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Replace Prepaid (PAYG) meter for standard/smart meter

  • 21 July 2024
  • 9 replies
  • 99 views

I am in the process of purchasing a house that has prepaid/PAYG meters for the gas and electricity. What it the process to have these replaced for a standard/smart meter.

9 replies

Blastoise186
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Hi @Lozza ,

Generally, the process is to sign up with the existing supplier first - you need to do this anyway even for Prepayment Meters.

Once that’s done, you can ask that supplier to move you to Pay Monthly by contacting their customer service team. They’ll do the rest - if the meters need to be replaced, the new meters WILL be Smart Meters by default.

Securing energy by zapping security bugs... For that is The Blastoise Way!
L
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Thank you for your quick reply. 

Chris_OVO
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Hey @Lozza, 

 

Congratulations on your house purchase 🎉 I hope everything goes smoothly for you as I know how stressful it can be at times. We have a really useful article that I can share below that has plenty of useful information on what the move in process looks like! 

 

You can also follow this link to get a quote based on your new property: https://products.ovoenergy.com/energy/get-quote

 

@Blastoise186 is correct regarding the smart meter. If you have a traditional meters that use a key/card then once you choose a supplier they can arrange to have these meters exchanged for smart meters at your convenience. We don’t charge for this service so please keep that in mind. 

 

If you have any follow up questions then don’t hesitate to let us know. Keep us updated with your journey! 

Renewable energy jokes never get old.
L
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Hi @ChristopherS_OVO 

One more question, I have attached a picture of pay as you go meter. When I was in the property I couldn't find any way of taking a meter reading. Is it possible to get a meter reading off the pay as you go meter? If so what is the procedure to do that? 

Thanks 

Lauren 

Firedog
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Push button 9.

This should answer most of your questions: 

 

Noel | I have no official status; I'm just a volunteer who comes here to help other customers. My gear: Aclara SGM 1416-B Electricity-only E7 meter; Chameleon IHD3-PPMID-AAA
BPLightlog
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Just a note that (as the full guide mentions), 9 will bring up the Total Import register as well as any Export reading. 
If the property is on Economy 7, then you will find the peak and off peak readings via button 6.

Sorry to confuse things but just being clear. 

Independent volunteer - Sitting in a Faraday cage, waiting for a signal
Blastoise186
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Just so you know, you can’t submit manual readings to your supplier if they come from Prepayment Meters and Smart Meters in Prepayment Mode. They get submitted automatically whenever you top-up (for Key/Card Meters) or daily (for Smart Meters).

Taking manual readings will only be useful for your own records in such cases.

Securing energy by zapping security bugs... For that is The Blastoise Way!
Firedog
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… Lauren is buying the property where this meter is located. It’s pretty important to take meter readings on takeover, to avoid having to pay any debt owed by the previous owner. 

This is an eight-year-old SMETS1 smart meter, which may or may not be behaving like a SMETS 2 meter. If it’s working properly, there should be no problem changing to credit mode; Support will be able to advise once she’s taken over the supply. If it is working, there’s no need to have it replaced yet; it has at least two years of life left, and probably quite a few more. 

Lauren should also make sure that the In-House Display (IHD) is in the property. It belongs to the supplier and should stay there on change of ownership.

 

Noel | I have no official status; I'm just a volunteer who comes here to help other customers. My gear: Aclara SGM 1416-B Electricity-only E7 meter; Chameleon IHD3-PPMID-AAA
Emmanuelle_OVO
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Userlevel 7

I hope this advice helps @Lozza, If you have any other questions pop back anytime 😊

Renewable Energy? Big Fan.

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