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Rank 2
March 10, 2024
Solved

Faulty traditional meter

Hiya, went to take a meter reading as usual (non smart meter) but the display is flashing alternately 000 18 and 8888.8.8 and TOT with a sporadic red flash (assuming this is consuming?) and no actual reading!

 

I’ve emailed OVO but no chat till tomorrow…is there an easy fix like batteries/reset or something? (we’ve not long owned the house so not sure how it all works!)

Thanks.

 

waltyboy
waltyboyBest Answer
Rank 8
March 10, 2024

Updated on 02/07/25 by Chris_OVO:


Not got the answers you need? The following topics may be helpful:
 

 

Hi @zedzedhoney, can well understand how you must feel anxious about the whole meter thing on a remote island; but don’t worry, as @fancyabrew says, your smart meter when fitted will be no worse than your present meter even if its limited “smartness” MAY mean you still need to take manual readings. AND it will be better in the sense that a new smart meter can handle dual tariffs, so will be able to manage both your regular tariff and your Economy tariff, assuming there are no dreadful cabling issues or lack of room in a small cupboard or some other unsuitability issues. So the meter would automatically have you on the reduced off peak tariff (midnight to 0700? or whichever you are on at the moment). 
 

As @Blastoise186 says, the “05 02” sticker is wildly out of date now and you could maybe ask for a calibration check when it’s replaced, as some of your billing (less heating and hot water) for the past 9 months has been based on it…of course, such a check could work either way I suppose!
 

But I’m wondering if it’s the change from a 9999.99 reading to a 0000.00 reading which has prompted the current shenanigans from your meter?  You mention a previous reading of something like 9875.33…so usage over 3 or 4 winter months on that island of yours could well have made a difference of 124.67 kWh or so?

 

Good luck with it all, and as I say, don’t worry, you will at the very least be no worse off with a modern smart meter, and chances are it will actually prove to be easier in use for you, and who knows? its smart communications may well work, depending on where within your house its sited, and where your house itself is sited on the island. Maybe depending where the island itself is sited! Depending on how well known some of your neighbours are to you now after nine months, (and how close geographically they are!) one or two of them might have some interesting or relevant stories?! 

Walt. 2013: 3.2kW PV East/West + Fronius IG, as at 01 Sep 2026 30 MWh, of which 22 MWh exported. 2023: 2.4kWh LiFePo4 battery. 2024: Tadö wireless smart stat v3; Electriq split unit 2.6kW AAHP (“air conditioner”). 2026: Hyundai Inster 02 EV.

88 replies

Blastoise186
Super User
Super User
March 10, 2024

Yum! I love the smell of fried meter in the morning! :D

I’m afraid the unit is dead and must be replaced entirely. Please use Live Chat in the morning to report this - it’s WAY faster than email.

You’ll be upgraded to Smart Meters as part of the repair - you won’t be charged for this.

Either way, the Certification on it has Expired so it needs to be replaced anyway.

Securing energy by zapping security bugs... For that is The Blastoise Way! Remember, I'm just like you - AI Powered Evil Geniuses aren't Staff!
BPLightlog
Super User
Super User
March 10, 2024

Hi @zedzedhoney , do you have a ‘start’ reading?

If you are on a single rate tariff then the figures showing with 1 top left should be the reading to take - although I have seen some take the Total reading.

The red flash does show energy consumption. 

Bring me Sunshine ~ E&E {Solar PV, Battery Storage, EV, ASHP and Home Assistant automation}
Rank 2
March 10, 2024

Normally the flashing part has a steady reading on it (we’ve been here 9 months and given several readings) it’s usually says something lije 9875.33 or whatever

BPLightlog
Super User
Super User
March 10, 2024

Normally the flashing part has a steady reading on it (we’ve been here 9 months and given several readings) it’s usually says something lije 9875.33 or whatever

Sounds like it is faulty then. Those meters are not used anymore so it needs replacing 

Bring me Sunshine ~ E&E {Solar PV, Battery Storage, EV, ASHP and Home Assistant automation}
Rank 2
March 10, 2024

Yum! I love the smell of fried meter in the morning! :D

I’m afraid the unit is dead and must be replaced entirely. Please use Live Chat in the morning to report this - it’s WAY faster than email.

You’ll be upgraded to Smart Meters as part of the repair - you won’t be charged for this.

Either way, the Certification on it has Expired so it needs to be replaced anyway.

Great! That’s exactly what we don’t need. We live on a wee island served by broken ferries so nothing will happen fast! I’m not sure I want a smart meter, sounds like there are tons of problems with them especially with old houses and intermittent mobile/wifi. We also have a second meter that is on a cheaper tarif for our hot water and heating (which is oil as there’s no gas on the island) and that is working fine…we need that cheaper tariff or we will freeze! 
 

Very worried now 😩

Rank 2
March 10, 2024

Yum! I love the smell of fried meter in the morning! :D

I’m afraid the unit is dead and must be replaced entirely. Please use Live Chat in the morning to report this - it’s WAY faster than email.

You’ll be upgraded to Smart Meters as part of the repair - you won’t be charged for this.

Either way, the Certification on it has Expired so it needs to be replaced anyway.

Great! That’s exactly what we don’t need. We live on a wee island served by broken ferries so nothing will happen fast! I’m not sure I want a smart meter, sounds like there are tons of problems with them especially with old houses and intermittent mobile/wifi. We also have a second meter that is on a cheaper tarif for our hot water and heating (which is oil as there’s no gas on the island) and that is working fine…we need that cheaper tariff or we will freeze! 
 

Very worried now 😩


To be clear, I LOVE technology, I’m just aware that we live in a very low tech place where simple things do better and there are frequent power cuts/storms and it’s very much like the 1970s generally…so finding qualified people or getting engineers over is very lengthy and complicated so hi-spec cars/smart home devices can be a bit tricky when they go wrong and there’s nobody who knows how to fix them locally! 😫

Blastoise186
Super User
Super User
March 10, 2024

You can only get meter repair done by your energy supplier anyway, so you can't rely on local engineers. It's illegal for anyone else to touch it.

Even without Smart features, it will still function like a regular one.

Securing energy by zapping security bugs... For that is The Blastoise Way! Remember, I'm just like you - AI Powered Evil Geniuses aren't Staff!
Rank 2
March 10, 2024

Ok great, so due to remote/inaccessible location I’d guess from reading local chatter that they have a deal with a meter installation company on island who do installs for all the energy suppliers, a bit like in Peppa Pig these will be the exact same people who do the engineer jobs and probably also the internet/BT and also the butcher as it’s a small population and sending people over would result in a wee holiday for them! But I guess I’ll find this out on Monday when I call OVO.

My other worry is we currently have a separate second meter for heating/hot water charges that’s on a cheaper tariff (due to no gas on island for heating/water) and I’m unclear if we can retain both a smart meter AND the separate one? 
 

Thanks for replies

Rank 5
March 10, 2024

Yum! I love the smell of fried meter in the morning! :D

I’m afraid the unit is dead and must be replaced entirely. Please use Live Chat in the morning to report this - it’s WAY faster than email.

You’ll be upgraded to Smart Meters as part of the repair - you won’t be charged for this.

Either way, the Certification on it has Expired so it needs to be replaced anyway.

Great! That’s exactly what we don’t need. We live on a wee island served by broken ferries so nothing will happen fast! I’m not sure I want a smart meter, sounds like there are tons of problems with them especially with old houses and intermittent mobile/wifi. We also have a second meter that is on a cheaper tarif for our hot water and heating (which is oil as there’s no gas on the island) and that is working fine…we need that cheaper tariff or we will freeze! 
 

Very worried now 😩

Ermmm bit confused you won't have a meter for oil! Doesn't matter if you have a smart meter that doesn't work "smart" if will just work in the same way as your current meter (before it broke) did you will need to send in manual meter readings

waltyboy
Rank 8
waltyboyBest Answer
Rank 8
March 10, 2024

Updated on 02/07/25 by Chris_OVO:


Not got the answers you need? The following topics may be helpful:
 

 

Hi @zedzedhoney, can well understand how you must feel anxious about the whole meter thing on a remote island; but don’t worry, as @fancyabrew says, your smart meter when fitted will be no worse than your present meter even if its limited “smartness” MAY mean you still need to take manual readings. AND it will be better in the sense that a new smart meter can handle dual tariffs, so will be able to manage both your regular tariff and your Economy tariff, assuming there are no dreadful cabling issues or lack of room in a small cupboard or some other unsuitability issues. So the meter would automatically have you on the reduced off peak tariff (midnight to 0700? or whichever you are on at the moment). 
 

As @Blastoise186 says, the “05 02” sticker is wildly out of date now and you could maybe ask for a calibration check when it’s replaced, as some of your billing (less heating and hot water) for the past 9 months has been based on it…of course, such a check could work either way I suppose!
 

But I’m wondering if it’s the change from a 9999.99 reading to a 0000.00 reading which has prompted the current shenanigans from your meter?  You mention a previous reading of something like 9875.33…so usage over 3 or 4 winter months on that island of yours could well have made a difference of 124.67 kWh or so?

 

Good luck with it all, and as I say, don’t worry, you will at the very least be no worse off with a modern smart meter, and chances are it will actually prove to be easier in use for you, and who knows? its smart communications may well work, depending on where within your house its sited, and where your house itself is sited on the island. Maybe depending where the island itself is sited! Depending on how well known some of your neighbours are to you now after nine months, (and how close geographically they are!) one or two of them might have some interesting or relevant stories?! 

Walt. 2013: 3.2kW PV East/West + Fronius IG, as at 01 Sep 2026 30 MWh, of which 22 MWh exported. 2023: 2.4kWh LiFePo4 battery. 2024: Tadö wireless smart stat v3; Electriq split unit 2.6kW AAHP (“air conditioner”). 2026: Hyundai Inster 02 EV.