I agree on the tradition. On the economics, there are examples of modifying billing software to include a "meter constant" which can correct for errors of individual meters and/or change the unit of measuring from reading units to billing units. My gas company recently changed their billing unit from hundred cubic feet (CCF) to thousand cubic feet (MCF); obviously, that is a really simple meter constant. The UK has used a more complex conversion in their natural gas billing.
Assuming Imperial gallons, 1000 gallons is 4.54609 m³. A meter constant of 0.219 969 25 will convert kilogallon readings to cubic meters for billing. Given meter accuracies ±1.5 %, I could certainly round to 0.21997, and probably to 0.2200 (0.014% error). Provided the utility knows what customer has what meter (they record serial numbers in your record), this modification allows piecemeal conversion. My water company is changing water meters neighborhood by neighborhood, but they are not changing measurement units, they are changing to an RF unit that permits "drive-by" readings. ________________________________ From: "Ressel, Howard (DOT)" <hres...@dot.state.ny.us> To: U.S. Metric Association <usma@colostate.edu> Sent: Fri, December 31, 2010 8:37:15 AM Subject: [USMA:49353] Re: metric gallon Canadians measuring in gallons is probably one of two things: Tradition: It is going to take years to wean even the most metrically minded country off of non metric units Even if we went 100% metric tomorrow certain things will be referenced in WOMBAT for years, if not generations to come. Likely football and golf, for two examples, will still reference yards. Will the governing bodies of these sports one day change the definition of the standard yard to a metric measure? Perhaps but the traditional label of yards will remain. Economics: Most every home in Canada probably has a water meter that was designed to measure in gallons. To convert every single one of these to metric would be very costly and perhaps not an expanse the municipal utilities can afford. It’s not something you can replace piecemeal either. From:owner-u...@colostate.edu [mailto:owner-u...@colostate.edu] On Behalf Of John M. Steele Sent: Friday, December 31, 2010 6:20 AM To: U.S. Metric Association Subject: [USMA:49352] Re: metric gallon There is no metric gallon. It would be absurd to pay $1.80 per (metric) gallon when last year you paid $1.60 per thousand gallons. Is it not obvious that this is an error by a stupid reporter or editor? I do wonder why metric Canadians are metering water in gallons. I would tout new pricing of $0.40/m³ (there is a tiny further price hike hiding in that conversion, assuming Imperial gallons). ________________________________ From:Stan Doore <s...@doore.net> To: U.S. Metric Association <usma@colostate.edu> Sent: Fri, December 31, 2010 4:38:40 AM Subject: [USMA:49349] Re: metric gallon Why not just use 4 Litres (4 L) rather than metric gallon. It’s much easier to use, it’s very clear and less confusing, and it’s standard. Stan Doore From:owner-u...@colostate.edu [mailto:owner-u...@colostate.edu] On Behalf Of John M. Steele Sent: Thursday, December 30, 2010 6:29 PM To: U.S. Metric Association Cc: USMA Metric Association Subject: [USMA:49343] Re: metric gallon The article is Canadian, so I would suspect an Imperial gallon (4.54609 L)not a US gallon. But I also have to ask, "didn't they go metric?" WHY are they measuring water in gallons? It's a pretty good water rate in any case, less than I pay. Given Canadian dollars and Imperial gallons, it would be quite a bit less. ________________________________ From:Pat Naughtin <pat.naugh...@metricationmatters.com> To: U.S. Metric Association <usma@colostate.edu> Cc: USMA Metric Association <usma@colostate.edu> Sent: Thu, December 30, 2010 5:45:17 PM Subject: [USMA:49342] Re: metric gallon On 2010/12/31, at 05:08 , Kilopascal wrote: What is a metric gallon? > >http://www.thepacket.ca/News/2010-12-30/article-2081370/Councillors-get-raises/1 >Hotels, laundromats, rest homes and industrial businesses will be charged 1.80 >per metric gallon. Last year’s rate was $1.60 per m gallon. >Fish plants are also include in that rate increase, based on usage up to five >million gallons in a calendar month. In months where the water usage is beyond >five million gallons, they will be charged $2.30 per m (1000) gallons. Dear All, A metric gallon is clearly defined by NIST, with seven figure precision, as follows gallon (U.S.) (gal) liter (L) 3.785 412 However, I suspect that the article you quote is referring to lots of 1000 gallons (378.5412 litres) and it calls these lots metric gallons because the city authorities are having trouble with the word, kilogallons! They seem to be muddling it with m gallons that could be read as milligallons (0.003 785 412 litres or 3.785 412 millilitres). Cheers, Pat Naughtin LCAMS Author of the ebook, Metrication Leaders Guide, see http://metricationmatters.com/MetricationLeadersGuideInfo.html Hear Pat speak at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lshRAPvPZY PO Box 305 Belmont 3216, Geelong, Australia Phone: 61 3 5241 2008 Metric system consultant, writer, and speaker, Pat Naughtin, has helped thousands of people and hundreds of companies upgrade to the modern metric system smoothly, quickly, and so economically that they now save thousands each year when buying, processing, or selling for their businesses. Pat provides services and resources for many different trades, crafts, and professions for commercial, industrial and government metrication leaders in Asia, Europe, and in the USA. Pat's clients include the Australian Government, Google, NASA, NIST, and the metric associations of Canada, the UK, and the USA. See http://www.metricationmatters.com/ to subscribe.
