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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
  • 8678 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
    L
    Newcomer
    Lynnemarie 03
    Newcomer
    October 25, 2022

    What's goin on with the readings tday

     

    Blastoise186
    Super User
    Blastoise186Super User
    Super User
    October 25, 2022

    You should ignore that. It’s just a bug with the IHD.

    A firmware fix is being rolled out to affected meters from this week onwards which will correct that. For now, just divide the displayed cost by 1000 to get a more accurate figure.

    Your actual bills are NOT affected.

    Securing energy by zapping security bugs... For that is The Blastoise Way! Remember, I'm just like you - AI Powered Evil Geniuses aren't Staff!
      D
      Newcomer
      Degsy
      Newcomer
      October 27, 2022

      I had virtually identical on same day, £39.3k. While that,s now disappeared, it’s still showing £3577 against that day. Are you guys replacing the old SSE smartmeters?

      Blastoise186
      Super User
      Blastoise186Super User
      Super User
      October 28, 2022

      Hi @Degsy ,

      Nope, no need for that. It just needs a firmware update that has started to roll out recently. You should get the full and proper fix by the end of the year.

      Securing energy by zapping security bugs... For that is The Blastoise Way! Remember, I'm just like you - AI Powered Evil Geniuses aren't Staff!
        J
        Rank 1
        jenna5jess
        Rank 1
        November 19, 2022

        I am confused - please explain.
        had a smart meter installed recently and was advised that the budget marker was inline with the average household. Mine is set at £1.60 per day for elec. However, for the last 2mornings I have woken up at 5.30am to see that I have already ‘used’ around 60p. I have my larder fridge, freezer, TV, Virgin box, broadband and one alarm clock plugged in at all times. If those items use 60p in 5.5 hrs, then in 22hrs I’ve already used £2.40, without cooking, turning on a light, doing any washing etc. Additionally, at 14.31 on the same day it says I’ve used £1.12, so 52p more. I don’t understand how I  can use 60p in 5.5hrs using no electricity apart from those items plugged in and then use 52p in the following 9 hrs when I did a load of washing had lights on, kettle on twice and the TV. 
        Can you help? 

        BPLightlog
        Super User
        BPLightlogSuper User
        Super User
        November 19, 2022

        .. However, for the last 2mornings I have woken up at 5.30am to see that I have already ‘used’ around 60p.

        Your ‘60p’ will include the daily standing charge which is probably not factored into the average budget calculation. If you check at the end of a day, you might have a better idea but also at this time of year you would expect to use more than on longer summer days

        Bring me Sunshine ~ E&E {Solar PV, Battery Storage, Hybrid EV, ASHP and Home Assistant automation}
        J
        Rank 1
        jenna5jess
        Rank 1
        November 19, 2022

        Okay. Thanks 

        E
        Newcomer
        emiejay259421
        Newcomer
        November 29, 2022

        so last night i noticed my smart meter go from 2/3p an hour to 23p an hour and this kept/keeps happing every 15 or so minutes so when i went to bed i made sure everything was off except baby’s night light and my phone charger it is only the two of us who live here so it went down to 0p (24w) an hour but again keep going up to 20p (over 600w) every 15/20 minutes only for a few seconds i woke up at 5 brifly and said i’d already used 61p should be no more then 20p that’s even with 3p an hour witch is what it is normally during the day with tv etc on. i know prices are going up but this seems to be abnormal and i’m not sure if it’s the smart meter going wrong here or wether there’s an electricical fault somewhere in our flat 🤷🏼‍♀️ don’t know who to contact 

        Blastoise186
        Super User
        Blastoise186Super User
        Super User
        November 29, 2022

        Hi @emiejay259421 ,

        Can you show us where you’re seeing this please? Photos of the meter you’re looking at are especially helpful.

        Securing energy by zapping security bugs... For that is The Blastoise Way! Remember, I'm just like you - AI Powered Evil Geniuses aren't Staff!
        E
        Newcomer
        emiejay259421
        Newcomer
        November 29, 2022

        what it normally is and what it keeps jumping to every 20 minute 

        Show more replies
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