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Bri4life
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July 24, 2023
Solved

When is the best time to give my meter readings to avoid estimated bills?

  • July 24, 2023
  • 74 replies
  • 3896 views

Is it normal after submitting a meter reading on the 22/7/23 to be asked for another meter reading via the app and for it to be done ASAP?

New to Ovo after moving over from SSE

Best answer by Firedog

Updated on 23/07/26 by Ben_OVO

 

We’ve discovered (well @Firedog has) that if you send early on the day following it is used and not estimated

 

This ‘discovery’ was the result of one test on one day, so it’s hardly a recipe for guaranteed success. However, the thinking behind it was that a manual reading is recorded on the day it’s received, but when applied to bills, it’s treated as if it were entered at midnight. On the first day of the billing period, then, a reading submitted that day will be used both as the closing reading for the previous period and the opening reading for the current one.  If you try this for the next billing period, please come back and tell us whether it worked or not. 

[My experiment took place on a day when smart meter readings don’t make it - the first day of a quarter when tariffs change. There is just so much traffic on the smart meter network that day with every smart meter in the country having to be updated that there’s just not the bandwidth available for readings to get through to suppliers.] 

We’ll always bill you to a reading the day before the billing date. For example, if your billing date is the 25th of each month, we will bill from an opening read on the 25th of the month to a closing read on the 24th. In this case, the best time to give a read would be the 24th. if we don’t receive a reading that day, then an estimate will be generated based upon your previous actual readings.

 

We'd recommend having smart meters installed, as then you won’t need to submit reads, and won’t be billed to estimates.

 

 

74 replies

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Blastoise186
Super User
Blastoise186Super User
Super User
September 4, 2023

You need to submit a reading one day prior to the cycle reset.

Alternatively, if you get Smart Meters and set them to Daily or Half-Hourly readings, it’ll basically get rid of this problem forever.

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Rank 7
awills61
Rank 7
September 4, 2023

So are you saying I should submit on the 1st? This Link implies you should do it the day after in my case the 3rd.

I can’t get a smart meter yet as I’m on THTC in the North of Scotland. 

BPLightlog
Super User
BPLightlogSuper User
Super User
September 5, 2023

If you can submit a reading early the day after your billing period ends (that’s the same day that a smart meter would get it’s reading for the period), we’ve seen that this avoids estimates. 
OVO were going to change their advice .. it sounds like they haven’t done yet

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awills61
Rank 7
September 5, 2023

I will try this next month and see what happens.

L
Newcomer
Lynsay
Newcomer
September 24, 2023

Hi There!

I’m hopeful someone can help with my problem.

I was late with my meter reading back in January and OVO have estimated my bill at over £1000 than it should be. I have tried to get in touch with them to rectify the situation but with no avail. I have tried through what’s app and have not managed to chat to anyone through the customer service help line.

 

would anyone be able to point me in the right direction for how to proceed.

Thanks so much for any help! 

Firedog
Super User
FiredogSuper User
Super User
September 24, 2023

How often do you receive bills? And how often have you submitted readings since January? Can you see your billing history at the website?

If you miss a single reading, you may end up with a bill based on an estimate of your usage, which might be higher than it was in fact. However, this should be put right at the next bill so long as you’ve submitted readings regularly since the one you missed. 

You may be seeing a blue Messenger button in the bottom corner of this window; a click on that should start a chat session with the OVO agents who work over Facebook. Try it on Monday morning; they should be able to access your account and help you find out what’s gone wrong. 

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. |
    L
    Newcomer
    Lynsay
    Newcomer
    September 24, 2023

    Hi Firedog,

    Thanksxso much for your reply. 
     

    I have submitted a reading in time each month since January. My avarage usage is around £50 but they have increased my direct debit to £200. I have tried the chat line but I’ll try the messenger chat tomorrow.

     

    Thanks so much for your support. 

     

     

      Abby_OVO
      Community Manager
      Abby_OVO
      Community Manager
      September 25, 2023

      Hey @Lynsay 

       

      Sorry to hear about this.

       

      Firedog has come in with some great advice here. Keep us updated here with how you get on with this.

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      L
      Newcomer
      Lynsay
      Newcomer
      September 25, 2023

      Hi Guys,

       

      Ovo customer services called me today and said the issue will be sorted out in the next 24 hours.

      Fantastic! I’ve been trying to sort this out since January, so thanks so much for your reply’s I’m sure that’s what moved things along.

       

      Lynsay

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        Rank 7
        awills61
        Rank 7
        October 10, 2023

        If you can submit a reading early the day after your billing period ends (that’s the same day that a smart meter would get it’s reading for the period), we’ve seen that this avoids estimates. 
        OVO were going to change their advice .. it sounds like they haven’t done yet

        This seems to have worked for me this month.

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