Switching to a Economy 7 (two rate) plan - how can I arrange this with OVO?

I would like to move to an E7 tariff. I’ve been with SSE and OVO for many years.
I booked a smart meter install as I see this as the only route to getting E7.
However I tried to get tariff information and a commitment from Customer Services that they would give me the tariff if I chose, based on usage and the rates to switch.
They wouldn’t give me the rates and I have had to scour the net to get approximates - just what is the problem with publishing them? I appreciate that they vary by region but it’s known and available data.
Then I was advised that it was not possible without upgrade work by the DNO. This is clearly rubbish information. I may need an upgrade if I was adding extra loads but I’m not and a standard SMETS2 meter would be fine.
The engineer who would have fitted the meter agrees with me but corporate OVO just don’t seem to want to add E7 customers.
I await Monday morning when I hope I will have rattled enough OVO cages to get some sort of positive response, meanwhile I’m exploring other, more amenable, suppliers.

Hi @Stevemel , having been down that route myself there is no option currently.

I don’t know why but the OVO billing system somehow can’t cope with switching a supply from standard to E7. I’ve tried for 2 years but no possibility.

I have been in contact with some that have E7. Possibly inherited from SSE.

I have also heard of people with a dual rate setup where they only get charged at the high rate so OVO "offer" to move them to a lower single rate. 

I agree, there does seem to be a technical billing system problem not shared by other suppliers and that OVO don't want to fix it just make it go away. 

Yes, if there is an E7 tariff in place then they seem to be able to set it up. If they remove E7 they just charge the same amoount for peak and off peak.

It’s when the supply isn’t E7 that there is the problem. 

Hi, I have changed my storage heating to standard electric radiators and no longer need the dual tariff. I don’t have a smart meter is is an old meter with metal clock dial.

When I phoned to have it changed I was told that this was not possible, I questioned the information as I had seen a post dated June 2023 to say that a single tariff plan is available. I was then told if I go to my renewals online I would see that this is not possible. When I replied that I wasn’t trying to renew and that I wanted to change the plan I was repeatedly put on hold and given the first response over and over again that it is not possible and no other information could be supplied. Is this temporary or do I need to switch to another provider? 

Hi @Camilla19Glen ,

I’ll double check the latest info on the forum backstage. Bear with us!

Ok, initial impressions are that this is still possible with a workaround of setting both Day/Night rates to be the same, which simulates a flat rate and more or less gets the result you’re after.

The billing system isn’t able to fully support switching off E7 yet - but this workaround is allowed.

We’re digging deeper, hang in there for a few days!

I didn't have any problems doing it back in March. In fact, the shortest conversation I've ever had with customer services.

It still bills as peak and off-peak, but the two rates are exactly the same.

Hey @Camilla19Glen 

Some great advice here, and a great example of the flat rate from MCH59.

The Support Team are able to change this to a flat rate, meaning you’ll just pay the same regardless of what time if day it is.

Thanks everyone, I contacted OVO yesterday after missing a call from them to confirm setting this up just waiting on it all going through the system.