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Daisyf65
Rank 1
January 4, 2023
Solved

High estimated bills but the property is empty?

  • January 4, 2023
  • 86 replies
  • 3666 views

Hello is there anyone who can point me in the right direction of assistance getting my account sorted as being charged high estimated billing when property was empty and no one is listening.!! Wrote a complaint letter with no response, tried online chat and got nowhere. They are refusing to accept photos of meter, now had smart meter fitted and still not got anywhere as threatening to increase direct debit again on estimated readings! 
thanks 

Best answer by Emmanuelle_OVO

Updated on 15/08/25 by Ben_OVO

Hey @Daisyf65,

 

Sorry for the issues you’re having,

 

For instances like this, where the property is vacant, you can contact our Collections Team who can put a hold on the direct debit being reviewed or increased for 3 months. 

 

Is your smart meter not working? If it is, it should show there’s no usage and there’s no need for you to submit manual readings.

 

 

If it’s faulty you'll need to perform a smart meter health check:

 

 

Hope this helps.

86 replies

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Nukecad
Super User
NukecadSuper User
Super User
January 5, 2026

The first questions have to be:

Where are you seeing the usage figures?

Is it actual usage, or is it just estimates?

Do you have a smart meter?

I said, Hey - Watts going on.
    L
    Newcomer
    Luce
    Newcomer
    January 11, 2026

    I'm currently on holiday and won't be home for a week. I checked up on my OVO account and the smart readings were expectedly low for the whole holiday (and showing cycling increases which I assume are the fridge/freezer kicking in), but yesterday all of a sudden the electricity used has gone from around 12p a day to £2 in a day - is this likely to be a smart meter issue or do I need to assume there's something funky going on with the fridge/freezer? Everything else was switched off when I left …

     

      L
      Newcomer
      Luce
      Newcomer
      January 12, 2026

      Never mind, it looks like it was an error or estimate and has been corrected now!

        Ben_OVO
        Community Manager
        Ben_OVO
        Community Manager
        January 12, 2026

        Hi ​@Luce and a warm welcome to the OVO Forum!

         

        I’m happy to hear it’s sorted now, and the culprit was likely an estimated reading. My advice is to log into your online account or app and check that your reading schedule is set to half-hourly. This will give you the most detailed usage breakdown via the online account, and will mean your bills are accurate as possible. 

         

        You can use the following guide to change the reading schedule:

         

         

         

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          Jeffus
          Rank 20
          Jeffus
          Rank 20
          January 13, 2026

          This is a good page to look at if anyone thinks there may be an issue with actual vs estimated readings

          https://account.ovoenergy.com/meter-readings/history/electricity

          Readings with Smart next to them are actual smart meter readings. 

           

            Abby_OVO
            Community Manager
            Abby_OVO
            Community Manager
            January 15, 2026

            Hey ​@Dknksk 

             

            Nukecad asked some good questions here already, would you be able to give us some more information so we can help and advise as best as possible here.

             

            The questions asked and the answers will help us, or let us know if you’ve already contacted the Support Team for help with this.

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