The gas supplier SSE (previously Scottish & Southern Energy) is in the news headlines today following a large fine which has been issued by the national gas and electricity regulator OFGEM (The Office of Gas and Electricity Markets).
Unlike electricity, where a small number of meters will accommodate most users’ power consumption needs, there are many different makes, models, and sizes of gas meter specifically designed for the maximum usage a customer requires. How to determine gas meter size To establish the size of meter you require depends on two main factors: The first is the pressure in the gas mains (low or medium). The second is the peak demand of gas you require at any given moment. This is also known as a gas load or maximum capacity (in kilowatts, cubic metres/feet per hour, and occasionally Therms or BTUs (British Thermal Units). Most sites in the UK have a low or medium pressure. If a new gas connection is being laid soon or has recently been installed, the quote paperwork from the works provider should confirm the mains pressure. If you are unsure about this or the pipe was laid some time ago, 1Gas can arrange a free check, also known as a GT1. More information about a GT1 Gas meter size calculation To calculate what size gas meter you require will depend on two things. You may however need […]
Installing a gas pipe and a meter is just the first step in being able to obtain a gas supply. For domestic consumers, where a live gas pipe connection already exists, it’s normally simply a case of asking a domestic gas supplier (also known as a shipper) for their unit rate prices & standing/daily charge, and a new gas meter (which is often free of charge). Domestic supply contracts are usually flexible whereby you can leave for another supplier providing 30 days notice, subject to bills being paid and up to date. An exception might be where a fixed term deal is agreed to fix rates for a longer period of time.
This latest news post from 1Gas discusses the benefits of using an energy broker to ensure that you are not paying over the odds for your business gas.
As gas comes ashore in Great Britain from a gas field (such as the North Sea or Morecambe Bay) it will enter a natural gas processing plant where the gas is purified. The gas is cleaned and contaminants such as water, sulphur and mercury are removed so that it can then be safely distributed around the country to homes, factories and offices. Processing plants in the UK include: Rampside (Barrow-in-Furness), Easington (East Riding), Bacton (Norfolk), and Theddlethorpe (Lincolnshire).
The trading year of 1Gas was completed at the end of March and we’re pleased the provisional results. We’re still a young business but showing strong growth each year. In our third full year trading, we have continued to achieve consecutive improvement on the previous years. Turnover in the last financial year was 394% higher than 2011-2012. Gross profit also went up and rose by an impressive 388% for the same period. The outlook is positive and we expect to see continued growth in the next financial period thanks to our investments in marketing and new staff.
As 1Gas continues to grow, we are always looking for more ways to reach greater number of customers and more easily communicate the benefits of using us. We’re a friendly personal team who strive to deliver top notch service. To help us deliver our message, we’ve commissioned a new marketing campaign which should launch in the next month. We’re impressed with the previews and can’t wait to see the final version which we will be sharing on our website.
Could we be running out of gas? The unprecedented cold UK March is having all kinds of impacts: tourism, farming, the economy, and no doubt, gas supplier profits too. The unpredictable British weather strikes again. Only a year ago at this time of year, Britain was bathed summer-like temperatures in the low 20s celsius. Britons were on beaches soaking up the sun enjoying the end of winter, even in northern Scotland, where all-time records were broken. By contrast, mother nature is creating a very different March in 2013.
Where a gas meter is required and in an external location, a meter housing (also known as a box or kiosk) is required. This is for two primary reasons, to protect the gas meter from the weather and to help secure it from being tampered with or damaged. There are a range of different gas meter housings on the market which vary dependant on pressure in the gas mains, the location, and the size of the meter. The different models available include: semi-concealed (also known as semi-buried or ground box), surface mounted (also known as wall mounted or bolt-on), built in (also known as recessed or cavity box), and freestanding (also known as wall adjacent). Most meter housings are made from plastic which doesn’t rot or corrode and is very weather resistant. Some models are also made from glass-reinforced plastic. We talk about the specific meter boxes in more detail below: Semi-Concealed Designed to be discrete, the semi-concealed meter housing is usually brown in colour and can be installed at the base of a wall or building and has a tapered lid. It is not suitable where the top of the box could be an obstruction, trip hazard, […]
How long should a gas connection take? A week, a few weeks, a month, a few months? Gas connections are complex and the truth is that some individuals, companies, charities, and organisations are surprised at the length of time involved and the apparent hurdles to jump over. There is often pressure to get gas connected to a property as quickly as possible. The fastest gas could be connected to a house is around 6 weeks from start to finish. Getting gas connected to a commercial property such as a shop, office, restaurant or take away can take 2-3 months in total. We’ll talk you through below the steps to obtaining a new gas pipe and meter below.
