How'd you work out Gas consumption?

Magentasue · 4 January 2009 at 9:19PM

si_pritch wrote: »

I'm a little confused.

I am trying to work out if our gas pre payment meter is overcharging us. According to my meter, I have used 41106 units in a given period, at a cost of £20. (it's in metric)

How do I work out how much that is in KWh and then how much each KWh has cost me, so that I can compare this to the quoted prices on British Gas' website?

I have a feeling something is not quite right here, especially since the originator of this post used 600 odd units in a year!

Thanks in advance - having lurked here for a little while, I know that reponses are always helpful and informative!!

Where did you get 41106 from? I suspect it's from your statement - this isn't meter units, it's been converted into kwh.

£20 for 41106kwh = about 4.8p per kwh.

si_pritch · 4 January 2009 at 9:42PM

Thanks for getting back to me so quick.

I'm on a prepayment card, so never get a bill. I use a top up type card, put money on it at a shop, then put the card into the box next to the meter to use gas.

Reading taken when no credit on machine at start - 2715037
Reading taken when no credit on machine at end - 2756143

So, I get 41106 unit used.

Does this seem a little excessive, especially if I tell you we have had the heating on for 3 hours a day, plus hot water and cooking - start reading was taken 30/12/08, end reading taken 03/01/09.

And no, we don't eat like pigs, or use lots of hot water!

thanks in advance again!

Magentasue · 4 January 2009 at 9:56PM

Ah, I have no experience of prepay - not unless you count when I was a child and we fed it shillings.

I'm now thinking that you are reading too many digits on the display - are some red or different in some way?

si_pritch · 4 January 2009 at 10:01PM

Nope - all the number look exactly the same, with no divider / points in between - on a digital readout.

kat1982 · 4 January 2009 at 10:05PM

imperial meters have four dials in the black, metric have five

si_pritch · 4 January 2009 at 10:07PM

It's a digital meter display, so there are no dials at all.

Magentasue · 4 January 2009 at 10:41PM

In that case, I think you only use the first four digits which makes yours 41 for four days.

Imperial = approx 41 x 31 = 1271
Metric = approx 41 x 11 = 451

So metric = 451kwh for £20

I think that makes sense.

Cardew · 4 January 2009 at 10:42PM

si_pritch wrote: »

Thanks for getting back to me so quick.

I'm on a prepayment card, so never get a bill. I use a top up type card, put money on it at a shop, then put the card into the box next to the meter to use gas.

Reading taken when no credit on machine at start - 2715037
Reading taken when no credit on machine at end - 2756143

So, I get 41106 unit used.

Does this seem a little excessive, especially if I tell you we have had the heating on for 3 hours a day, plus hot water and cooking - start reading was taken 30/12/08, end reading taken 03/01/09.

41106 gas units used would cost about £18,000.00

I suggest the last 3 digits are decimal places(are they in red?) so you have used 41.106 gas units which is approx 460kWh.

If you are paying 4p/kWh that is approx £18.40

Magentasue · 4 January 2009 at 10:47PM

Or, taking what kat said, maybe the first five digits, which would make it 411kwh over four days.

si_pritch · 4 January 2009 at 11:41PM

Thanks everyone for answering my question and proving just how rubbish I really am at Maths!

Does anyone think this sounds a little excessive?

If we were to change to a direct debit meter instead, would this be cheaper?
Are there any pitfalls / charges in doing this?

How'd you work out Gas consumption?

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