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Can peak and off peak readings be billed on the same unit rate?

Forum|Forum|1 month ago
September 6, 2026
17 replies
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Are any forum members with a tariff with the peak and off peak at the same rates

Best answer by Chris_OVO

@jen28 @Firedog

Just to add some clarity I spoke with one of our heating experts and shared the thread. He’s came back with the information below:

“Our agents can change a contract to apply flat rate for both peak and off-peak. We can also technically reconfigure the meter so that it's only got an anytime rate if the customer would prefer that.

What we can't do is change the supply from restricted (off-peak) to unrestricted (24/7) and vice versa. Only an electrician can do this. Usually there's an isolator already installed, so all the electrician needs to do is make the necessary changes after the isolator to make the new convector heaters have a 24/7 supply. If the electrician needs an isolator installed to complete the alterations, we can do this”

Firedog

Super User

Yes, I have. Why do you ask?

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. |

Nukecad

Super User

That happens when you have a multi rate meter but have chosen a single rate tariff.

It's easier to make it meter both rates at the same price which can be done remotely rather than sending an engineer out to physically swap the meter with a single rate one.

What tariff do you currently have?

I said, Hey - Watts going on.

Firedog

Super User

A wee rider to @Nukecad’s reply: while it’s possible to change the tariff from, say, Economy7 to single rate just by making the peak and offpeak rates the same, this change can’t (so far as I’m aware) be reversed, i.e. from single rate to peak/offpeak. See here.

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. |

Chris_OVO

Community Manager

Hey @jen28,

What kind of information about single rate tariffs can we help you with?

I've gathered some articles that I think you might find helpful while we wait for your update. We're looking forward to hearing from you

Renewable energy jokes never get old.

J

jen28Author

Rank 1

Thank you for your response

On economy 10 with old type storage heaters which are going to be replaced soon with oil electric radiators.

what I need then is a tariff that is the SameRate 24/7 ( NOT A PEAK and OFF PEAK tariff I can’t find the tariff required on the OVO app

regards

Firedog

Super User

This depends largely on the type of meter you have installed, so a clear photo of it would help. That said, I’m not certain that an Economy 10 arrangement can be changed to single-rate, even though an Economy 7 one can. It’s possible that Support can tell you, but I’ll ask if the moderators (like @Chris_OVO) could find out.

I’d also point out that your bills are going to increase significantly. With storage heaters, the cost of heating is mostly at a reduced rate, while you’re heading for paying at the same rate all the time. Your property needs just the same amount of electricity to keep it warm regardless of how it’s delivered. So long as your offpeak usage is more than about 25% of the total, Economy 10 will cost less than single rate. That may not be easy to achieve with electric radiators.

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. |

B

Bung2

Newcomer

I've sent emails asking this, but not had a reply. The property we moved into has non smart meters. The electricity meter is 2 rate but we are billed on a single rate tariff as don't have any requirement for the 2 rate. If I book an appointment for a smart meter to be fitted can anyone confirm if by default it will be a single rate meter? This would be our preference. Thank you in advance.

Firedog

Super User

Modern smart meters can handle all sorts of tariffs, so there’s no distinction between single-rate and multi-rate meters. Configuration all happens by magic over-the-air.

Two-rate systems (e.g. Economy 7) were introduced to allow for the use of night-storage heaters charged up at lower rates. If you no longer have this sort of heating, there’s no need for a two-rate arrangement.

Economy 7 meters usually had a double function: one to meter electricity usage at peak and offpeak rates, and the other to turn the heating equipment on and off at the right times. If this is your situation, you may have to think about how domestic hot water is heated up.

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. |

B

Bung2

Newcomer

Hi,

Thanks for your reply. We have a combi boiler so no need for economy 7. I've had this reply from ovo today... Not sure what the charge would be for if there's no distinction between single/multi rate meters? 🤔 Definitely won't be paying it!

Ben_OVO

Community Manager

@Bung2 just to confirm - if you have an economy 7 smart meter installed, then we can bill both the day and night registers on one flat unit rate, so it’d be the same as you having a single rate meter.

This aside - it can occasionally be advantageous to have the economy 7 meter, even if you don’t have storage heaters or anything that runs on the off-peak register. You could ask our Support Team to calculate your usage, and work out whether it’d save you any money at all to move onto an economy 7 tariff.

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Chris_OVO

Community Manager

Hey @Bung2,

If you could share a few photos of your current meter setup at home, we'd be happy to help you figure out if you can replace both of your older meters with a single smart meter! Great point from Firedog that if you have any storage heaters or a water storage tank that relies on a heating circuit, that’s definitely worth considering.

Looking forward to seeing your setup!

Renewable energy jokes never get old.