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Best answer by Bumblebee

Updated on 18/08/25 by Abby_OVO

 

Figured out how to read your Economy 7 meter but not sure which reading is which?


On a traditional meter sometimes the readings will be labelled - high and low or day and night - if not you might be able to check the current reading against your reading history on the ‘Meter Readings’ page of your online account or OVO app (download for Android or iOS) and match them up to the new readings. 

If you can’t work it out using these methods the best way to tell is to carry out a Load Test​. This involves taking two sets of readings during your peak hours - only one reading should change which will be your daytime register:

 

How to do a load test

 

Just read both readings on your electricity meter twice on the same day – first in the morning (after 9am) and then in the afternoon or evening (before 9pm). Then email us at hello@ovoenergy.com with the following info:

  • Meter Serial Number: ***********
  • Date you took the meter readings: **/**/**
  • Morning meter readings and the time you took them: 
  • Time: **am
  • The day register ID and reading: R* - *****
  • The night register ID and reading: R* - *****
  • Afternoon or evening meter readings and the time you took them: 
  • Time: **am.
  • The day register ID and reading: R* - *****
  • The night register ID and reading: R* - *****
  • Do you have an electric heating system (e.g. storage heaters)? Yes/No

Register IDs are the little numbers or letters on the left-hand side of the reading (e.g. R1/R2/L/N etc).

 

We’ll then get back in touch with you to clarify matters! 

 

Not sure how to find your peak/off peak times? - This topic might help.​​​​

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

 

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

 

21 replies

Bumblebee
Newcomer
BumblebeeSolved
Newcomer
February 17, 2018

Updated on 18/08/25 by Abby_OVO

 

Figured out how to read your Economy 7 meter but not sure which reading is which?


On a traditional meter sometimes the readings will be labelled - high and low or day and night - if not you might be able to check the current reading against your reading history on the ‘Meter Readings’ page of your online account or OVO app (download for Android or iOS) and match them up to the new readings. 

If you can’t work it out using these methods the best way to tell is to carry out a Load Test​. This involves taking two sets of readings during your peak hours - only one reading should change which will be your daytime register:

 

How to do a load test

 

Just read both readings on your electricity meter twice on the same day – first in the morning (after 9am) and then in the afternoon or evening (before 9pm). Then email us at hello@ovoenergy.com with the following info:

  • Meter Serial Number: ***********
  • Date you took the meter readings: **/**/**
  • Morning meter readings and the time you took them: 
  • Time: **am
  • The day register ID and reading: R* - *****
  • The night register ID and reading: R* - *****
  • Afternoon or evening meter readings and the time you took them: 
  • Time: **am.
  • The day register ID and reading: R* - *****
  • The night register ID and reading: R* - *****
  • Do you have an electric heating system (e.g. storage heaters)? Yes/No

Register IDs are the little numbers or letters on the left-hand side of the reading (e.g. R1/R2/L/N etc).

 

We’ll then get back in touch with you to clarify matters! 

 

Not sure how to find your peak/off peak times? - This topic might help.​​​​

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

 

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

 

100% renewable energy and 5 trees planted a year! £5 extra a month :-)
Lucy_OVO
Retired Moderator
Lucy_OVO
Retired Moderator
February 21, 2018
I have just submitted my first readings, but I'm not sure if reading 1 on my meter is day or night?
It’s really important that these are submitted round the right way otherwise the amount that we bill you will be incorrect.

If you’d like the team to check this for you, please send them a private message on Facebook or Twitter with your name, DoB and account number and they can help further.

Lucy
You guys know what’s watt
A
Newcomer
Applutan
Newcomer
January 14, 2019
Not sure this _is_ solved by comparing numbers submitted on older bill, if I'm the only one who has ever submitted the numbers! How could I have known the correct order in the first place if there's no indication of day/night on the meter? It may have been wrong for years [gaaah!]

How reliable is the 'lower number=night rate' heuristic, because that does not fit my case?

(I have a Type 5235D-N meter and can supply photos to a suitably private party)
N
Newcomer
nhill
Newcomer
May 14, 2022

Why does OVO only ask for 1 meter reading line, when I have a Day Rate, Night Rate and a 3rd reading (which doesn’t have 1 or 2 next to it).

Which one am I submitting for my opening bill? 

nealmurphy
Newcomer
nealmurphy
Newcomer
May 14, 2022

Why does OVO only ask for 1 meter reading line, when I have a Day Rate, Night Rate and a 3rd reading (which doesn’t have 1 or 2 next to it).

Which one am I submitting for my opening bill? 

Hi @nhill 

First thing I'd check is what tariff OVO thinks you are on. If this is a single rate tariff then it may be why they are only asking for one reading.

Is your 3rd reading the total of readings 1 and 2? If so, this may be the one they are after, but only if it's a single rate tariff.

    Jess_OVO
    OVO Staff
    Jess_OVO
    OVO Staff
    May 16, 2022

    Some great advice from @nealmurphy there!

     

    Have you applied to join us through a switch, @nhill? If so we’d recommend checking the advice given in the guide below.

     

     

    You can double-check whether you’ve signed up for a single-rate or dual-rate plan by double-checking your Welcome Pack. A dual rate plan would include ‘Economy 7’ as part of the name.

     

    If you’re not sure you’ve signed up for the right plan or need some help confirming which readings to submit we’d recommend reaching out to our Support Team. The quickest way to get in touch is via our webchat which you can find here.

     

    Hope this helps.

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    H
    Newcomer
    hungdrawnquoted
    Newcomer
    May 10, 2023

    Our property used to have economy 7 heating but we removed it and put in gas central heating instead.  Our electric meter seems to give us three seperate readings which I assume goes back to when it was all econmy seven.  I don’t know which is the right reading.  This wouldn’t be a problem except we now let out the flat upstairs and have to work out their electric usage so we can charge them separately. 

    BPLightlog
    Super User
    BPLightlogSuper User
    Super User
    May 10, 2023

    Hi @hungdrawnquoted if you can find out the model someone will probably be able to decode it for you. There are some guides also like this

     

    Bring me Sunshine ~ E&E {Solar PV, Battery Storage, Hybrid EV, ASHP and Home Assistant automation}
    S
    Newcomer
    Soozeeb123
    Newcomer
    November 8, 2023

    Every time I'm asked to submit a reading I panic because I don't know which reading to use for day or for night.  Our meter has 3 readings.  One has a small digit 1 and another has 2.  The final just has a reading.  Which is day reading and which is night?

    Firedog
    Super User
    FiredogSuper User
    Super User
    November 8, 2023

    If you could take a photo and post it here, we’d be able to tell you 🙂

    My guess is that 1 is Rate 1, normally day/peak, 2 is rate 2, night/offpeak and the other one is the total of those two. Is that possible?

    Some meters have the day/night registers the other way round (1 - night/offpeak, 2 - day/peak). If you can find your meter reading history online (Meter readings history - OVO Energy), you can compare the historical figures with the ones on the meter to identify which is which.

    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. |
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