Octopus Energy dragging feet over getting meter checked.

[Deleted User]

The IHD responds almost immediately to any changes to electricity demand, and it should be working now. The HAN was set up when the meter was commissioned. Gas usage in kWh ( which will not match your billing to the exact kWh) updates every 30 minutes to protect gas meter battery life.

Rather than you dashing around the house checking individual devices, the IHD will show you your baseload which is the amount of background energy that you are using. My background usage varies between 100W and 300W as the fridge and freezer kick in and out. You might be surprised how quickly baseload usage adds up. An average of 200W per hour is 4.8kWh/ day. If you have been turning things off whilst you have been investigating then you will have been getting flawed results. You cannot argue that your old meter was over-reading if you have turned things off. Meters only record what is drawing power.

Proving your case would have been a lot easier with a check meter.

razord

You can't lose electricity (energy) without it being transferred to another type of energy. heat, light, sound, movement etc.

Your PC PSU wastes 8% (at ideal load conditions) to heat. If you think wires are losing energy... realistically the only thing they could be doing is generating heat, which can only happen if a wire if too much power is drawn through a too thin cable. And for that to be a significant amount of energy, I can assure you the flames would be a more obvious indicator than a meter read seeming high to you!

k_man

Xbox series S/X on standby can use 15W if set to instant on mode, (rather than energy saving, which uses 0.5W)

More if it is updating in the background.

8 - 12kWh per day is very normal 

Edit: total daily use - not just the Xbox!

Chrysalis

Well well.

So far this week...

22nd Mar - 24th Mar

13.5kWh of electricity

This is more like it.

Chrysalis

k_man said:

Xbox series S/X on standby can use 15W if set to instant on mode, (rather than energy saving, which uses 0.5W)

More if it is updating in the background.

8 - 12kWh per day is very normal 

Edit: total daily use - not just the Xbox!

Its unplugged also thats high for a single person with no children.

Chrysalis

Dolor said:

The IHD responds almost immediately to any changes to electricity demand, and it should be working now. The HAN was set up when the meter was commissioned. Gas usage in kWh ( which will not match your billing to the exact kWh) updates every 30 minutes to protect gas meter battery life.

Rather than you dashing around the house checking individual devices, the IHD will show you your baseload which is the amount of background energy that you are using. My background usage varies between 100W and 300W as the fridge and freezer kick in and out. You might be surprised how quickly baseload usage adds up. An average of 200W per hour is 4.8kWh/ day. If you have been turning things off whilst you have been investigating then you will have been getting flawed results. You cannot argue that your old meter was over-reading if you have turned things off. Meters only record what is drawing power.

Proving your case would have been a lot easier with a check meter.

Sadly the meter device still isnt working, says waiting for supplier, waiting for meter reading etc.  It does have a wifi signal.

But I do now have the 30 min readings on the website now.

Found this.

https://octopus.energy/help-and-faqs/categories/meters/my-in-home-display-isnt-working/

So basically the meter needs to be in very close proximity? 

I walked to the back next to door to meters, and nothing appears then either, all values blank and depending on screen says either waiting for supplier or waiting for reading. the live usage, is just blank values.

Website shows most 30 minute intervals at around 0.15KwH, occasional but not many spikes to 0.3KwH, they seem to be tied in with kettle boils.

Old meter averaged 10-15 KwH per day with some occasional readings over 20.

Is there a way to see the live usage without an IHD? as thats what I really want.

k_man

I had similar problems with the IHD from Octopus.

It does have to be close to connect, and then may still work if moved a bit further away.

Does the IHD show the correct time?
Also try a power cycle of the IHD if you haven't already, than than kick off a reconnect.

Mine didn't even get the time so had to contact them to do a thing at their end.

 Be aware, once it connects and shows Usage now, you will become obsessed with for a while, so save money on other pastimes.

If you haven't already, setup the Bright app, as that gives more detail than the Octopus website

Chrysalis

I tried to power cycle but dont know how to do it, the power button doesnt seem to turn it off.

I found this here.

https://forum.boostpower.co.uk/smart-payg-22/in-home-display-not-connected-to-my-meters-help-2076

Thats the same meter, and in that instance it was said the installer is supposed to pair it, I dont think he paired mine, he just handed me the unopened box.  None of the screens work, cant see tariff, meter info, history, and everything else, they all say "waiting for ...."

It does show the time and does show a wifi connected icon as well.  I walked literally right next to the meter cupboard and nothing appeared.  I really hope this isnt a distance thing as it seems flawed if it cannot work in flats that dont have the meter in the flat.

Fridays octopus phone lines close at 4pm and not open weekends.

Wow what a chore, the app wants copy of my bill, meter number, id proof, selfie video,  I think this is made far too hard, it all should just work.

When I entered the GUID it said my smart meter doesnt qualify for IHD.

--

Ok looked at this guide which is better than octopus's.

https://bulb.co.uk/guides/home-energy/how-to-use-in-home-display/

My IHD has the bars at top left, but not the wifi bars at top right.  I looked at the bulb wifi guide, and there is no wifi on my settings menu.

MWT

Chrysalis said:

I tried to power cycle but dont know how to do it, the power button doesnt seem to turn it off.
settings menu.

Press and hold the power button, it will turn off after a few seconds.

Your IHD may not have the WiFi function, it is not something Octopus use anyway.

The model name will be on the bottom edge of the IHD, yours is probably IHD6-PPMID if it has no WiFi, it would be IHD6-CAD-PMID if it did.

Chrysalis

MWT said:

Chrysalis said:

I tried to power cycle but dont know how to do it, the power button doesnt seem to turn it off.
settings menu.

Press and hold the power button, it will turn off after a few seconds.

Your IHD may not have the WiFi function, it is not something Octopus use anyway.

The model name will be on the bottom edge of the IHD, yours is probably IHD6-PPMID if it has no WiFi, it would be IHD6-CAD-PMID if it did.

Thank you I have now done this, I also did this right outside the meter cupboard.

The bad news is the IHD still isnt working.

The good news I entered the GUID again on the app this time with the - in between numbers, and its now been accepted.

From what I can see the app doesnt show the live usage?  Its just an easier way to see whats on the octopus website.