Gas vs Electricity updates

MouldyOldDough

Why does Gas usage not appear to be updated on my Octopus account app until the following day whereas Electricity is updated in real time? 

gefnew

They have to work out the calorific value for that period to be able to send you a correct bill.

MouldyOldDough

gefnew said:

They have to work out the calorific value for that period to be able to send you a correct bill.

Does the calorific value change constantly then?
Surely it is fixed for a specific property and should allow the usage to simply be calculated?
It's done by computer and not by a man and calculator 

gefnew

Yes it changes read this.
Gas meter readings and bill calculation - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

skycatcher

As this is the case those on nonsmart prepayment meters play Russian roulette when they decide to top up as they may get a bad deal on the day of the cal. fac is unfavourable and as such I don't know how companies can claim to have a fixed rate tarriff.

EssexHebridean

skycatcher said:

As this is the case those on nonsmart prepayment meters play Russian roulette when they decide to top up as they may get a bad deal on the day of the cal. fac is unfavourable and as such I don't know how companies can claim to have a fixed rate tarriff.

And those on non-prepayment are no better off because we have no way of knowing what the conversion will be on the day our bill is produced, either. The uncertainty isn't limited to those on PP - not though it's likely to make an enormous amount of difference anyway, as I understand it! 

skycatcher

It was my understanding that those on non pp the conversion factor was averaged over their billing cycle.

[Deleted User]

An easier read:

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/sites/default/files/docs/2014/08/supplier_guidance_on_cv_calculation.pdf

A number of suppliers have fallen foul of Ofgem when fixed CVs were used for billing: Iresa comes to mind.

PS Do not forget TRUNCATION

skycatcher

Thank you for this link. I'm NI based so not covered by ofgem but I've raised this with my supplier and the wholesaler. I'm yet to get a satisfactory answer re ppm. I raised the fact that i paid £49 (max topup) for 55m3 of had on 11/11 and £49 for 53m3 on 30/11. I wanted to find out if i could find out the daily cf so i could make an informed division on when to topup.

70sbudgie

Does the changing calorific value of the gas affect how much a gas boiler uses? And / or its efficiency? So if my boiler uses more kWhrs on one day than the previous day, would the calorific value of the gas be a contributing factor (and not just the weather and my heating settings)? Or does it not vary enough for the boiler to notice?

molerat

Your boiler uses a certain amount of energy to heat a litre of water by 1 degree.  The calorific value of gas is the amount of energy it contains so there is more or less energy per cu m, the less energy in the gas the greater volume you will need to do the same job but the kWh should stay the same. Don't rely on your smart meter / IHD to accurately show the kWh you are using as they use a fixed CV for their estimation meaning that even if your system was using exactly the same kWh per day the smart meter would show the kWh going up and down as it purely follows the volume.