Single Phase Watt Hour Meter Reading

sschine

Hi, 

Recently bought a house and I've been having trouble reading my meter readings as it says its a single phase watt hour meter. But it gives two readings? it doesn't say Multi Rate or anything on it..

there is one number that is standard and another number that has a small t in front of it. 

OVO haven't been much help with helping me, do i submit one reading or add them together? 

Gerry1

Welcome to the forum.

It probably has two registers, R1 and R2.  t is the total of R1 + R2.

It'll probably show a prefix of 1 or 2 depending which rate is active at that moment.

Typically these meters are used on an Economy 7 tariff.  It gives seven hours (possibly split) at a lower rate overnight and a higher rate in the day.  E7 is often used for night storage heaters and immersion heaters where gas is not available.

You need to send only the R1 and R2 readings.  There's probably a Cycle Display button to show the different registers.

To avoid being overcharged, make sure that the register that increments during the day is shown as Day Rate on the bill.

Also do the sums to see whether single rate would work out cheaper, especially if you don't have NSHs.  This doesn't need a meter change, most companies will happily bill at single rate but unfortunately OVO is one of the awkward ones that doesn't, so you'd have to switch to a friendlier one such as Octopus.

sschine

Thank you! 

Scot_39

Single phase doesn't mean single rate.

You need to try and identify the model if possible - and search for reading instructions.  Some have one button - others multiple.  Mine I have to use 1 button for total iirc 9  - no use on a multirate - and another 6? To cycle through all registers including my peak and off peak.

On others there's only 1 button or 2 etc.

And as @Gerry1 - names like r1 r2 etc common - but not all share same peak off peak order - so check against past readings.

And if want to be really sure it's right also check what register increments when. By reading a couple of times in the same peak - on e7 thats day - 830am to 1030pm covers most regions to be gmt and bst to be safe.  Or night following morning to check off peak etc.

My 2 readings are now miles apart - like 3-4x the other - as a heavy off peak user in winter - but it can be trickier if close.

It is not unheard of -  rare but not as rare as you might hope -  for the two to end up being swapped.  After meter changes or supplier change a heightened risk.

Edit:

"And I just remembered a post here the other day re no R02 - where a supplier over the air meter update - has actually stopped his model (Secure Liberty iirc) registering dual rate supply"

So maybe not a bad idea for us all to check periodically

Re meaning of single phase.

Most uk small to medium sized homes are only on single phase supply - that simply means you have 1 live wire, 1 neutral and an earth connection - into your home / meter cabinet.

And these frequently alternate from grid 3 phases - in some way as you go up and down a street or estate.

The national grid system, all the way down to street level local distribution in towns , some larger homes and medium to large businesses - operate on a three phase supply.
 
Which is why if only one phase fuse blows at a local substation / final stage transformer unit  - not all homes in the area lose supply.

And some medium or large sized house currently ok on 1 phase - might even find need to move to a three phase supply when and if move to electric heat pump heating.  Some have already needed to upgrade when installing 10s kWh of new heating.

matelodave

If you post a piccy of your meter, then someone may be able to give you some info on how to read it - they all have their own little foibles. Some you have to press buttons, some just cycle through the readings.

Its also a good idea to check what tariff you are on, are you on a single rate or dual rate peak/off peak tariff. If you are on a dual rate tariff then make sure that the readings correctly reflect the peak and off peak periods, both on your meter and the bills (its easy to transpose them)

we've had three different meters since we've been here and one was two rate meter that was reprogrammed to operate a single rate so its not always obvious