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Mazzz
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December 21, 2024
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I've just moved into a new home- It's PAYG & I want to change to PAYM?

  • December 21, 2024
  • 16 replies
  • 1810 views

Just moved into new home. Trying to take meter reading for electricity but it appears it could be prepayment which I wasn’t told. What does Smets mean and can I change from ovo to another supplier with this meter please 

Best answer by Emmanuelle_OVO

Updated on 18/08/25 by Emmanuelle_OVO:

Hey ​@Mazzz 

Welcome to the OVO Online Community,


Moving in

 

One of the most important things to remember when moving into a new home is to take meter readings. You can note these somewhere safe or photograph them with your phone. Remember this step: if the property has a smart meter, it automatically sends us a reading. Otherwise, you'll use an estimated reading until we get the first one.

 

If OVO already supplies your new home, contact us, and we can arrange to open the account at your address. If you had an OVO plan at your last address, we'll close that account for you and open a new one at the new address. And if your meter isn't with OVO, but you'd like to join, you can switch to us.

 

 

We know moving is busy, so get in touch when you can via online chat or phone, on the move day or afterwards. Please have a few details ready so we can help you quickly.

 

We'll ask you:

the date you moved in

for meter readings from your move-in date

the complete address and postcode of your new home

if you'd like a smart meter, if there isn't one already installed

 

We'll email you a welcome pack with everything you need to know about your rates and how to top up. If previous residents left any top-up keys or cards, please throw these away. You'll need to top up using the details we send you, as they're linked to your OVO account.

 

Here's the online top up portal page for OVO Pay As You Go customers with a smart meter. 

 

For OVO Pay As You Go customers with a smart meter, here’s a link to download our app for Android. 

 

For OVO Pay As You Go customers with a smart meter, here’s a link to download our app for Apple.

 

16 replies

L
Newcomer
Lozza
Newcomer
July 21, 2024

I am in the process of purchasing a house that has prepaid/PAYG meters for the gas and electricity. What it the process to have these replaced for a standard/smart meter.

Blastoise186
Super User
Blastoise186Super User
Super User
July 21, 2024

Hi @Lozza ,

Generally, the process is to sign up with the existing supplier first - you need to do this anyway even for Prepayment Meters.

Once that’s done, you can ask that supplier to move you to Pay Monthly by contacting their customer service team. They’ll do the rest - if the meters need to be replaced, the new meters WILL be Smart Meters by default.

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!
    L
    Newcomer
    Lozza
    Newcomer
    July 21, 2024

    Thank you for your quick reply. 

    Chris_OVO
    Community Manager
    Chris_OVO
    Community Manager
    July 22, 2024

    Hey @Lozza, 

     

    Congratulations on your house purchase 🎉 I hope everything goes smoothly for you as I know how stressful it can be at times. We have a really useful article that I can share below that has plenty of useful information on what the move in process looks like! 

     

    You can also follow this link to get a quote based on your new property: https://products.ovoenergy.com/energy/get-quote

     

    @Blastoise186 is correct regarding the smart meter. If you have a traditional meters that use a key/card then once you choose a supplier they can arrange to have these meters exchanged for smart meters at your convenience. We don’t charge for this service so please keep that in mind. 

     

    If you have any follow up questions then don’t hesitate to let us know. Keep us updated with your journey! 

    Renewable energy jokes never get old.
      L
      Newcomer
      Lozza
      Newcomer
      July 28, 2024

      Hi @ChristopherS_OVO 

      One more question, I have attached a picture of pay as you go meter. When I was in the property I couldn't find any way of taking a meter reading. Is it possible to get a meter reading off the pay as you go meter? If so what is the procedure to do that? 

      Thanks 

      Lauren 

        Firedog
        Super User
        FiredogSuper User
        Super User
        July 28, 2024

        Push button 9.

        This should answer most of your questions: 

         

        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. |
          BPLightlog
          Super User
          BPLightlogSuper User
          Super User
          July 28, 2024

          Just a note that (as the full guide mentions), 9 will bring up the Total Import register as well as any Export reading. 
          If the property is on Economy 7, then you will find the peak and off peak readings via button 6.

          Sorry to confuse things but just being clear. 

          Bring me Sunshine ~ E&E {Solar PV, Battery Storage, Hybrid EV, ASHP and Home Assistant automation}
            Blastoise186
            Super User
            Blastoise186Super User
            Super User
            July 28, 2024

            Just so you know, you can’t submit manual readings to your supplier if they come from Prepayment Meters and Smart Meters in Prepayment Mode. They get submitted automatically whenever you top-up (for Key/Card Meters) or daily (for Smart Meters).

            Taking manual readings will only be useful for your own records in such cases.

            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!
              Firedog
              Super User
              FiredogSuper User
              Super User
              July 28, 2024

              … Lauren is buying the property where this meter is located. It’s pretty important to take meter readings on takeover, to avoid having to pay any debt owed by the previous owner. 

              This is an eight-year-old SMETS1 smart meter, which may or may not be behaving like a SMETS 2 meter. If it’s working properly, there should be no problem changing to credit mode; Support will be able to advise once she’s taken over the supply. If it is working, there’s no need to have it replaced yet; it has at least two years of life left, and probably quite a few more. 

              Lauren should also make sure that the In-House Display (IHD) is in the property. It belongs to the supplier and should stay there on change of ownership.

               

              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. |
                Emmanuelle_OVO
                Retired Moderator
                Emmanuelle_OVO
                Retired Moderator
                July 29, 2024

                I hope this advice helps @Lozza, If you have any other questions pop back anytime 😊

                Renewable Energy? Big Fan.
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