Quantity of gas that is used by a specific domestic user. It is, therefore, a fundamental component for the metering and accounting of consumption that each family unit can verify through self-reading without having to wait for the gas bill to be issued.

Electronic gas meter instructions

If the replacement of the electricity meter is now in a good state of progress in our country, the digital device for reading the business gas has only recently been introduced, causing difficulties for consumers in recognizing the information that is reported. It must be remembered that the distributor owns the meter, that is, the company that takes care of delivering the gas to the final consumer - who is responsible for the installation, maintenance, and interventions on the device itself (including replacement).

At the same time, it should be borne in mind that the request for interventions on the meter must be carried out by the supplier, i.e., by the company with which the gas supply contract was signed. Therefore, in the event of malfunction or suspected failure, it is advisable to contact the distributor whose name is indicated on the bill's first page. 

The new generation gas meters that are progressively replacing the traditional ones can be partially integrated electronic or fully integrated remote readings. In the first case, the reading can be detected through the temperature variations, while in the second, it can be carried forward based on the variations in temperature and pressure. 

The electronic gas meter is made up of various components, including a digital display that houses a sequence of digits that, if correctly read, can provide some information on the state of consumption. In particular, the display shows: 

• Customer code: This is an identification number of the gas supply; it usually consists of 8 digits and is also present in the gas bill; 
• PDR code is a 14-digit national numeric code that uniquely identifies the physical place where the distributor delivers the gas to the end customer. This code is not replaced if the supplier is changed and is shown not only on the gas meter display but also on the first page of the bill; 
• Maximum range: This value refers to the heat output of the appliance, measured in kW (and more rarely in Kcal / h). This concept should not be confused with that of volumetric flow, which indicates the volume of gas that passes in the unit of time. Both the nominal flow rate and the maximum and minimum flow rate foreseen by the appliance are indicated inside the meter. The domestic meters - belonging to class G4 - have a maximum flow rate of 6m³ / h; 

Device class: 

Based on the minimum and maximum range, each device is assigned a class to which it belongs. Usually, domestic meters belong to class G4; 

Gas consumption:

The gas meter records the consumption of the associated domestic user; 

Status of the valve:

This can be open or closed and, in the event that there are problems with the business gas supply, it is essential to be able to check this aspect in a timely and effective manner; 

Date of closing of the previous period

Serial number

It is a unique code that allows you to identify a specific appliance as well as its manufacturer. For the old models, the serial number could consist of six or eight numerical digits. In contrast, the electronic models also include letters of the alphabet that usually precede the numerical part (in fact, we speak of an alpha-numeric code). Depending on the models, the serial number can be positioned in different areas but always clearly visible. 

It should be emphasized that, with respect to the aforementioned characteristics, which are typical of electronic meters, the traditional ones have a display and report the gas consumption, which must be periodically communicated to the supplier by a technician who can read the meter or, in an autonomous way in case you opt for self-reading. 

If you have any doubts about the type of meter installed, you can find this information on your bill in the supply section. 

Gas meters can be installed both inside and outside the home:

In the first case, it could be placed inside a locker, on the balcony in a protected area, in the garage, in the cellar, or on a perimeter wall; in the second case, it could be in a special common compartment of the condominium (e.g., technical room), on a wall owned by the condominium or in a locker on the landing of the house. Please note that, for safety reasons, the location of the gas must comply with the indications provided for by the reference legislation.

In addition to the distinction between analog and electronic meters, it is essential to underline that there are different types of devices that differ not only in the models but also in the class. On this topic, it should be emphasized that those used for residential users are of class G4 and are characterized by specific parameters for the minimum and maximum flow rate and for the thermal power (i.e., the sum of the contributions made by the various domestic appliances that use gas, from the kitchen to the boiler, etc.). All this information can be detected through the displays of modern meters, allowing, as already highlighted, more conscious use of gas at home.

What is the serial number?

The serial number of the gas meter is a number that uniquely identifies the measuring apparatus, and, consequently, each meter has its own assigned by the manufacturer, shown on the device itself, close to the gas consumption data. In mechanical meters, it is very often preceded by the abbreviation "n." or not." and consists of 8-9 digits. In addition, the serial number must be reported on the gas bill, together with other information on the gas supply. The serial number must not be confused with PDR (an acronym for Redelivery Point), which, on the other hand, identifies the user.