Skip to main content

Cookie policy

We use cookies to enhance and personalize your experience. If you accept you agree to our full cookie policy. Learn more about our cookies.

 
Cookie settings

Current ideas

119 Ideas

Firedog
Plan Zero Hero
FiredogPlan Zero Hero

Reverse recent changes to the Direct Debit calculationOpen for votes

Until 1 October 2023, Direct Debits were calculated by summing the projected cost over the next 12 months or to the end of a fixed-term contract, subtracting the current balance and dividing the result by the number of DDs remaining. A change was then made which involved calculating the DD required to bring the balance to zero on the following 31 March, the end of the winter semester. This was not popular: those in debt found that there were fewer months left in which to pay off the debt, meaning that the DD had to rise accordingly. those in credit were advised to reduce their DD to meet the new target. This would inevitably lead to a mandatory increase from 1 April. On 1 November last, the system changed again. Now, customers on both variable-rate and fixed-rate tariffs find that their DDs have to change in order to return the account balance to zero by 31 March 2026, 17 months ahead. This is advantageous for those in debt, with now 12 more months than before in which to pay off the debt. For those in credit, it means maintaining an unnecessarily high balance for a whole year. Requiring a balance of more than one month’s projected costs at the end of a fixed term contract is unreasonable. Furthermore, Ofgem say that: Where a consumer is in a credit position, we expect suppliers to reduce the associated Direct Debit level with the intention of returning the account as close to a zero balance over the next 12 months . -- Direct Debit Market Compliance Review: Progress Update | Ofgem Please will OVO consider revising the way DDs are calculated in order to meet Ofgem’s expectation?

BepreciseCarbon Cutter****

Simple method to enable Charge Anytime with Solar PanelsOpen for votes

Charge Anytime sounds like a great innovation for anyone with an EV, but currently does not support Solar Panel owners as it is not possible to distinguish between energy coming from the grid (and liable for credit) and energy coming from Solar (or other home) generation (which would not be liable for credit). Given that Solar energy is only created during day light hours, the scheme could have a “Charge NightTime” credit scheme, which would probably satisfy most EV and Solar Panel owners. Even during peak summer days, I note that my panels do not generate any electric after 9pm and before 5:30am. I live in Cambridge, so possibly in Scotland there’s a small variance, but I doubt more than 30 minutes. Hence “Charge NightTime” credit scheme could easily operate between 9:30pm and 5am and be satisfactory. (Currently I am on Economy 7 plan and hence only ever charge my EV between midnight and 7am, so this seems very reasonable to me). Of course, someone may also have a battery associated with their Solar Panel system and could therefore “cheat” the system by charging their home battery from solar and then use the Home Battery to charge their EV at night time and get credit when it is not due. However I would wager that few people have a home battery system that can deliver a sustained 7KW delivery. Most invertors from battery systems are only ~3KW capable. You pay your money and make your choice (if the installer ever enlightened you about such a choice). The biggest I knew of was Tesla’s PowerWall 2 Battery that can deliver 5KW sustained with 10 second short peaks of 7KW. Charging a car is best done as fast as possible, though clearly there are use cases (the final few percent or significantly discharged battery in cold weather) when the charging rate should be lower. Hence to eliminate these possible cheats, a further limitation is placed on when credit is made such that the charging rate is 7KW (probably >6KW is good actual test), which can be validated by both data read from the Smart EV (they always show a charging rate, normally in mph), and even further validated by the Smart Meter in the home. If the charging rate is lower than 6KW, then the credit is not applied, but the car can still be charged at the normal tariff. IMO, this should be a simple (software) validation test, (ie: after 9:30pm and before 5am, and charge rate >6KW in the car and by the Smart Meter) that would satisfy most EV Users for 95% of their needs. This still provides a 7.5 hour window for Ovo to decide when to charge EVs at low rate, (eg: excess wind power etc) with a potential charge for the User of up to 50KW in one evening. It’s also fairly simple to explain to customers …..