Gas Meter Installation & What size gas meter is required

If you require a new gas meter at your commercial or domestic property we are able to help.

We can help with the below and have case studies for all:

1. New Gas Connections
2. Gas installation following a meter removal / disconnection from a supplier
3. Replacing broken meters
4. Meter upgrades / Meter downgrades

If any of the above are applicable to you or your business then we will be able to assist you.

How our process works:

1. Understand your requirements and how much gas demand you will require,

depending on what industry you are in, whether that is a small hairdressers or factory will depend on what meter you require.

Here is a chart of all of the different sizes of meters available:

Annual Gas Meter Cost Comparison for UK Businesses (2024)

Find the Right Gas Meter for Your Business

This table provides an overview of different gas meters used in the UK, their flow rates, capacities, and recommended industries. From small domestic properties to large industrial facilities, ensure your business is equipped with the right meter.

Input your industry, estimated gas consumption, and building size to find the best gas meter for your business.

An average house in the UK will have a U6 meter. If you are only using your gas for a small boiler or kitchen then a U6 meter will be big enough. It is always worth checking how many Kilo-Watt hours your boiler uses or central heating.

Then from there you can work out what is required. It is unlikely you will be having everything on flat out all at once. If you were using a U6 Meter all year round, you would use 569,400 kWh, An average 2-3 bedroom home uses 11,500 kWh per year.

A U16 Meter would be useful if you are in a commercial setting and have a gas kitchen and main central heating.

If you are unsure of what meter you require, give the gas experts a call on:0161 521 3400

2. We will then carry out a GT1 test,

to ensure you either require a new connection or a meter. A GT1 will help us to figure out if there is a current supply to the building or not. If there is already a supply we will be able to see what size meter you are able to have on site depending on what the pipework to the site is. If you require an upgrade we are able to assist.

3. Ensure you aren't overpaying for gas,

We would make sure that you aren't overpaying for the gas that your business or home is consuming. We would look at our charts and advise on thebest time to renewand which supplier has the lowest prices for your requirements.

4. Book in a day with ourselves for your new meter.

Our average timeframe is 2 weeks if a GT1 test report is not required. If it is then the average time will be 3 weeks.

Why your gas meter size matters for procurement, not just installation

Every UK business gas contract is priced against your Annual Quantity (AQ), the kWh figure your supplier expects you to consume in a year. The meter on the wall is the cap on your peak hourly draw, but it also dictates which market you trade in:

• Up to AQ 73,200 kWh (small business): Sized roughly to a U6 or small U16. Suppliers price these on standard SME panels and the contract usually has limited negotiation room.
• AQ 73,200 to 732,000 kWh (mid-market): U16 to U40 sites. Most suppliers will tender competitively here and a broker should be running 5+ quotes per renewal.
• AQ 732,000+ kWh (I&C / Large Daily Metered): U65 and up, often moving on to medium-pressure rotary meters. These sites can access flex contracts, day-ahead trading and bespoke supplier panels.

Sizing wrong in either direction is expensive: an oversized meter pays unnecessary standing charges every day, while undersized meters bottleneck production and force costly upgrades.

Common gas meter sizing mistakes we see

• Inheriting the previous tenant's meter without checking it matches your demand. A unit that was perfect for the old occupier's bakery is rarely right for a new manufacturing line.
• Sizing on installed kW rather than peak kW. Most boilers and burners only run at full load briefly. Use diversified peak demand, not nameplate ratings.
• Forgetting future expansion. Adding a second oven, kiln, or process line within 24 months is much cheaper if the meter is already a step up.
• Pricing without a GT1 test. Without confirming the supply pressure and pipe capacity, you can pay for a meter the network can't actually deliver.

How Purely Energy helps with gas meters

Most brokers walk away once the contract is signed. We don't, because the meter and the contract are the same project:

1. GT1 test and meter sizing. We run the GT1 with the network operator and recommend the smallest meter that gives you headroom for growth.
2. Whole-of-market gas tender. 30+ tier-1 suppliers compared, with the wholesale price, non-commodity costs, supplier margin and our margin shown separately on every quote. See the live UK wholesale prices we benchmark against.
3. Installation co-ordination. We project-manage the connection, meter swap or upgrade, target two weeks once GT1 is signed off (three weeks if the GT1 is required first).
4. Ongoing rate validation. Every renewal we test your AQ, your meter size and the wider market against your current rate. No automatic rollovers, no rolled-over commission.

Frequently asked gas meter questions

Talk to the gas team

If you need a meter installation, an upgrade, a GT1 test, or a fresh look at the contract behind your existing meter, we will run the whole job: sizing, install, supplier tender and ongoing renewals. Email info@purelyenergy.co.uk or call 0161 521 3400. Most enquiries get a same-day response.