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johnhspicer
Rank 2
June 2, 2024
Solved

Generation meter does not have a visible serial number?

  • June 2, 2024
  • 28 replies
  • 1444 views

We have had solar panels for nearly 15 years now, and they still work fine, generation levels have barely moved in that time. And we have had the same electrical installation throughout, import export meter and separate generation meter. And nearly all the time with SSE.

Now of course with OVO, and I am now getting letters asking for a picture of the generation meter-read with the serial number visible. Except there has never been a serial number visible on the generation meter, as loads of SSE engineers have confirmed over the years.

I’ve emailed OVO with pictures, written old style letters, and never get a response. And now they are threatening to stop payments.

First question is: has anyone else experienced this?

Second question: if the current generation meter is no longer compliant, for example if the government now wants proof of the generation with a specific meter serial number (which I can understand being a valid ask to prevent fraud), then I can also accept that OVO are stuck in the middle (which does not justify their dreadful customer service in response to the issue).

But if a meter change has to happen, who is responsble for the cost of installing a compliant meter? And how does that get arranged?

It would be nice if OVO would respond without having to use this forum, but maybe this way I’ll get an answer since they seem to monitor it…...

 

 

 

 

    Best answer by Blastoise186

    Updated on 09/06/25 by Ben_OVO

    All meters, including generation meters, will have a unique, alphanumeric serial number. If you’re unsure of your generation meter serial number, take a look at the picture below in this thread, or send a picture of the meter to your energy supplier if you’re still unsure. 

    Good evening @johnhspicer ,

    Please note that this response was written by a Forum Volunteer who does not work for OVO.

    This sounds like a pretty rare situation to me - and it’s the first time I’ve ever seen it mentioned here on the Forum. To add context, the OVO Forum launched in around February 2017 and I’ve been here since around November 2020 so I’ve seen and read almost everything except for the really, really old stuff from the very early days. Chances are I’m pretty sure I’d remember if this had come up previously, but I can’t recall ever seeing anything similar on here.

    So firstly, this is a long winded way of saying thanks for the unique question! We love these unique ones. :)

    It does sound to me like OVO and yourself are both stuck between a rock and a hard place here. I can’t understand why you even had a Generation Meter installed without it having a Meter Serial Number in the first place - that’s supposed to be pretty much impossible as EVERY electric and gas meter in the UK is required to have one. I’m a bit surprised you’ve even lasted this long with it, let alone managed to get FiT Payments!

    If memory serves, ALL meters - including Import, Generation and Export Meters - are owned by the Supplier and the Supplier is responsible for maintaining them as well as replacing them as and when required. The same applies to covering the cost of procurement, installation and replacement - that’s for the Supplier to do unless you require a “Non-Standard Install” which isn’t usually the case when setting up FiT/SEG.

    I don’t know the process for this one, but I know someone who does. Please bear with me - I’ll flag this backstage on the Forum and someone will swing by again soon.

    28 replies

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    BPLightlog
    Super User
    BPLightlogSuper User
    Super User
    June 4, 2024

    That bottom part of the window which is being obscured looks like it has been painted? (As does the top part)

    Bring me Sunshine ~ E&E {Solar PV, Battery Storage, Hybrid EV, ASHP and Home Assistant automation}
    Firedog
    Super User
    FiredogSuper User
    Super User
    June 4, 2024

    A bit of Blue Peter sticky-backed plastic, perhaps? I don’t imagine you could get that hammered effect by painting.

    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. |
    BPLightlog
    Super User
    BPLightlogSuper User
    Super User
    June 4, 2024

    A bit of Blue Peter sticky-backed plastic, perhaps? I don’t imagine you could get that hammered effect by painting.

    Hammer finish paint ? Looks to me like the centre section has been masked and the rest painted - hammer finish

     

    Bring me Sunshine ~ E&E {Solar PV, Battery Storage, Hybrid EV, ASHP and Home Assistant automation}
    Abby_OVO
    Community Manager
    Abby_OVO
    Community Manager
    June 4, 2024

    Hey @johnhspicer 

     

    I heard back from the team and they’d like to look at getting this sorted for you. 

     

    I’m going to reach out to you via private message for your details so I can pass these directly to the team.

     

    You should be able to see your PMs here: https://forum.ovoenergy.com/inbox/overview. 

    Currently Playing: She's Electric
    Nukecad
    Super User
    NukecadSuper User
    Super User
    June 4, 2024

    From what has been said so far I’d say that was a powder coated pressed-steel or aluminium enclosure that the meter has been fitted into to protect it from damage/vandalism/tampering.

    It’s probably removable, with tools - but consumers are rightly told not to mess with meters.

    We used to have a similar finish applied to metal toolboxes and the like when I worked for a truck body manufacturer - about the same shade of blue crinkle finish too.
    It’s failry easy to get such a hammered effect just from the paint/powder coat used, it ‘bubbles’ in the baking oven and sets like that.

    Edit- looking again it may be an injection moulded palstic one, but a few little details still tend me towards metal.
    If you zoom in on the ‘window’ you can see it’s been cut a bit roughly in the recessed section, look at the top-right corner for example. It was possibly even done on site to suit the meter display. If it had been cut to the full recess size you would probably be able to see the serial # below the ‘Made in Great Britain’.

     

    I said, Hey - Watts going on.
    J
    Rank 2
    johnhspicerAuthor
    Rank 2
    June 5, 2024

    It feels like metal, and when tapped it sounds like very thin metal.

     

    OVO via Abby have now picked this up, so I’ll update this thread once it is resolved/ if it cannot be resolved.

      J
      Rank 2
      johnhspicerAuthor
      Rank 2
      June 25, 2024

      I said I’d drop an update here when resolved..

      My thanks to Abby who has worked with the OVO team to update their records and accept for a couple more years at least that there is no visible serial number on the generation meter. What happens after that we’ll see.

      And my thanks to those who contributed to this thread and helped confirm that it wasn’t me going crazy but that there was a problem, a casing that was covering the serial number. 

      One of those very odd things that sometimes come up…...

        BPLightlog
        Super User
        BPLightlogSuper User
        Super User
        June 25, 2024

        Good news @johnhspicer  .. thanks for giving us an update

        Bring me Sunshine ~ E&E {Solar PV, Battery Storage, Hybrid EV, ASHP and Home Assistant automation}
        Shads_OVO
        Retired Moderator
        Shads_OVO
        Retired Moderator
        June 26, 2024

        Hi @johnhspicer,

         

        It’s great to hear that this has been resolved for you!

         

         

        P
        Newcomer
        Petergd
        Newcomer
        September 3, 2024

        It seems I am in similar situation. This is the only meter I have since installation 6 years ago. Now I am being asked to provide serial number which is not there. This has been installed when feed in tariff was still on and export meter was not necessary. 

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