How do I read my gas meter?
It is important to make sure that your meters are correctly set up in SMEasure and that you are recording the readings correctly so that you receive the most accurate results and most useful analysis from the software.
We recommend that one person has clear responsibility for entered readings each week and that they have a substitute knows who else can do it if they are ill or on holiday) and is familiar with the meters, units, recording conventions and can log data into SMEasure.
Units!
In the UK gas meters will read either in cubic feet (ft3) or cubic meters (m3). It is very important to get the correct unit for your meter. Your meter will say clearly on it what unit it is reading in. Check to make sure you have entered the same unit in SMEasure by going to edit meter.
Gas meters typically take one of 3 forms:
1) Digital display
2) Analogue display
3) Dial display
Digital display
The digital displays can sometimes cycle through a series of different information, you may have to push a button to go through the different options. If your meter has this feature you want to make sure you are taking down the number that represents the total (cumulative) power consumption.
Analogue Display
Gas meters can sometimes display a reading to several decimal places, it should be apparent by looking at the meter if this is the case. Usually a decimal point will be printed on the meter casing. Numbers before the decimal point will be coloured black and numbers after the decimal point will be coloured red. It is not essential to record readings to many decimal places for gas meters.
This meter reads in m3. The reading
for SMEasure is 72753.901m3. If the last digit is
between numbers, then always record the lower of the two digits as
this represents what you have actually used.
This meter reads in m3. The reading
for SMEasure is 52270.82m3. As above, if the last
digit is between numbers, then always record the lower of the two
digits.
This meter reads in ft3. The reading
for SMEasure is 674927ft3.
This meter reads in 100s of ft3. This
is because 1 ft3 is a relatively small amount of energy
and gas suppliers take 100 ft3 as one unit. The reading
for SMEasure is 2502700ft3. OR you can set your
meter in SMEasure to have units of 100 ft3 in which case
the reading would be 25027 x100ft3.
Dial Display
This old style meter has a series of dials. Read the dials from left to right recording the number that each hand points to. If the hand is between two numbers always write down the lower number. Do not read any unmarked dials or red dials.
Watch out!
Adjacent dials move in opposite directions.
The reading for SMEasure is
7316000ft3. OR you can set your meter in SMEasure
to have units of 100 ft3 in which case the reading would be
73160 x100ft3.
Always do a ‘sanity check’ when you enter your readings into SMEasure. Ask yourself:
• How do the data compare with previous readings?
• Is the number of digits correct, and the decimal in the same
place?
• Do the figures fall within acceptable band of use?
• Are the correct units used?
• Do meter readings reconcile with invoices?
• Are invoices estimated?
If you are having difficulty reading your meter or you are not sure what type it is please take a photo and email it to us at support@smeasure.org.uk