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I give meter readings each month, why is my bill still based on estimates?

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Why, when I faithfully provide meter readings on time, each month, does OVO still give estimated readings on my bills?

Darran_OVOBest Answer

Retired Moderator

Updated on 03/09/26 by Chris_OVO

Meter readings, usage and estimates

If you haven’t had smart meters installed, we’ll send you a meter reading reminder a few days before your monthly summary is created. The easiest way to submit these readings is on the ‘Meter readings’ page of your online account or OVO app (download for Android or iOS):

When’s the best date to submit a reading for my monthly summary?

Submit your reading on or just before the date on your bill. An email or text reminder may suggest entering it the day before to make sure it’s received on time. If you enter your reading a little early, we will estimate your usage from when you submitted the reading until the statement date, so it should be accurate.

When I enter my reading how long does it take to update my balance?

Each time you enter a meter reading on your online account, we recalculate your account balance to reflect your latest usage costs. Typically, the balance updates immediately, but it may take up to 24 hours in some cases. Before submitting your readings, check your balance to see if it has been updated. If the balance in your monthly summary is an estimate, you can get the accurate balance by submitting another meter reading.

How are my estimated readings calculated?

If we use an estimated reading on your monthly summary, it will come from the last actual reading you provided and your Estimated Annual Consumption (EAC). This is how we estimate what your reading will be. If you notice any inaccuracies, you can submit an accurate reading to adjust for any overestimations or underestimations.

What’s the best way to avoid estimated statements?

A smart meter sends readings every half hour or daily. This ensures we always have an accurate reading by the time your monthly summary is ready. You won’t need to read the meter yourself, and you’ll get more accurate billing and usage information on your online account or the OVO app, which you can download for Android or iOS.

The following community topic may also be helpful here:

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

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

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J

JJ78

Newcomer

Why ,when it states in the email received each month that to avoid an estimated bill end meter reading in the next 5 days, do I still receive an estimated bill. This estimate is always above my actual usage. I even send a reading in every day of the 5 days given just to try to avoid an estimated bill, this does not work. I telephoned customer service on 2 occations and both times I was promised it would be sorted ou and refund given, NOTHING still a estimated bill. I am on a very limited budget each month as an unpaid carer and this extra is really putting me under stress. If this is a strong armed way of forcing me to have a smart meter you can forget it, I DO NOT WANT ONE RIGHT NOW , GET THE MESSAGE. STOP SENDING ME ESTIMATED BILLS, I WILL PAY FOR WHAT I USE AND NO MORE.

D

David Jefferies

Newcomer

It must be very difficult for you dealing with all the stress of having to make ends meet plus on top of that being a unpaid carer.

Myself being in my late seventies and caring for my wife one of the things that helped me was to have a smart meter installed it was one less thing to stress over, and having a little gadget that tells me what I am using. I expect this is not the answer to your question, but just think about it.

M.isterW

Rank 6

Great advice from @David Jefferies

If you are providing readings, the only estimated amount should be from the date of the reading to the date of the bill. If this estimate is wrong it will be adjusted on your next bill. So unless you're seeing readings that are extremely incorrect they should even out across your bills.

If you pay by monthly direct debit these discrepancies will make no difference to your payments.

If the estimates on your bill are extremely incorrect this suggests that your readings aren't being recorded. Or there's something else going wrong. In this case you should contact customer service and ask them to investigate.

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Emmanuelle_OVO

Retired Moderator

Hey @JJ78,

Really sorry to hear this,

I can see @M.isterW has already given some helpful advice here:

Great advice from @David Jefferies

If you are providing readings, the only estimated amount should be from the date of the reading to the date of the bill. If this estimate is wrong it will be adjusted on your next bill. So unless you're seeing readings that are extremely incorrect they should even out across your bills.

If you pay by monthly direct debit these discrepancies will make no difference to your payments.

If the estimates on your bill are extremely incorrect this suggests that your readings aren't being recorded. Or there's something else going wrong. In this case you should contact customer service and ask them to investigate.

@David Jefferies makes a good point about Smart Meters, this topic may have some advice that you find helpful:

The best day to submit meter readings is the day before the statement is produced. However, as we have a live billing system whenever you submit a meter reading on the Online Account your balance will adjust accordingly within 24-48 hours. This means even if you have an inaccurate estimated bill when you submit a meter reading this will resolve itself. We have a great guide on this topic here:

Hope this helps.

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R

RCummings

Newcomer

I am always in positive credit in my account. I send a meter reading each month so that my bills are accurate. From the point I send my reading until the date my direct debit comes out (around 10 days) my balance on my credit keeps going down. The breakdown shown for this is standing charges and estimated fuel consumption. If I'm sending monthly readings to gain an accurate bill, do these estimates get recalculated when I send my next reading in or are Ovo just taking more money than they should?

juliamc

Rank 20

Yes the estimates are recalculated each time you send a meter reading. You can make this more accurate by sending more frequent meter readings and OVO’s live billing system will keep up a more precise running total of your use.
I give readings every half hour, not in person but because I have a smart meter !