My home is un-occupied - Would a smart meter be a smart choice for me?

It sounds like you need a bit of help here. I wonder if Forum Support could lend a hand with getting your account set up - that seems to be the first step. Any idea, @Abby_OVO or @Emmanuelle_OVO ?

(Alternatively, I could house-sit for you while you’re away 🙂)

Hello Firedog:(Hope I have the correct source). Forum Suppport menbers are being most helpful. I have again emailed Ovo trying to help them ‘identify’ me and link my current email address to my Ovo account.

Babysitting the old cottage might tend to unhinge your mind; isolation and the ghostly bangings etc. in the cottage

can take their toll!

Yes, there are some helpful people around 🙂 There is however an extra level of forum support that only the moderators have access to; the ones who hide behind this designation can work wonders when things aren’t working properly through the official channels. Let’s see what happens when the mods turn up tomorrow morning 🤞🏻  

Hey @hydroskye,

I’ll get Forum_Support to reach out. Please keep an eye on your private messages 🙂

Hello ABBY:

Many thanks for the suggestions. I have emailed what I believe is the OVO support address (hello@ovoenergy.com), but they are not responding. As they seem to have a problem because they can’t relate my email details to my electricity account, I am offering to send them a copy of my passport and have aso suggested the local police (in Portree, Skye) should would be able to confirm my identity and the fact that the property is mine etc.

It’s possible OVO has a record of some previous email address of mine.

With thanks,

James Sleigh.

Hey @hydroskye 

Sorry to hear this.

I’ll get Forum_Support to check in on this for you and try to get this pushed along for you.

Feb.7th 2024. Toronto.

Hello Abby (and my other helpful Forum correspondents).

Well, things are moving! (See attached lines from Ovo).

I have already emailed my kindly neighbour on Skye to see if he will be free and willing to let the meter installer into the cottage on Feb. 15th. Fingers crossed.

But I still have’t got a clue how I go about setting up an on-line account with Ovo.

Thanks again to Abby and the other helpful and patient

Forum members! I am very grateful.

The customer care expert wrote:-

………………………………………………..

“This is one of the customer care experts here at OVO Energy. 

Thank you for providing your details, and we can use them to access your account. Here’s what I did:

• I already updated your email address: fionlaigh@****** as your login email for you to access your account anytime and anywhere.
• You might receive an email verification to confirm your personal details, and you need to set up a password for you to log in to your online account.
• I also booked the earliest appointment date for smart meter installation on 15th of February 2024 between 8am to 12noon.
• No worries, no don’t need to be present on the day of the installation but make sure there is someone at the age of 18 years old who can assist our engineer.
• You can still change your appointment date and don't hesitate to get in touch with us to reschedule it.
• I sent the confirmation of the appointment to your email.”
• ………………………………………...

That’s really good news. Forum_Support work in mysterious ways their wonders to perform.

Just in case you didn’t mention it, please be sure to ask your neighbour to make a careful note (preferably with a photo) of the meter readings on the old meter before it’s removed and on the new one if it’s not brand new and reading 00000. The installing engineer is supposed to do this and leave a note stuck on or nearby the meter, but you can’t be too sure. That should eliminate any unpleasantness over reading disputes.

You then have to decide whether to switch to a more favourable tariff. Since it’s the standing charge (SC) that’s probably going to be the bigger part of your bills, it might make sense to pick the one with the lowest SC. That looks currently to be the one that’s fixed for one year*; we have no idea how SCs might change over the next year, but one reputable forecaster is predicting an increase from 1 April next which would put you on a charge of about 65p/day -  £230 a year. The fixed-rate SC is today at about 59p/day, so over the year that would represent a saving of £20 a year, enough to buy 70 units of electricity next time you visit. 
  

*  This is what I found:

[Our prices | OVO Energy]

Hey @hydroskye 

Glad to hear the Support Team have got things moving along for you now, especially getting the email updated. 

If they’ve corrected the email address on the account, you should be able to sign up here.

Keep us updated with how you get on or if you’ve got any further issues setting up the online account.

Canada, Feb. 18th 2023.