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ccooky98
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March 5, 2019
Solved

New IHD showing high levels of usage - is this right?

  • March 5, 2019
  • 110 replies
  • 8627 views



Hi, I had my smart meters installed yesterday lunchtime, this morning my IHD tells me I used a combined gas and electric totalling over £25!! there is no way this is correct. My daughter had a shower this evening for 5 minutes and the electric cost went up on the IHD by £5.....anyone else having these unusual readings? its worrying me as my bill is going to be massive!
    Best answer by jewelie

    Updated on 23/10/25 by Ben_OVO

     

    Sorry for the inaccurate usage costs you’re seeing on your In-Home Display (IHD).

     

    With a smart meter the tariff information showing on the device should match the rates showing on the ‘plan details’ page of your online account or app. If the tariff figures loaded on your device aren’t correct, it may appear that your usage costs are far higher than they should be - reach out to our Support Team to get that corrected. You can find out how to see your plan details using this guide:

     

     

    It is worth bearing in mind the following: 

     

    Usage costs on your IHD may not 100% match your daily charges

     

    If the unit rates loaded on to your device are not accurate the daily costs shown here will not match what you are actually charged. For this reason we’d always advise checking the actual usage charges on the ‘Billing’ page of your online account or app. You can find out how to use the Usage pages using this guide:

     

     

    No increase in costs due to a smart meter:


    Having a smart meter installed won't directly increase your costs. There are no hidden effects on usage, and your tariff won't change. 

     

    Your meter will be accurate:

     

    The meter will clock accurately. Old meters (this does depend on how old your previous meter was) can slow down, or even speed up meaning they're not measuring your energy usage correctly. We'd only expect to see this with very old meters. A brand new meter, smart or otherwise, will clock what you're using accurately.

     

    IHD user guides can be found here:

     

     

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

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

     

    110 replies

    Show previous replies
    Nancy_OVO
    Retired Moderator
    Nancy_OVO
    Retired Moderator
    May 15, 2019
    @jewelie is right, @Rickster1978 - it's a fault and rest assured you aren't being charged from the figures on your IHD!
    Your guiding light(bulb)
      R
      Newcomer
      Rickster1978
      Newcomer
      May 18, 2019
      So after my display showing high costs for electricity since it was installed on Monday, as of today it doesn’t show anything. I can only see the gas readings and cant toggle between gas and electricity anymore. Anyone else having the same. I’m guessing it’s been switched off while they sort it but not had any messages from Ovo
        W
        Newcomer
        WorthATry
        Newcomer
        May 19, 2019
        I only have electricity from OVO and, having shown the correct usage in KwH but a money amount 10 times too big until 2 days ago, the IHD now just shows "Waiting for data". Which is more, the actual meter has returned to 0. This is a little worrying as it invites an estimation of usage which, in my experience of energy companies, is seldom right.

        Time to report this as a fault.
          B
          Newcomer
          boydy
          Newcomer
          May 19, 2019
          Just had a smart meter installed, and the IHD is showing crazy costs!

          If i look at the tariff on the device it states (these are not correct for my plan):
          Electricity 16.18p / kwh, 28.77p daily
          Gas 3.48p / kwh, 28.77 daily

          But when I press the home button the calculations do not make sense:
          Electricity: 9.57kwh used today £18.39
          Gas: 25.38kwh used today £0.89

          Looking at the calculated costs it is clear that there must be a bug in the calculation for the electricity.

          I would like to know how OVO are going to fix this bug? Recall? Or can they update the devices remotely?
            M
            Newcomer
            Mja
            Newcomer
            May 29, 2019
            Disappointing to see threads about the incorrectly high usage cost on the IHDs from a month or so ago showing as Solved, when it’s not solved. There was no mention of it following my install 5 days ago by the engineer, or from OVO in a follow up communication, meaning Ive been be wasting time fiddling with the IHD and wondering if we have a dodgy smart meter.

            These devices are meant to make meter readings related hassles a thing of the past, but the IHDs coming out of OVO still have this bug, more customers will therefore be having their time wasted and/or be worried 🙄
              B
              Newcomer
              boydy
              Newcomer
              May 29, 2019
              Mine is now just showing gas, the electricity is completely gone from the IHD. It still is reporting to OVO just not the IHD.
              Just hoping it fixes itself, people are saying it takes a month, so hopefully in 2 more weeks it should be working. 🤞
                Eva_OVO
                OVO Staff
                Eva_OVO
                OVO Staff
                May 30, 2019
                If the meters communicating with us, @boydy, your IHD should be showing the electric usage.

                Send us a message on Facebook or Twitter so we can look into this! 🙂
                My friend told me how electricity is measured and I was like Watt!
                M
                Newcomer
                Mick85
                Newcomer
                June 4, 2019
                Had a smart meter installed yesterday and the home display is saying that were using £20 a day. Surely this can't be right?
                  Amy_OVO
                  Retired Moderator
                  Amy_OVO
                  Retired Moderator
                  June 5, 2019
                  I've popped your post here, @Mick85, there's lots of handy info above!

                  Cheers!
                  OVO-Joyed to help!
                    M
                    Newcomer
                    Mja
                    Newcomer
                    June 5, 2019
                    Really surprising this isn't proactively explained to people having new installations, the amount of traffic on here would go down thats for sure and it would alleviate the worry some people may feel.

                    Update on the behaviour of my IHD is the displayed gas £usage is incredibly low and displayed electricity £usage is still incredibly high. When I look at the IHD sometimes it says waiting for data, sometimes it doesn't. The explanation of the IHD needing 4-6 weeks to sync will hopefully resolve it.
                      Show more replies
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