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stateofit
Rank 1
Rank 1
March 5, 2017
Solved

So your OVO economy 7 smart meter gives you off-peak cheap electricity, but when is it cheapest?

  • March 5, 2017
  • 17 replies
  • 36596 views

So, some people are lucky enough, or unlucky enough depending on your lifestyle choices, to live in a house with a Dual-Rate meter. You probably didn't know you had one when you moved in. You checked the area, the schools, the bus-routes etc, but it didn't cross your mind to count the registers on your electricity meter. Of course not... No-one does that...

Dual-Rate meters have TWO registers, Peak and Off-Peak, sometimes labelled Normal and Low, or even a cheerful little Sun and Moon. Off-Peak electricity is charged at close to HALF the unit rate.

Lemme say that again. HALF. Half price electricity...

Usually there are 7 hours of off-peak timing, which is why it's sometimes called Economy 7. Some people think it means Economy After 7pm. It doesn't...

But are you Sure you know exactly WHEN your seven hours are? Many of them are Midnight til 7am, or 00:30 to 07:30... But there Are some weird and wonderful set-ups out there...

There's even Economy 10, for example. Off peak electricity with timing like :
0000 - 0500
1300 - 1600
2000 - 2200

That means that even if your washine machine can't go on after midnight because of kids, or because it doesn't Do that, you can pop it on for a bit in the early afternoon, or just after dinner, and still get half price leccy. So it makes sense to Know When...

Now, some new meters kindly have the timings printed on the meter, but older ones Don't. So, how are you supposed to find out When your cheap electricity is?

Well, one way is to ask your energy provider, but i'm not encouraging everyone to pick up the phone, the good guys at OVO already work hard enough...

But I wonder if the Mods here can help...

Best answer by Tim_OVO

Updated on 14/08/25 by Abby_OVO

 

If you have meters that were not installed by OVO the off-peak hours may vary. The best way to find out in this case would be reaching out to your supplier (or our Support Team if you’re an OVO member).

 

If you have a Smart meter installed by OVO the off-peak times can be worked out using your Meter Point Administration Number (MPAN). You can find your MPAN on your monthly statement found via your online account or OVO app (download for Android or iOS):

 

Then use this table below; the first two digits of your MPAN is the ‘Area ID’; the ‘Off peak’ times are on the column second from the right:

 

 

Please be advised that Secure, Aclara and Honeywell smart meters don't adjust for BST. The result of this is that during summer your off peak times will be an hour later than advised above. 

 

OVO member but not got a smart meter yet? - Book today!

 

Interested but not yet an OVO member? - Check out our plans!

17 replies

Tim_OVO
OVO Staff
Tim_OVOSolved
OVO Forum Legend
October 2, 2020

Updated on 14/08/25 by Abby_OVO

 

If you have meters that were not installed by OVO the off-peak hours may vary. The best way to find out in this case would be reaching out to your supplier (or our Support Team if you’re an OVO member).

 

If you have a Smart meter installed by OVO the off-peak times can be worked out using your Meter Point Administration Number (MPAN). You can find your MPAN on your monthly statement found via your online account or OVO app (download for Android or iOS):

 

Then use this table below; the first two digits of your MPAN is the ‘Area ID’; the ‘Off peak’ times are on the column second from the right:

 

 

Please be advised that Secure, Aclara and Honeywell smart meters don't adjust for BST. The result of this is that during summer your off peak times will be an hour later than advised above. 

 

OVO member but not got a smart meter yet? - Book today!

 

Interested but not yet an OVO member? - Check out our plans!

Carbon neutral - we need a community to get there! My green tech: Aclara SGM 1411-B smart meter, Chameleon IHD6
Newcomer
April 4, 2022

Can someone tell me when my cheapest time of the day is please? 
I always thought it was after 7pm but I’ve been reading different things lately 🤷🏻‍♀️

Blastoise186
Super User
Super User
April 4, 2022

Hiya @Pichel1981 !

I think you’re talking about Economy 7 times, is that right? If so, I can definitely help you with that. Please could you let me know what region or county you’re in and I’ll be able to provide the times for you.

If that’s not what you’re looking for, please could you clarify your question and we’ll try to see if we can help.

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!
Newcomer
April 4, 2022

Hi. Yes, sorry, that is what I was talking about. I’m in Essex, CB11

Blastoise186
Super User
Super User
April 4, 2022

Thanks! In that case, I think you’re in MPAN Area ID 10 and your DNO should be UK Power Networks. If that’s wrong, please let me know as my geography is far from perfect! I’m basing this info off of a guide we have here.

And based off of another one:

You’ve got the standard 7 hours. In the winter it’s Peak between 7am and midnight and Off-Peak from midnight until 7am. If you have a Smart Meter that’s branded Aclara, Honeywell or Secure though, please be aware that it won’t adjust for BST so your hours might be an hour later in the summer.

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Newcomer
March 18, 2023

Mr parents are on an economy 7 tariff with OVO and are considering getting a smart meter installed but I have some concerns about how the smart meter works. On their old style dual rate meter, it is very easy to see at a glance whether day or night rate is active via a small arrow that points to either low or normal readings. After some research regarding smart meters, it seems like the information shown on the meter display (SMETS2?) is much more limited. Is it possible to see at a glance which tariff is active with whatever model of smart meter might be installed by OVO?

Blastoise186
Super User
Super User
March 18, 2023

Welcome @Datsun42 ,

It is indeed, but I need to see photos of the meter first, so that I know exactly which one your parents have as the advice varies between them.

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Newcomer
March 18, 2023

Welcome @Datsun42 ,

It is indeed, but I need to see photos of the meter first, so that I know exactly which one your parents have as the advice varies between them.

 

Hi, thanks for the quick reply. If you are referring to their current economy 7 electricity meter, from memory I believe it looks exactly like this: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f4/Economy_7_Meter_and_Teleswitcher.JPG

Blastoise186
Super User
Super User
March 18, 2023

Ok, thanks.

Most IHDs will let you see what rate is currently active as well as the meter. I’ll be able to give more specific instructions once the meter has been upgraded, but I can’t easily advise until then.

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!
Newcomer
March 18, 2023

Could you possibly provide an example (like a link to an image) of what it looks like on both an IHD and smart meter unit itself from a possible make/model OVO might install? I have seen photos of various eco 7 IHD and smart meters and I have no idea what is supposed to indicate the active rate. I’d really appreciate it, thanks.

Also I read that they are going to phase out radio teleswitching on 31 March 2024 so it sounds like they will have to upgrade anyway?