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Smart meter failed installation from THTC

  • November 30, 2024
  • 104 replies
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104 replies

  • Author
  • Rank 2
  • February 5, 2026

@Lukepeniket_OVO ​@Ben_OVO 

My long awaited sms meter swap arranged by ​@Lukepeniket_OVO was aborted today due to the engineer not having the correct replacement meter, it has been consistently stated throughout a 5 terminal traditional pay as you go economy 10 was required, the engineer had a 4 terminal non economy 10 meter or a traditional credit meter, none were suitable for my needs hence mission aborted. There was nothing on the engineer notes to say it was a 5 terminal pay as you go economy 10 traditional meter that was required even though I have checked and double checked with the sms team since receiving this appointment. This is now my 3rd failed meter swap, will phone sms team to see what happens next.

Very disappointing and time wasting all round.

Jane


  • Author
  • Rank 2
  • February 5, 2026

@Lukepeniket_OVO ​@Ben_OVO 

*update*

Have spoken to sms team who have said that they cannot rebook this meter swap and that the correct details regarding a 5 terminal pay as you go economy 10 traditional meter will have to be requested by  ovo again, can ​@Lukepeniket_OVO arrange this ?


Chris_OVO
Community Manager
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  • Community Manager
  • February 5, 2026

Hey ​@janie

 

I'm really sorry to hear that you're still dealing with this situation! I’ve reached out internally to ​@Lukepeniket_OVO for you, as he might not have a chance to check the forums when he's busy on-site. We’ll keep you posted as soon as we have any news. Hang in there!​


  • Author
  • Rank 2
  • February 5, 2026

Thank you, have tried ovo customer service support and they're going to try and raise a form with the correct details and requirements for the meter swap but I am not convinced this will be sufficient..the wait goes on..15 months and counting, it's very frustrating. 


Chris_OVO
Community Manager
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  • Community Manager
  • February 5, 2026

I totally hear you! I caught up with ​@Ben_OVO this morning since I know he’s been helping you for a spell. He filled me in on everything, and since he’ll be out on holiday for a while, I’m happy to take over on the Forum for now. If you need anything, just let me know!​


Firedog
Super User
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  • Super User
  • February 6, 2026

  

… it has been consistently stated throughout a 5 terminal traditional pay as you go economy 10 was required,
 

Hello again, Jane 👋 It’s been a long time …

I seem to remember that we worked out last time that a smart meter couldn’t communicate from your property over the Wide Area Network (WAN) because you’re on the wrong side of the Law, so radio communication to the Angus TV mast doesn’t work well enough. A lot has changed since then, and new Communication Hubs (CH) that connect via a 4G mobile network are now available to Scottish customers in your situation. This being the case, there’s no need to insist on getting a ‘traditional’ - i.e. non-smart - meter. If even a new-style CH refuses to connect initially, the installing engineer should have some remedies in his van. 

If it is possible to get a smart meter to communicate from your property, it’s probably not so important to have it ‘pre-programmed’ for Economy 10; the engineer should be able to arrange for that configuration while he’s installing the meter. It’s also quite easy to switch a communicating meter from prepayment to credit and vice versa. I hope you’re not making things too difficult for yourself - you’ve been waiting too long for the process to fail now because of unnecessary ‘requirements’.


  • Author
  • Rank 2
  • February 6, 2026

Hi ​@Firedog 

Thanks for your response, I do appreciate what you're saying about improvements being made to help with communications etc but I am still in a no signal area and neighbours 2 doors away can't top up their pre payment gas and electric smart due to this problem, they have to contact ovo support every time they top up which seems to me there is no obvious communication improvements in this area.

I was told in November by ovo there was no resolution for no signal areas and my only hope was a 5 terminal economy 10 pre payment to which I readily agreed.

The engineer did not have the correct meter with him and said he wouldn't be able to do it anyway because it was an sms team job, ​@Lukepeniket_OVO ​@Ben_OVO were made aware of this and it was to be arranged.

Sms team arrived yesterday and needless to say only had a 4 terminal pre payment meter on the van.

I'm not being difficult, I'm constantly being told by ovo there is no resolution to no signal areas ((my 2 doors down neighbour can verify this)and that I need a five terminal economy 10 pre payment meter, hopefully ​@Lukepeniket_OVO may be able to shed some further information on this, in the meantime I will wait to see if ovo support can arrange a further appointment with the sms team to proceed with another appointment with the correct meter. 


Chris_OVO
Community Manager
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  • Community Manager
  • February 9, 2026

Morning ​@janie,

 

I just had an update with ​@Lukepeniket_OVO this morning, and he mentioned that he's raised another ticket with all the info needed and sent it off to SMS. They should be reaching out to you soon to set up another appointment, hopefully to get the right meter installed this time! 

 

Luke is also following up with one of his contacts internally to help speed things along, since we all know how long this has been going on. I’ll keep you posted on any more updates! 😊​


  • Author
  • Rank 2
  • February 9, 2026

Many thanks ​@Chris_OVO and ​@Lukepeniket_OVO , your input is greatly appreciated, I will keep you posted 


Forum|alt.badge.img+3

Morning =]

As Chris said, keep an eye out for SMS to call (again), they recieved the wrong job type before and I can see the incorrect job raised. So this time ill be keeping a close eye on this and shouting as much as possible!! =]


  • Author
  • Rank 2
  • February 9, 2026

Thanks 


  • Author
  • Rank 2
  • April 1, 2026

@Lukepeniket_OVO ​@Chris_OVO ​@Ben_OVO 

Another day, same saga, I received an email from Ovo yesterday saying the date for rts switch off in my area is scheduled for 5th May so anyone following this thread will see that after the last failed sms meter swap on 5th Feb Luke Peniket arranged another appointment for a 5 terminal pay as you go meter on economy 10 and to wait on sms contacting me.

Because Ovo have given me a definite date of 5th May for switch off in my area I contacted sms and they have done an extensive search on both my name and address and can find no request whatsoever for this,  they have all the details of the last failed swap with the wrong meter but nothing else.

Any ideas anybody as I 'm starting to get alarmed, this has been ongoing for 18 months now.


Chris_OVO
Community Manager
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  • Community Manager
  • April 3, 2026

Morning ​@janie,

 

I completely understand how frustrating this must be for you. I've reached out to Luke internally, and he is aware of the situation. He’ll keep us updated on what is happening. Thank you for your patience with us here! 


  • Author
  • Rank 2
  • April 3, 2026

FAO

@Lukepeniket_OVO ​@Chris_OVO ​@Ben_OVO 

In-between ​@Chris_OVO reply on my current predicament I had launched a complaint with OVO who got back to me this morning by telephone. 

They have allegedly booked me in for a meter exchange on 24th April , I literally cross examined him on every aspect of the installation and he assured me it would definitely be a 5 terminal traditional PAYG meter on economy 10 tariff. 

I don't want to sound too negative at this stage but I thought only the SMS team could give appointments for this type of job.

Your thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated. 

Attached Confirmation from OVO 

 


Chris_OVO
Community Manager
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  • Community Manager
  • April 3, 2026

Hey ​@janie

 

@Lukepeniket_OVO’s has looped me and the rest of the Forum team into an email conversation he started with some of the department heads. We're working together to get you some extra support since this has been dragging on for too long. We really appreciate your patience and understanding, and we want to make sure you get the help you deserve. We'll keep you in the loop with any updates from our side, and please let us know if you hear anything from the installers. 


  • Author
  • Rank 2
  • April 3, 2026

@Lukepeniket_OVO ​@Chris_OVO 

Many thanks to you both and all the team trying to get this resolved 


  • Author
  • Rank 2
  • Solved
  • April 17, 2026

Mission Accomplished 

Yes everybody you read that correctly 

After 18 months, a few failed installations and miscommunication my new meter has been installed and seems to be working fine and it's all down to ​@Chris_OVO ​@Lukepeniket_OVO ​@Bradley_OVO and others working behind the scenes.

I have to give credit to them for their time, support and patience with me over this period of time but they pulled out all the stops, went above and beyond all expectations to get the job completed before my imminent rts switch off. Big job , Great team effort 👌 

A big shout out to the SMS engineer who uninstalled the old meters and installed the new meter without leaving any mess behind whatsoever. 

Finally,  thanks to Forum Contributers/Advisers for their input throughout ​@Ben_OVO ​@Blastoise186 ​@Firedog spring to mind but am sure there were many more.

That's me sorted now and it comes with a great feeling of relief, as previously mentioned I couldn't have got to this point without the assistance of all of the aforementioned people. 


Ben_OVO
Community Manager
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  • Community Manager
  • April 17, 2026

@janie thanks for the kind words - it’s us who should be thanking you for your patience.

 

Really happy to hear this is all sorted now - I can imagine you must feel very relieved now that it’s all over. Let’s hope going forward everything is easy with no further issues.

 

Keep in touch on the Forum if you ever have any further questions.


Bradley_OVO
Community Manager
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  • Community Leader
  • April 17, 2026

Mission Accomplished 

Yes everybody you read that correctly 

After 18 months, a few failed installations and miscommunication my new meter has been installed and seems to be working fine and it's all down to ​@Chris_OVO ​@Lukepeniket_OVO ​@Bradley_OVO and others working behind the scenes.

I have to give credit to them for their time, support and patience with me over this period of time but they pulled out all the stops, went above and beyond all expectations to get the job completed before my imminent rts switch off. Big job , Great team effort 👌 

A big shout out to the SMS engineer who uninstalled the old meters and installed the new meter without leaving any mess behind whatsoever. 

Finally,  thanks to Forum Contributers/Advisers for their input throughout ​@Ben_OVO ​@Blastoise186 ​@Firedog spring to mind but am sure there were many more.

That's me sorted now and it comes with a great feeling of relief, as previously mentioned I couldn't have got to this point without the assistance of all of the aforementioned people. 

What a journey this has been, and to ​@Ben_OVO’s point, we genuinely apprecaite your tried, and I’m sure tested, patience through this entire ordeal. 

Can’t take any personal credit for this, I know this has been a passion project for ​@Chris_OVO ​@Ben_OVO ​@Abby_OVO and our wonderful ​@Lukepeniket_OVO to see a positive end to your RTS meter situation. 

Glad to hear it might finally be over! Please don’t ever hesitate to reach out to us again on the forum and we’d love for you to offer any personal advice you can to any other struggling RTS customers who may find themselves looking through our topics here - your input has been invaluable!


Chris_OVO
Community Manager
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  • Community Manager
  • April 17, 2026

@janie Thank you so much for your kind words! I really appreciate all the chats we’ve had to get things across the finish line. It’s been such a pleasure helping you on this journey. You’ve been incredibly patient and lovely to work with, even when things got a bit frustrating. Don’t be a stranger—please keep in touch! 😊


Firedog
Super User
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  • Super User
  • April 17, 2026

@janie I’m so pleased - and relieved - that you got there in the end! It will have been a painful journey for you, and it was frustrating for all concerned.

I don’t know whether I could trouble you to send us a couple of photos so we can see what solution the engineers landed on? Your configuration was hardly mainstream, so perhaps some of those reading this thread might like to see how they managed to get it to work.


  • Author
  • Rank 2
  • April 17, 2026

I will do it tomorrow if you're okay to wait until then.

Ps. I am following the Economy 10 times you published for another person query ages ago, pretty spot on give or take 5-10 minutes, thanks for that.


  • Author
  • Rank 2
  • April 17, 2026

@Firedog These photos don't actually do justice to the work the Engineer put in

 


  • Author
  • Rank 2
  • April 17, 2026

@Firedog it's only letting me send one at a time 

 


  • Author
  • Rank 2
  • April 17, 2026

@Firedog