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As @Blastoise186 says, the “05 02” sticker is wildly out of date now and you could maybe ask for a calibration check when it’s replaced, as some of your billing (less heating and hot water) for the past 9 months has been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

Rank 2
March 13, 2024

If you have actual readings from November and December (and January too?), it shouldn’t be too difficult to extrapolate to find out whether it’s likely the meter has tripped over 99999 and started again from 0. What are the latest readings you have?

 

Yeah we were in that back in pg1of this saga! It was 97735 on Dec 6th, then estimates, so yes tripping over 99999 is likely…sadly the meter is no longer recording accurately and is flashing on and off…so it’s definitely not functioning… but the real issue is that I can’t get it replaced with a smart meter, and can’t get the functioning THTC meter disconnected from it, can’t switch supplier with a THTC ‘exotic’ meter in place, can’t get it removed, can’t get a better tariff, and now can’t accurately record my actual usage on the standard meter until it’s replaced with a ‘new heritage’(old/used) meter, even though I don’t want an old style meter or a THTC meter, or to be paying 30p a unit or go wait an unspecified time till it’s replaced while unknown amounts of debt build up on a non-functioning meter I have no access to usage info on! 😆

Firedog
Super User
Super User
March 13, 2024

Yeah we were in that back in pg1of this saga! It was 97735 on Dec 6th, 

 

Sorry, I should perhaps crawl back into my hole 🐢

I’d just say that I think your supplier has a statutory duty to provide a working meter, and it certainly looks as if that one has given up the will to live (000 18 is probably an error code, but I can’t find any documentation to indicate what it might mean). OVO can’t just leave you with an unmetered supply until they work out what to do about H&I THTC customers. Make sure you have details of the readings you’ve taken over the past couple of years, because that’s the only basis there will be for estimating your usage since the meter stopped working.

Noel | I have no official status; I'm just a volunteer who comes here to help other customers. My gear: Aclara SGM 1416-B Electricity-only E7 meter; Chameleon IHD3-PPMID-AAA | It may look as if I know what I’m talking about, but don’t let that fool you. |
Rank 2
March 13, 2024

Yeah we were in that back in pg1of this saga! It was 97735 on Dec 6th, 

 

Sorry, I should perhaps crawl back into my hole 🐢

I’d just say that I think your supplier has a statutory duty to provide a working meter, and it certainly looks as if that one has given up the will to live (000 18 is probably an error code, but I can’t find any documentation to indicate what it might mean). OVO can’t just leave you with an unmetered supply until they work out what to do about H&I THTC customers. Make sure you have details of the readings you’ve taken over the past couple of years, because that’s the only basis there will be for estimating your usage since the meter stopped working.

No stay out of your hole and come play in the Hell I’m in please! Sadly we only moved in in June, then we were migrated from SSE to Ovo and so we only have 3months of meter readings. 
Im hoping we’ll come to some agreement re fair estimates based on what the rest of the market says about average usage for this number of occupants etc, They also said the meter will be fixed and ‘read’ not sure how if it’s faulty but as it’s still consuming maybe there’s a way to get info from it…perhaps with a sonic screwdriver…not that I’ll be trusting those readings much! 

waltyboy
Rank 8
Rank 8
March 13, 2024

I’m not sure estimates based on other people’s usage is good enough…if your supplier wants to present you with a bill, then they have to have the correct machinery in place.  None of this is your fault.  
 

It may well be that the meter is logging your usage, even if the consumer can’t read it. Let’s hope so!
 

And that’s without you claiming compensation for all the worry and hassle and incompetence…

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.
Emmanuelle_OVO
Retired Moderator
Retired Moderator
March 14, 2024

Hey @zedzedhoney,

 

I’ve asked about this internally and been advised SMS do have stock of THTC meters, so a meter exchange can be booked in like for like. 

 

It won’t be a smart meter, but it’s some progress. 

Renewable Energy? Big Fan.
Blastoise186
Super User
Super User
March 14, 2024

But the snag is how to get that over to the Isle of Arran. It’s about 418 miles and over eight hours drive away from OVO’s head office and that ferry doesn’t look very frequent...

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 14, 2024

Hey @zedzedhoney,

 

I’ve asked about this internally and been advised SMS do have stock of THTC meters, so a meter exchange can be booked in like for like. 

 

It won’t be a smart meter, but it’s some progress. 

Thanks @Emmanuelle_OVO but again, it’s not the THTC meter (that I don’t want) that is broken, it’s the standard meter which is broken! But I’m told the exotic THTC meter works WITH the standard meter so when the broken standard meter is replaced with an old one it will still be connected to the THTC whic runs my hot water (again I don’t want this but Ovo will not remove/disconnect the functioning THTC meter and no other provider will take me as a customer until you do)

Rank 2
March 14, 2024

But the snag is how to get that over to the Isle of Arran. It’s about 418 miles and over eight hours drive away from OVO’s head office and that ferry doesn’t look very frequent...

Yup! I’m told this will be contracted out to a company that installs meters for Ovo on the islands…but I’m not sure. I mean the ferry is pants but there’s at least 3 theoretical ferries over per day and we get Royal Mail/Amazon/Evri so they can just post the meter for an on island installer or just send a local bloke over with his tools under his arm!

Emmanuelle_OVO
Retired Moderator
Retired Moderator
March 15, 2024

Okay I’m glad to hear this has been contracted out to someone who can do the work for you. Please keep us posted with how you get on @zedzedhoney it’s a very unique and complex situation you’re in! If you haven’t heard anything within 3 weeks please let us know and I’ll see if Forum_Support can chase an update for you.

Renewable Energy? Big Fan.
waltyboy
Rank 8
Rank 8
March 15, 2024

It’s going to be interesting to see whether the problem has been linked to the meter clicking over from a total tariff (Rate 1) of 9999 to 0000. It could be some entirely different problem, of course, linked to an ageing meter, or simply a random failure in this particular meter. 
 

But if there is an inherent failure waiting to happen, might there not be a fair few of these elderly Siemens meters still in use up and down the Country, coming to the end of their faithful service? They can’t all be waiting to keel over if and when they reach a reading of 9999.99 kWh, surely? If so, I assume that could happen for some which, like in this instance, are dual rate and have their second rate, for a little while longer, tied to a THTC meter?

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.