House Move & Existing Supplier

Heavenly

Hi everyone. I'm moving into a new flat and just so confused with everything.

I've contacted the existing supplier today (Ovo). It's a credit meter in just now. I've set up a DD for £94 a month and asked for it to be changed from Economy 7 to a standard tariff (as it's gas central heating and I have a young child so won't benefit) but it appears the previous tenant still has her account open to that address. I should receive my welcome pack within 28 days.

That's fine but when I asked if they needed meter readings they said no. Is this right? There are smart meters in. 

Thank you! 

GunJack

Even though they could access the readings direct from the meter, I'd still take readings and photograph the meters on the day (or as close to) you move in. Give those readings to OVO and keep the pics, then if there's any dispute you have evidence. Also good practice to take and keep your own monthly readings, then you can compare to the bills & meter readings ovo are getting from the smart meters.

Heavenly

Thanks GunJack. I have videos from both meters saved just in case they did ask for any of the readings.

And thank you for the tip. I will get into the habit of taking readings. 

jbuchanangb

So far so good. Enjoy your new home. Please understand that £94 per month is not an all-in payment. It goes into an account, and when you have used energy, OVO will work out how much it cost, and take that out of the account. Hopefully during the summer your energy will cost less than £94 per month and the amount in the account will go up, so that next winter it can go down again. As well as taking readings once a month, read your bills so you know how things are going. It is better to put up your monthly payments early, rather then get behind and get what is known as "bill shock" when you find yourself in arrears, and get a whopping increase in order to catch up.

Heavenly

Thank you jbuchanangb. Yes I'm hoping to use less than £94 per month but aware prices are increasing dramatically so I may increase this depending on the first month as I'm not sure what my usage will be like. 

Ovo are adamant I don't need a meter reading as it's a smart meter but it's asking for one when creating an online account and I want to know what I'm supposed to be looking at for my peace of mind. I recorded the Kwh reading yesterday (for Gas) which doesn't match the reading they've given me so looks like I'm looking for the M3 instead. 

Why do they not teach the practical stuff at school! 

wild666

On my Landis & Gyr smart meter I just press button A and the gas meter reading appears to get the kWh by converting the M3 reading just multiply by 11.39 for the highest use or 10.96 for the lowest use. This will be dependent on the calorific value, CV, that can be as low as 38 or over 40.1, that's the lowest and highest figures I've had on gas bills in 40 years.

Robin9

Heavenly said:

Thank you jbuchanangb. Yes I'm hoping to use less than £94 per month but aware prices are increasing dramatically so I may increase this depending on the first month as I'm not sure what my usage will be like. 

Ovo are adamant I don't need a meter reading as it's a smart meter but it's asking for one when creating an online account and I want to know what I'm supposed to be looking at for my peace of mind. I recorded the Kwh reading yesterday (for Gas) which doesn't match the reading they've given me so looks like I'm looking for the M3 instead. 

Why do they not teach the practical stuff at school! 

The reading that OVO want is from the meter   and is shown as m3  -ignore any numbers after the decimal point. Do NOT attempt to convert to KWH otherwise disaster will result.

Always a good idea to read you meter and keep records - then you get a better  understanding of what you are using. Keep a basic spreadsheet.

Heavenly

Thank you wild666 but I'm awful at maths. The meter should give me a reading in m3.

Thank you Robin9 - I'm surprised the Ovo page doesn't state it's the m3 rather than kwh (I only realised after watching lots of videos and looking at my parents meter). When I mentioned I'd recorded it I meant by video - I've not yet given them a reading phew! At least I know what I'm looking for now and can compare them because the Ovo customer service rep refused to tell me which figure I should be using.