from Shell Energy and it said that I have used 33,349 Kwh of Gas!  
(This was my first full year since moving into the property, it was on pre-pay meters when i moved in)

Shell Energy, summarised this by showing it in a graph. 

It showed what the UK average use should be around 13,500 Kwh but i was more than double!!

 
Obviously after seen this, I started to worry why my bill is so high!  

It is only me and my partner who live in the 3 bed, end terraced property.  We both work, 8am-4pm/9am-5pm all week and are home evenings and weekends.  

My boiler is a Worcester Bosch - Greenstar 30i ErP Condensing Combi boiler and I have a total of 10 radiators, of which there are 2 double radiators.
My Hive thermostat is scheduled as follows;

Weekdays;
6am - 7.30am - 19.5°
7.30am - 3.30pm - 11°
3.30pm - 9:30pm - 19.5°

Weekends;
8.30am-11am - 19.5°
11am-6pm - 17.0°
6pm-10pm - 19.5°

We shower daily and cook using the gas hob around twice, push 3 times in a week for around an hour each cook.



Investigation;
Now over the last month or so I have been investigating into what uses gas a lot. 

I found that my gas meter dials spin very quickly when the hot water is running.  
When the boiler is on along with the radiators, the gas meter dials spin fast but not as fast as the hot water
When I use the gas hob when cooking, you can hardly see the gas meter dial spinning but it is spinning very slowly.

I am just wondering if this is the same case with anyone else?  that gas meter dials spin at different rates?

daveyjp

Of course it spins at different rates.

A single gas hob burner may use 1-3 kW of power.

When heating water your boiler has the ability to burn 30kW every hour, in reality it won't as it will modulate.

Regardless your gas use is high, which either means you use a lot, or your readings are wrong.

elsien

It will spin at different rates because heating water uses more energy than having a ring in the gas hob on, for example. 

Are you sending in regular readings or is this off estimated figures. If it’s estimates it could be way out. 

Also depends on how well insulated your house is, amongst other things.

Shell have a graph on their website that shows the usage for each month over the year which you might find helpful. With the caveat that it’s only accurate if you’ve given regular meter readings. 

tim_p

It does say ‘calculations include estimated readings’ so it would be helpful to see actual readings from when you moved in and now, plus dates. 

QrizB

From the Shell bill:

"Calculations include estimated readings".

What did your meter read a year ago, and what does it read today?

Killa_byte

elsien said:

It will spin at different rates because heating water uses more energy than having a ring in the gas hob on, for example. 

Are you sending in regular readings or is this off estimated figures. If it’s estimates it could be way out. 

Also depends on how well insulated your house is, amongst other things.

Shell have a graph on their website that shows the usage for each month over the year which you might find helpful. With the caveat that it’s only accurate if you’ve given regular meter readings. 

ah, i wasn't aware that the meter would spin at different rates.

my meter readings were submitted every month so its definitely not estimates.

my home is one of them 1900 homes that have high ceilings, i know my loft is well insulated as upstairs is always warmer than downstairs.  My dining room and kitchen is always the coldest part of the house but the reception room and living is generally warm.  maybe insulation is a problem but i though that wouldn't be the cause of the high usage of gas?

Killa_byte

tim_p said:

It does say ‘calculations include estimated readings’ so it would be helpful to see actual readings from when you moved in and now, plus dates. 

QrizB said:

From the Shell bill:

"Calculations include estimated readings".

What did your meter read a year ago, and what does it read today?

Just logged into my Shell Energy account to check;
26th August 2020 - 6788
26th August 2021 - 9788 

tim_p

So, what and when was the opening reading and what is it now - that will enable easy calculation of actual annual usage for the past year / x-months. 

wakeupalarm

On you gas bill, how are they calculating you usage, is your gas being billed in cubic feet (ft³) or cubic metres (m³) ?

Killa_byte

tim_p said:

So, what and when was the opening reading and what is it now - that will enable easy calculation of actual annual usage for the past year / x-months. 

i assume the opening reading was 6788, and today its on 9888 

elsien

Killa_byte said:

tim_p said:

So, what and when was the opening reading and what is it now - that will enable easy calculation of actual annual usage for the past year / x-months. 

i assume the opening reading was 6788, and today its on 9888 

But it isn't because your meter picture shows otherwise - presuming that's your meter and not a stock photo.  What was the opening reading you gave them when you went onto the tariff and when did you take the picture?