Metered utility (3)
I believe the answer is:
gas
'metered utility' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for gas that I've seen before include "16 (US)" , "Hydrogen or methane, say" , "Carbon dioxide, say" , "idle chit-chat" , "Chatter (colloq.)" .)