Move from OVO?

happyhacker

Little worried about OVO being able to keep going. I don't have a meter and always send a reading twice a month and when I do miss never had an issue with estimating their end. My AI search says Sainsbury (E.ON) is a good one to switch to but will I be forced to have a meter?

We are elderly couple with low energy needs for electric only but oil is used for central heating and water.

Any views most welcome.

la531983

"I don't have a meter".

Erm, yes you do?

debitcardmayhem

I think you mean you don't have a smart meter, if you do switch you may be better off getting a smart meter, they allow you to access more,often cheaper, tariffs.

vic_sf49

To clear up some confusion, your meter is the thing on the wall, outside or in a cupboard, which you must be reading to submitting those figures to your supplier.

It sounds like you don't have an "in house display" (IHD).

At some point in the future, you will end up with a smart meter, (still the thing outside on the wall) as all meters are only certified for so long.

That should come with the IHD, which you can stick in a drawer if you wish. It just helps you see usage, without looking on the actual meter. Data on that isn't used for billing, and it's the electric meter's comms hub that allows your supplier to pull usage, not the IHD.

No clue if OVO will survive or not. Others may be along to comment on that.

bristolleedsfan

Smart Meters not required for majority of cheapest fixes shown on this page

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/are-there-any-cheap-fixed-energy-deals-currently-worth-it/

Keep_pedalling

At some point you will have to have a smart meter, why are you worried about having one?

t0rt0ise

A lot of people think you have to have the little display box plugged in sitting somewhere. You don't. You can just unplug it and put it away and just carry on as before. The only change is that you don't have to send in readings any more.

happyhacker

As you can see I'm not very smart 😂! I pay about £800 for electric/year on normal tariff. About £700 on oil. So about £125/mth. 3 Bed Semi uninsulated. OVO never given me any trouble and their online UI is very good. But they have got about £55 as reserve which I will have to fight for no doubt. I'm looking at bristolleedsfan's suggestion now. Why am I worried about smart meter? Cos' I hate the prospect of someone dipping into my wallet when it's obvious they're asking to much due to their error and leaving me to fight to get it back. Paranoid I know but there you go! My way they have to take my reading or estimate based on previous.