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Williamyzfr1
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June 24, 2025
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Difficulty reading my "Smart" gas meter manually

  • June 24, 2025
  • 18 replies
  • 312 views

Several years ago OVO fitted two “Smart” meters and ever since then I have been unable to physically read the figures on the gas meter. The reason for this is because the meter is in a box in the ground and the “window” with the figures is pressed up against the side of the meter box.

Assuming they exist, I need a meter that has the display at the top.

Gas meters enclosed in a box in the ground are not unique but the inability to supply a meter reading scuppered my move to another Energy supplier a few years ago.

OVO refused to change it because it was not faulty.

The meters are several years old now & there is a black box (Zigbee?) plugged into the router to send readings to OVO. 

So can my elderly “Smart” meters be read by other Energy providers these days?

I did read it was coming but that not all “Smart” meters are compatible.

Best answer by Chris_OVO

Updated on 29/12/25 by Ben_OVO

Hey ​@Williamyzfr1 

 

As Blastoise186 mentions, your smart meter should be sending readings to us automatically. Are you able to see the smart meter readings on your online account?

 

It’ll be good to see a photo of the actual gas meter itself to understand the set up better.

Abby, Yes OVO are getting the readings automatically but my point is I was unable to give a manual reading to an alternative Energy provider for so they cancelled the changeover.

In a way through no fault of my own I was unable to move to an alternative Energy supplier because of the Gas meter (fitted by OVO).

I want to know if this is indeed still true or whether other Energy providers now have the ability to take readings from my “Smart” meters.

Pictures to follow….soon...

Hey ​@Williamyzfr1, 

I've never encountered an energy supplier that requires manual readings when a smart reading is accessible. As long as the reading was taken within the last 24 hours, that's what they'd use to calculate your energy consumption. Additionally, when you switch suppliers, both the old and new providers upload industry readings to a portal to ensure accurate information. It seems whoever you were dealing with was overcomplicating things!

 

If you are on the Priority Services Register, an engineer can visit your property to read the meter manually and provide you with the reading if required. However, if your meter is already sending smart readings, the engineer's visit would primarily be to confirm the data we can access remotely. You can find more information about the Priority Services Register via the link below.

 

… it is physically impossible to read the gas meter …

I can  see it being awkward, but if really needed for a one-off there apears to be plenty of room to get a hand, or shaving, mirror in there angled upwards.

Yes it would be awkward reading the upside down numbers, (but they would still read left>right).

If you want to get a bit more high tech then you can get flexible inspection camers that fit your mobile phone or laptop for under £10.
eg: https://www.amazon.co.uk/endoscope-camera-android/s?k=endoscope+camera+android

 

I hope this helps! 

18 replies

Blastoise186
Super User
Blastoise186Super User
Super User
June 24, 2025

To help us answer this, please post photos of your meters so we know what you’ve got.

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    Williamyzfr1Author
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    June 24, 2025

    To help us answer this, please post photos of your meters so we know what you’ve got.

    Thanks for the reply, I’ll take pictures tomorrow when its daylight.

    Blastoise186
    Super User
    Blastoise186Super User
    Super User
    June 24, 2025

    I’ll also need to see that black box as well. I think I know what it is, but I want to be sure.

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      Williamyzfr1Author
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      June 24, 2025

      Heres the ZigBee, Black Box.

       

       

       

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      Williamyzfr1Author
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      June 24, 2025

      Pictures of meters tomorrow when its daylight.

       

      Blastoise186
      Super User
      Blastoise186Super User
      Super User
      June 25, 2025

      That black box appears to be an old smart gateway device that OVO used purely in the early days. If memory serves, they are no longer supported. They were removed from support sometime around 2019/2020.

      You should probably remove it from your setup. Meter readings are sent directly via the meters anyway - removing that device won’t have any impact.

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      Abby_OVO
      Community Manager
      Abby_OVO
      Community Manager
      June 25, 2025

      Hey ​@Williamyzfr1 

       

      As Blastoise186 mentions, your smart meter should be sending readings to us automatically. Are you able to see the smart meter readings on your online account?

       

      It’ll be good to see a photo of the actual gas meter itself to understand the set up better.

      Currently Playing: She's Electric
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      Williamyzfr1Author
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      June 25, 2025

      Hey ​@Williamyzfr1 

       

      As Blastoise186 mentions, your smart meter should be sending readings to us automatically. Are you able to see the smart meter readings on your online account?

       

      It’ll be good to see a photo of the actual gas meter itself to understand the set up better.

      Abby, Yes OVO are getting the readings automatically but my point is I was unable to give a manual reading to an alternative Energy provider for so they cancelled the changeover.

      In a way through no fault of my own I was unable to move to an alternative Energy supplier because of the Gas meter (fitted by OVO).

      I want to know if this is indeed still true or whether other Energy providers now have the ability to take readings from my “Smart” meters.

      Pictures to follow….soon...

      W
      Rank 3
      Williamyzfr1Author
      Rank 3
      June 25, 2025

      Electric Meter:

       

       

       

      Gas Meter:

       

       

      Contrary to my first post (& memory!) the Gas meter is not pressed against the side but clearly the front panel cannot be viewed from above.

      Blastoise186
      Super User
      Blastoise186Super User
      Super User
      June 25, 2025

      I thought that would be what you had.

      These are SMETS1 Secure Liberty meters, originally installed in 2015 by the looks of things, so they’re earlier units. You still have at least another 10 years service life in them yet. It looks like the gas meter was installed prior to when OVO developed the semi-concealed gas meter fitting kits though - which were developed in-house for precisely these situations.

      These ones should communicate via DCC now, allowing them to work across all suppliers. You can run a check via https://homebrew.n3rgy.com if you want to be sure.

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        Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement

        OVO Energy Ltd, Floor 5, Crescent, Temple Back, Redcliffe, BS1 6EZ, (Company no. 06890795) registered in England and Wales.

        OVO (S) Gas Limited is registered in England and Wales (Company No. 02716495) at Floor 5, Crescent, Temple Back, Redcliffe, BS1 6EZ.

        OVO (S) Gas Limited is part of OVO Group Ltd