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HairyMutley
Rank 2
Rank 2
February 26, 2025

RTS meter change stopped due to asbestos

  • February 26, 2025
  • 40 replies
  • 1108 views

Trying to get mother-in-law's meter changed in anticipation of RTS switch-off.
It started off complicated and it just seems to get worse from there on!
Not sure where I am now.

Mother-in-law has an apartment in a Churchill older peoples' building (about 30 similar apartments).

Back in September 2024 I started with a phone call to book an appointment and was immediately hit with the question of tariff. I thought that I was just booking a meter change, not realising that I would have to pick an alternative to Superdeal. Anyway, after a bit of too-ing and fro-ing it seems that dumb night storage heaters will be best suited to Economy 10 and an appointment booked.

It seemed straight forward enough, so only mother-in-law was there on the day of the appointment. However, it turns out that the OVO technician could not do the job. Mother-in-law was told that there was asbestos and it required a different team and approval from the leaseholder (Churchill) to sort that out. The OVO technician gave mother-in-law a form for the leaseholder to authorise the work. Once OVO had received the completed form, then OVO specialist team would contact to make a new appointment. Unfortunately, I never saw the form, so I do not know what it was.

The form was sent through the leaseholder. In December 2024, When we hadn't heard anything from OVO I contacted them again and was told that these jobs were being coordinated and the team would get back in touch in late January.

Today, not having heard anything for a while, I thought I better get back to OVO again. Now I am told that I have to go to our DNO (SSEN), but I don't know why, I thought that this was OVO's job.  So, I am even more confused. This isn't what I originally understood and not sure what I am supposed to know about getting SSEN to remove OVO's meter and OVO to remove SSEN's fuse and who swaps the board? Am I missing something?

If it is any help.  The building was built and the meter cupboard installed in 1992 although the meter is dated 2001. The contents are simple; an incoming supply cable to a fuse, a tail-pair to an RTS meter and 2 tail-pairs out to 2 consumer units elsewhere (one for 24 hour circuits and one for off-peak heating circuits). Image attached.

 

 

40 replies

Emmanuelle_OVO
Retired Moderator
Retired Moderator
April 7, 2025

I’m sorry to hear this ​@HairyMutley! Please keep us posted with how your situation progresses. 

Renewable Energy? Big Fan.
HairyMutley
Rank 2
Rank 2
April 29, 2025

As far as I know, Brett visited to collect a sample of the backboard yesterday. Haven’t heard anything further, so presumably he got what he needed and they will get back in touch once the sample has been tested. Hopefully all is well and we can get on with the job of getting the meter swapped 🤞

Chris_OVO
Community Manager
Community Manager
April 30, 2025

Hey ​@HairyMutley,

 

Thank you for the update. I'm pleased that the sample has been collected. Hopefully, we will receive news about the meter exchange soon.

 

Please keep us updated.

Renewable energy jokes never get old.
HairyMutley
Rank 2
Rank 2
May 16, 2025

Two weeks on, and I haven’t heard anything more. I know that Brett was going to get the sample, but I have had no confirmation that he actually got it. It is a shame that OVO do not provide any sort of job progress updates. Especially as we get closer to the switch-off date.

HairyMutley
Rank 2
Rank 2
May 29, 2025

 ​@Blastoise186 ​@Lukepeniket_OVO 
Are any of you guys able to find out what might be going on.

Chris_OVO
Community Manager
Community Manager
May 30, 2025

Hey ​@HairyMutley,

 

I thought by your previous update that the sample had been collected? Is this not the case?

 

Is the photo above related to the existing conversation around Brett coming to take a sample from the board?

 

I’ve reached out to ​@Lukepeniket_OVO to ask if he can check internally for you. Once I get an update i’ll pop back and let you know.

Renewable energy jokes never get old.
HairyMutley
Rank 2
Rank 2
May 30, 2025

I heard from Brett on the as he set out to collect the sample. The meter is in a communal area, so he didn’t need me there for him to gain access. I haven’t heard anything since, so I assume that he collected the sample.

 

The photo is of the board that Brett was coming to sample.

 

Sadly, this all started with a meter swap appointment last September (although only on this forum since earlier this year). Progress has been rather slow :-)

Thanks for your response.

OVO Engineer
May 30, 2025

Hey bud, I can see i raised a ticket for you previously but im having trouble finding it. Could you DM me your account number please and ill get an answer for you ​@HairyMutley 

OVO Operations Excellence Manager and Former Field Operations Team Leader
HairyMutley
Rank 2
Rank 2
May 30, 2025

Thanks ​@Lukepeniket_OVO, DM sent

OVO Engineer
May 30, 2025

I’ve got account up and photos from Bretts Job!! Just chasing now

OVO Operations Excellence Manager and Former Field Operations Team Leader