What is the conversion factor and why does it change?

The Conversion Factor is a multiplier we use to convert your gas from the units on your meter (cubic meters or hundred cubic feet) into the units you are billed on (kilowatt hours).

Cubic meters are a unit of volume i.e, how much gas you use, while kilowatt hours (kWh) are a unit of energy i.e, how much energy was released from burning the gas you used. The Conversion Factor is the amount of energy (in kWh) released from burning 1 cubic meter of gas.

Why the Conversion Factor changes

The reason the Conversion Factor changes is that the energy content of your gas varies depending on:

• Where it is sourced from
• The physical composition of the gas
• Local temperature and pressure

Gas Networks Ireland (which owns and maintains the gas network in the Republic of Ireland) monitors these factors and adjusts the Conversion Factor accordingly for each gas meter reading or estimate they supply to us.