To measure your gas usage accurately, you typically need your meter readings and information from your gas bill.
Measuring your gas usage isn't just about reading the numbers on your meter. Gas is measured in cubic meters or cubic feet, but you are billed based on the amount of energy you consume, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). The conversion from volume to energy requires a specific calculation involving the gas meter readings and a value called the "calorific value."
Here's how you can work out how much gas you've used:
Step 1: Find Your Gas Meter Readings
Your gas meter records the volume of gas that has passed through it. You need two readings:
- Your current meter reading: Read the numbers shown on your gas meter today.
- Your last billed meter reading: Find the meter reading from your most recent gas bill. This is the reading your provider used to calculate your last bill.
Different types of meters exist (dial, digital, smart meters), but they all show a cumulative reading of gas volume used.
Step 2: Calculate the Volume of Gas Used
According to standard procedures, you can work out how many cubic meters (m³) of gas you've used by subtracting your current reading with your last billed meter reading.
- Formula: Volume Used (m³) = Current Reading - Last Billed Reading
Example:
| Reading Type | Value |
|---|---|
| Current Reading | 5000 m³ |
| Last Billed Reading | 4800 m³ |
| Volume Used (m³) | 200 m³ |
This calculation gives you the volume of gas consumed in cubic meters since your last bill.
Step 3: Find the Calorific Value
Gas volume needs to be converted into energy (kWh) to determine the actual energy content you've consumed. This conversion uses the "calorific value," which is a measure of the amount of energy released when a unit volume of gas is burned.
- You can find this on your bill. Your gas supplier provides this value, which can fluctuate slightly depending on the quality of the gas supplied in your region.
Step 4: Convert Volume to Energy (kWh)
The final step to measure your usage in billing terms is to convert the volume used (from Step 2) into energy (kWh) using the calorific value (from Step 3).
- Multiply this number [the volume used] by the calorific value.
- (Note: The full calculation often involves a volume correction factor and a conversion factor from MJ to kWh, but the core principle, as stated in the reference, is multiplying volume by calorific value).
Simplified Calculation based on reference:
- Energy Used (kWh) ≈ Volume Used (m³) × Calorific Value
Understanding this process helps you monitor your consumption and verify your bills.
