Ovo Smart Meters

20vt-rs

Hi all,


Received a call out of the blue yesterday from OVO asking if they can book an appointment to upgrade my gas and elec meter's to their smart type. It will send them the readings every month (all the time) and I get an in-house monitor to track usage.


I have asked them to send me the details to read before committing, but are there are draw back to having these? My philosophy is if its not broken don't fix it!


I also asked if I change suppliers will they still work, and was told they can be manually read as well.


Thanks...

footyguy

Advantage - they may open up alternative time of use tariffs that could save you money in the future.

Disadvantage - no other supplier (if you decide to switch supplier) will probably be able to use them as a smart meter as their is no common agreement on smart metering across the industry.

Eventually everyone will have a smart meter, or at least that's the plan. Hopefully they will agree a common meter first.

20vt-rs

footyguy wrote: »

Advantage - they may open up alternative time of use tariffs that could save you money in the future.

Disadvantage - no other supplier (if you decide to switch supplier) will probably be able to use them as a smart meter as their is no common agreement on smart metering across the industry.

Eventually everyone will have a smart meter, or at least that's the plan. Hopefully they will agree a common meter first.

So it might be worth waiting until a common meter is agreed? I'm happy taking readings myself.

deanos

dont do it, they are over complicated to take a reading, the in house display is rubbish as well, does not show readings just some random pounds and pence figure, i have a ovo smart meter

20vt-rs

deanos wrote: »

dont do it, they are over complicated to take a reading, the in house display is rubbish as well, does not show readings just some random pounds and pence figure, i have a ovo smart meter

Okey dokey, thanks for the advise. Sorry to hear yours isn't good, can you go back or is that it?

deanos

think that's it once its changed, i only did it to save putting readings in every month, then found out if i change supplier they cant read it, another government !!!! up !

buglawton

The suppliers are deeply reluctant to see smart metering combined with easy switching so the smart bit can be used with any supplier. Govt does not seem to be able recognise an industry lobby group when its sitting on top of them.

Funny how mobile phones can transfer from one network (or even country) to another after a simple unlock, eh?

Don't switch to smart metering until a solution appears to make these meters as easy to swap as Internet routers are.

20vt-rs

Thanks everyone, I think I will remain as I am for now!

C_Mababejive

Domestic smart metering is slowly turning into an expensive fiasco..

Terry98

Most of the things I have read about Smart Meters are negative but I do not regret getting one from Ovo even though it took about three months to get it working properly.

I am waiting to see Ovo's exciting technology, coming soon, that will let me see the energy I am using in real time.

PG4

Think well before switching. I switched in June/July 2013, having been told my old meter needed replacing. A big mistake as, due to a problem with their system, I have not been billed since the switch. After numerous emails I have been able to establish that they do receive the readings from my smart meter, but there is a problem in that their computer is unable to process the information. (But I think that's only the readings since I changed tariffs in January. I don't think they received any at all for the five months I was on economy 7). After a lot of nagging I was able to get a manual calculation from them showing my monthly direct debit adequately covered my consumption, and meanwhile I just have to patiently wait for them to solve their problem. The info shown on my online account is inaccurate and meaningless. As an example, it gives a message that my April reading is lower than the March one, but "Don't worry, we will ignore it and you can send us another one." How daft is that, as I can't read the smart meter to send readings myself, and they are supposed to receive them automatically. The contract is due for renewal in eight months' time, but I doubt whether this smart meter would be useable elsewhere. Fingers crossed they will have got this mess sorted by then. They say my problem is a one- off, but I find that hard to believe. Oh for the old days: it was so easy to submit my own readings and manage my payments online myself.