Learn more about the different gas meters used in the UK.
Gas Meters Explained
Your gas meter should show a single number, typically composed of four or five digits. This number represents the number of gas units you have consumed. To compute for your usage, simply subtract the current reading to the previous one.
Your gas company will convert the gas units you have used up into kilowatt hours (kWh), which will then be displayed on your gas bill. kWh is used to measure energy based on how much energy is produced by one kilowatt of gas in every hour.
Different Gas Meters
- Digital Metric Meter – This uses cubic meters (m3) to measure gas and typically displays an ‘M’or ‘M3’. Read or write down all the numbers that appear before the decimal point from left to right. Ignore the ones after the decimal point, which may be shown in red.
- Digital Imperial Meter – An older type of gas meter, this one uses cubic feet (ft3) to measure gas, and will be displayed as ‘cubic feet’ or ‘Ft’. To read the unit, read or write down the four numbers for left to right and ignore any numbers that are red.
- Dial Meter – This type of gas meter uses a series of dials instead of a digital display. The dials will show numbers from zero to nine. To read the units, start with the left dial and write down the number that is indicated by the pointer, moving to the right. In case you find the pointer in between two numbers, take the lower number; except if it is between zero and nine, in which case you should record it as nine. Finally, ignore any red dials.
Computing your gas usage
Your gas meter will show your usage in units of cubic feet or cubic meters. However, your energy bill will display your usage in kilowatt hours (kWh). Here is the industry standard formula for converting cubic measurements to kWh:
- Start by subtracting the number appearing in your gas meter to your previous reading. This will tell you how many cubic feet or meters of gas you have used.
- For units in cubic feet, multiply the number by 2.83 to convert it to meters.
- Then multiply that number by 1.02264.
- Then multiply the result by the ‘calorific value’, which you will find on your bill. If you don’t know where to find this, you can call your gas supplier.
- Then, divide the result by 3.6 to to get the kWh figure.
- Take the kWh figure and multiply it by the pence per kWh rate (find this on your bill or call your gas supplier) to get the cost that you will need to pay.
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