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Rank 1
January 12, 2018
Solved

How do I get a smart meter when I have a 3 phase supply?

  • January 12, 2018
  • 61 replies
  • 16961 views


I have 3 phase electricity with a dual rate meter. I would like a smart meter. I have asked my electrician and he says that it is very easy however the OVO technician who came to fit a smart meter said he couldn't do it. So I am paying over the odds for my electricity because OVO will not put me onto a single phase and install a smart meter

Best answer by Tim_OVO

Updated on 10/10/25 by Ben_OVO:​​​​

 

Do OVO offer 3 phase smart meters?

 

3 phase (aka polyphase) installations in domestic properties are few and far between, so it's a minority of meter engineers across the country that have the skills required to complete these installations. There are also some technical challenges in making sure your job is allocated to an engineer with these skills but we are just as keen as you are to have Smart available for these sites ASAP.


If you have a three phase supply we’d would encourage you to book a smart meter appointment as normal online or over the phone on 0330 303 5063. 


This will then go through to a specialist team who will validate that it is single rate job and that an 3 phase engineer is available in your region. If this is the case, they will re-book your appointment with the right engineer. (So please bear in mind your appointment date/time will likely change, but we'll try to keep it the same where possible.)


Unfortunately, if you have a 2-rate meter or are not in an area covered by our current crop of 3 phase skilled engineers, you will need to continue with your heritage meter. We know this will be frustrating, so we are sorry about that, we are working to expand our coverage and by you flagging your interest to us, you are helping us shape where and when that coverage develops. - thank you!

 

 

OVO member but not got a smart meter yet? - Book today!

Interested but not yet an OVO member? - Check out our plans!

 

61 replies

Tim_OVO
OVO Staff
Tim_OVOSolved
OVO Forum Legend
January 17, 2018

Updated on 10/10/25 by Ben_OVO:​​​​

 

Do OVO offer 3 phase smart meters?

 

3 phase (aka polyphase) installations in domestic properties are few and far between, so it's a minority of meter engineers across the country that have the skills required to complete these installations. There are also some technical challenges in making sure your job is allocated to an engineer with these skills but we are just as keen as you are to have Smart available for these sites ASAP.


If you have a three phase supply we’d would encourage you to book a smart meter appointment as normal online or over the phone on 0330 303 5063. 


This will then go through to a specialist team who will validate that it is single rate job and that an 3 phase engineer is available in your region. If this is the case, they will re-book your appointment with the right engineer. (So please bear in mind your appointment date/time will likely change, but we'll try to keep it the same where possible.)


Unfortunately, if you have a 2-rate meter or are not in an area covered by our current crop of 3 phase skilled engineers, you will need to continue with your heritage meter. We know this will be frustrating, so we are sorry about that, we are working to expand our coverage and by you flagging your interest to us, you are helping us shape where and when that coverage develops. - thank you!

 

 

OVO member but not got a smart meter yet? - Book today!

Interested but not yet an OVO member? - Check out our plans!

 

Carbon neutral - we need a community to get there! My green tech: Aclara SGM 1411-B smart meter, Chameleon IHD6
Newcomer
February 15, 2019
Hi,

I recently had one of your meter engineers pop over to fit a smart meter. As I have Phase 3 with eight cables running in and out of the current meter he was unable to assist. One of your competitors is currently offering this and as a loyal customer of OVO, I wanted to see whether OVO can help?
Tim_OVO
OVO Staff
OVO Forum Legend
February 22, 2019
I recently had one of your meter engineers pop over to fit a smart meter. As I have Phase 3 with eight cables running in and out of the current meter he was unable to assist. One of your competitors is currently offering this and as a loyal customer of OVO, I wanted to see whether OVO can help?

Have a look at my answer above your comment @JM71 - I moved your comment here as it's got more info on this process!
Carbon neutral - we need a community to get there! My green tech: Aclara SGM 1411-B smart meter, Chameleon IHD6
Newcomer
May 1, 2019
@Tim_OVO - your answer seems like a cop-out. If your premises is using a 3 phase supply properly ie feeds off of every phase to some sort of machinery etc then you can't realistically expect the customer to go to the expense of having 3 separate single phase supplies put in; surely that would mean 3 smart meters would be required to be installed.

We couldn't have a smart meter installed at work because of the lack of support for 3 phase installations (However we are with a different supplier)

Just my 2p worth, having spotted this conversation.
Transparent
Rank 20
Rank 20
May 2, 2019
That's an important point @DataKnight. The absence of 3-phase supplies to the majority of our domestic properties means that we are suffering increasing losses at sub-stations due to phase imbalance.

In Germany, they are heading in the opposite direction. 3-Phase is becoming the norm. Unlike this country, they can foresee the massive savings that can be attained once EVs can be grid-connected using V2G chargers.

To be fair, this isn't OVO's problem. The British Energy Suppliers may only install Smart Meters which have been designed and tested in accordance with specifications drawn up by the Data Communications Company, and approved by Ofgem and GCHQ. No designs have been sought for 3-Phase meters.

One of the Ofgem-approved meter manufacturers, EDMI, already have a 3-phase Smart Meter design, the Mk10, which is installed widely in other countries. This could be adapted for GB use if DCC were required by Ofgem to have an option for a 3-phase Smart Meter.

Although there is currently no open public consultation on the portfolio of SMETS2 meters, there is no reason why you can't write to Ofgem and ask for their reasoning on why such a product isn't being sought. You might want to draw their attention to this discussion on the Forum.

I'm sure there are others here who would like to know of their response.
Save energy... recycle electrons!
Newcomer
July 1, 2019
@Dartmoor I asked OFGEM as I'm facing similar issues to you. They said they should be available from the second half of 2019 but gave no further detail.

I just wondered why are you on a three phase supply? Given you location is that your on Economy7 with night storage heaters?

I'm down in Cornwall with night storage heaters, Eco7 tariff and facing similar issues I believe but I am one step behind you in that I don't yet have a dual rate meter. I'm still on two separate analogue meters; one for off peak one for day rate.

Could you tell me the make and model of your meter as this is what I need to get my provider to supply me with?

Thanks

Robin
DartmoorAuthor
Rank 1
July 1, 2019
Hi Robin
I have 3 Phase but only use single phase. I think the house had night storage once upon a time. It was also used as a Doctor's surgery.
Photo of meter below

**photo link removed**
Simon
Newcomer
July 1, 2019
could you check those links? they both launch the gmail sign up page?
DartmoorAuthor
Rank 1
July 1, 2019
Oops- I wonder how I can take them down!
Photo attached

Simon
Newcomer
July 1, 2019
Cheers for that Dartmoor - at least I have now seen one. Would do the job perfectly for me but I guess if the provider will change my two separate meters, as I want, it will be a more modern digital unit.

Can I ask is there a separate time switch to handle the switching between rates?

And you mentioned "used to have storage heaters" So you don't use Night Storage / Eco7 any more?