Skip to main content
Rank 1
May 5, 2024

Storage Heater and hot water not working even after Smart Meter installed

  • May 5, 2024
  • 15 replies
  • 2897 views

I am writing to urgently address an ongoing issue with the heating and hot water in my recently moved apartment.

Upon moving in, I discovered that both the storage heaters and the immersion element to heat up the water in the cylinder tank were not functioning. After consulting with my electrician, it was determined that the problem likely stemmed from a malfunctioning off-peak timer switch.

In response to this issue, OVO sent an engineer to replace the entire meter box last Friday evening (3rd May). While the engineer assured me that this replacement would resolve the problem, unfortunately, the heating and hot water systems are still not operational.

Despite assurances of a follow-up visit by another engineer the next morning, no technician arrived to check on the situation or make any necessary adjustments. As a result, my family and I have been without heating or hot water for the past six days.

Pinned Reply By Firedog

Updated on 09/06/25 by Ben_OVO

Brilliant - just what the doctor ordered. This snippet shows the state of the two switches in the meter:
  

  
Switch ı should be always closed (o¯o); it controls the power to the tail labelled 4, for everything not on the offpeak circuit. Switch ıı is the one for heating, closed only during offpeak hours. This is the Auxiliary Load Control Switch (ALCS), governing power to tail 5.  

You seem to be in the West Midlands (WMEB) region, so your offpeak hours are 00:00-07:00 GMT, i.e. 01:00-08:00 BST. You can tell if the ALCS is working by checking switch ıı before 8AM tomorrow, when it shouldn’t be open. What does show there depends on how the engineer wired things up; it might show a closed switch (like switch ı) or something like LC1 or even LC1 LC2. So long as it’s not open, you’re up and running. If it is open, you have the same problem as many other customers before you (including me!) and the magic ECAUL request will fix it at the flick of a switch in Bristol. 

Best of luck!

If you’re experiencing this issue then you may need to contact our Support Team and request they ask our Smart Support team to send the ECAUL command to update the ALCS configuration. You can find more helpful info about this issue in this previous Forum topic:

 

 

15 replies

Firedog
Super User
Super User
May 5, 2024

This is sadly not unusual. In most cases where the offpeak circuits fail to switch when they should on after a new smart meter is installed, it’s a faulty configuration of the meter itself. It’s not the engineer’s fault, because his system tells him that everything’s in order. 

We can’t tell whether this is the problem you’re facing, although a photo of the meter itself would help with diagnosis. If it is a simple misconfiguration, the solution is usually straightforward: you have to ask Support to get the smart team to send the ECAUL request to set the ALCS. I don’t know whether this will be possible on Bank Holiday Monday, but it’s worth trying. A visiting engineer wouldn’t be able to do anything else, so it’s probably quickest just to do it yourself.

If you could take a photo when the heating circuits are supposed to be active, we’d be able to see if this is your problem. It depends on where you live when that would be, but before 7AM is a fair bet. The photo should include the wires connected to the meter and we’d have to be able to read everything on the screen. 

 

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. |
AsandaWAuthor
Rank 1
May 5, 2024

This is sadly not unusual. In most cases where the offpeak circuits fail to switch when they should on after a new smart meter is installed, it’s a faulty configuration of the meter itself. It’s not the engineer’s fault, because his system tells him that everything’s in order. 

We can’t tell whether this is the problem you’re facing, although a photo of the meter itself would help with diagnosis. If it is a simple misconfiguration, the solution is usually straightforward: you have to ask Support to get the smart team to send the ECAUL request to set the ALCS. I don’t know whether this will be possible on Bank Holiday Monday, but it’s worth trying. A visiting engineer wouldn’t be able to do anything else, so it’s probably quickest just to do it yourself.

If you could take a photo when the heating circuits are supposed to be active, we’d be able to see if this is your problem. It depends on where you live when that would be, but before 7AM is a fair bet. The photo should include the wires connected to the meter and we’d have to be able to read everything on the screen. 

 

Thank you very much for your reply and I will take a picture by tomrrow morning and post it hear so, you can see the status of the meter. Recently taken picture of the meter is attached herewith for your reference. Thank you again for your time. 

 

Firedog
Super User
Super User
May 5, 2024

Updated on 09/06/25 by Ben_OVO

Brilliant - just what the doctor ordered. This snippet shows the state of the two switches in the meter:
  

  
Switch ı should be always closed (o¯o); it controls the power to the tail labelled 4, for everything not on the offpeak circuit. Switch ıı is the one for heating, closed only during offpeak hours. This is the Auxiliary Load Control Switch (ALCS), governing power to tail 5.  

You seem to be in the West Midlands (WMEB) region, so your offpeak hours are 00:00-07:00 GMT, i.e. 01:00-08:00 BST. You can tell if the ALCS is working by checking switch ıı before 8AM tomorrow, when it shouldn’t be open. What does show there depends on how the engineer wired things up; it might show a closed switch (like switch ı) or something like LC1 or even LC1 LC2. So long as it’s not open, you’re up and running. If it is open, you have the same problem as many other customers before you (including me!) and the magic ECAUL request will fix it at the flick of a switch in Bristol. 

Best of luck!

If you’re experiencing this issue then you may need to contact our Support Team and request they ask our Smart Support team to send the ECAUL command to update the ALCS configuration. You can find more helpful info about this issue in this previous Forum topic:

 

 

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
Super User
May 6, 2024

Hopefully Firedog’s notes have given something to review @AsandaW .
One difference here compared to what is normally seen is the report of the off peak feed not working before the switch. I’ve no idea what meter was installed before but if it wasn’t the fault of that, then the new meter won’t make any difference. 
Fault finding here needs a step by step approach and so if you can see if the switch indication operated, then the next step can be reviewed 

Bring me Sunshine ~ E&E {Solar PV, Battery Storage, Hybrid EV, ASHP and Home Assistant automation}
Blastoise186
Super User
Super User
May 6, 2024

Just something else worth noting by the way.

Please try to avoid pre-fixing your threads with “Urgent:” - that won’t get our attention any faster I’m afraid. Most of us patrol the Forum and respond to threads in reverse-chronological order based on the most recent activity (oldest to newest). Regardless of what you tag your posts with, we don’t usually guarantee that we’ll see your thread any faster so it doesn’t benefit you much.

Thanks!

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!
AsandaWAuthor
Rank 1
May 6, 2024

Brilliant - just what the doctor ordered. This snippet shows the state of the two switches in the meter:
  

  
Switch ı should be always closed (o¯o); it controls the power to the tail labelled 4, for everything not on the offpeak circuit. Switch ıı is the one for heating, closed only during offpeak hours. This is the Auxiliary Load Control Switch (ALCS), governing power to tail 5.  

You seem to be in the West Midlands (WMEB) region, so your offpeak hours are 00:00-07:00 GMT, i.e. 01:00-08:00 BST. You can tell if the ALCS is working by checking switch ıı before 8AM tomorrow, when it shouldn’t be open. What does show there depends on how the engineer wired things up; it might show a closed switch (like switch ı) or something like LC1 or even LC1 LC2. So long as it’s not open, you’re up and running. If it is open, you have the same problem as many other customers before you (including me!) and the magic ECAUL request will fix it at the flick of a switch in Bristol. 

Best of luck!

Thank you very much for your reply @Firedog, probably, I will check this tonight and inform OVO by tomorrow since today is a bank holiday, I can not contact them. 

Firedog
Super User
Super User
May 6, 2024

I will check this tonight and inform OVO by tomorrow since today is a bank holiday, I can not contact them. 

 

You can certainly contact them today, via their social media channels if not otherwise. The blue button at the foot of this page will connect you via Facebook Messenger, or if you prefer, they’re also there at 

 

It’s quite likely that they won’t be able to reach the smart team today, though, but I’d give it a go if I were you. 

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. |
Abby_OVO
Community Manager
Community Manager
May 7, 2024

Hey @AsandaW 

 

Let us know how you get on with this, the Support Team should be able to complete the ECAUL to get the storage heating and hot water working again if you've not already been in touch, please do so and they’ll get that command sent.

 

I’ve linked below to some similar topics where the commands fixed the same issues:

 

 

 

Keep us updated with how you get on.🙂

Currently Playing: She's Electric
Abby_OVO
Community Manager
Community Manager
May 7, 2024

Hey @AsandaW 

 

I’ve had our Forum_Support reach out to you via private message, just to be sure we get you back on supply with the storage heater and hot water asap. If you’ve not already had the issue resolved by the Support Team, please message our Forum_Support back so they can help.

Currently Playing: She's Electric
AsandaWAuthor
Rank 1
May 7, 2024

Hi everyone,

I wanted to provide an update on the heating issue I've been facing in my apartment. Yesterday, an engineer visited and conducted a thorough check on the meter. I'm pleased to report that everything was confirmed to be fine with the meter.

This morning, I personally checked the off-peak switch, as suggested by @Firedog , and verified that it is indeed working. I've attached an image of the meter reading for th off-peak period for your reference.

With both the meter and off-peak switch confirmed to be in good working order, it eseems that the problem lies with the heaters themselves. Therefore, I'm currently in the process of chasing my letting agent to arrange for an electrician to address the issue.

If anyone has any insights or suggestions on next steps, your input would be highly appreciated.

Thank you all for your support and assistance in resolving this matter.