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

Forum|Forum|9 years ago
April 13, 2017
167 replies
15219 views

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

Best answer by Darran_OVO

Updated on 15/08/25 by Abby_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?

The best date to submit your reading is on or just before the date shown on your bill - the email or text reminder you receive may suggest you enter this the day before to make sure it’s received on time. If you do enter the reading slightly early we’ll only estimate your usage between the date you entered the reading and the date the statement was generated, so it should be fairly accurate.

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

Every time you enter a meter reading on your online account, your account balance is recalculated to include your usage costs up-to-date. The balance will usually update instantly although it can take up to 24 hours. It’s worth checking the balance before submitting your readings, so you can easily check that the balance has updated. If the balance show on your monthly summary is estimated, you can always check the accurate balance by submitting another meter reading.

How are my estimated readings calculated?

If we ever use an estimated reading on your monthly summary, this is calculated based on the last actual reading you gave and your Estimated Annual Consumption (EAC) to give us an idea of what the reading is likely to be. You can always correct any over or under estimated readings by submitting an accurate reading.

What’s the best way to avoid estimated statements?

As a smart meter can be programmed to send us a reading half-hourly or daily, we can always be sure we’ve got a reading on the date your monthly summary is issued. This will mean no more worrying about reading the meter manually and more accurate billing and usage information on your online account or OVO app (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!

Show previous replies

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 !