Natural Gas Meter Planning
A generator can start quickly, but gas supply must keep pace. The meter is the first checkpoint. It must pass enough cubic feet per hour for the generator and every connected appliance. This calculator turns electrical load into fuel demand. It then compares that demand with your meter rating.
Why Meter Capacity Matters
Natural gas meters are commonly rated in CFH. That means cubic feet per hour. A generator nameplate may show kilowatts instead. The calculator bridges those units with heat value and efficiency. A large generator can use more fuel than a furnace. Start demand can also be higher than running demand. That is why the surge multiplier is included.
What The Inputs Mean
Generator size shows the maximum electrical output. Load percent shows the expected running load. Efficiency converts electrical output into required fuel input. Gas heat value changes by region. Many utility estimates use about 1,000 BTU per cubic foot. Your bill or supplier may give a better number. Existing appliance load covers furnaces, heaters, ranges, and dryers. Future load helps reserve capacity for planned additions.
Reading The Result
The main result is generator CFH. This is the running gas flow. The safety adjusted total includes other appliances and your chosen margin. The peak estimate adds start allowance. The meter status tells whether the entered meter rating looks comfortable, tight, or undersized. It is only a planning guide. Final sizing should follow local codes and utility rules.
Good Design Practice
Use realistic load percent. A standby unit rarely runs at full output all day. Still, emergency operation can create heavy demand. Keep a margin for cold weather, pressure loss, regulator behavior, and aging equipment. Also check pipe length, pipe diameter, fittings, and delivery pressure. A meter may be large enough while the piping is not.
Cost And Runtime Use
The cost fields estimate therm use and daily fuel cost. This helps compare generator sizes and run schedules. It also helps budget long outages. For best accuracy, enter your delivered gas cost per therm. Save the CSV for records. Export the PDF when sharing a sizing note with a contractor or utility reviewer.
Record assumptions clearly, then update them after utility review approval.