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Smart meter not communicating - how long will I be waiting for a fix?

C
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Has anyone else had issues where their new smart meters have been installed but not communicating at all, nothing being shown on display?
In contact with OVO (4days ago) they confirmed it was a meter issue and would be in contact, still waiting for the call, and means another day staying in for the engineer, get a grip OVO.
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Best answer by Nancy_OVO 20 March 2019, 18:21

Updated on 19/10/20: See this topic to confirm how to diagnose communication issues for the ‘Secure’ Liberty SMETS1 smart meter. This topic outlines everything you need to confirm signal issues with an Aclara or Honeywell/Elster (SMETS2) smart meter. 

If you’ve confirmed one or both of your smart meters aren’t able to communicate with OVO remotely for any of the reasons outlined in the meter checks (above), please reach out to our Support team, who can arrange the appropriate action. That might be a remote fix such as a firmware upgrade, or we might need to send an engineer to replace the meter or fit an aerial. Time frames for engineer visits do vary but the agent can confirm the latest ETA with you directly. 

 

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Nancy_OVO
Userlevel 6

Updated on 19/10/20: See this topic to confirm how to diagnose communication issues for the ‘Secure’ Liberty SMETS1 smart meter. This topic outlines everything you need to confirm signal issues with an Aclara or Honeywell/Elster (SMETS2) smart meter. 

If you’ve confirmed one or both of your smart meters aren’t able to communicate with OVO remotely for any of the reasons outlined in the meter checks (above), please reach out to our Support team, who can arrange the appropriate action. That might be a remote fix such as a firmware upgrade, or we might need to send an engineer to replace the meter or fit an aerial. Time frames for engineer visits do vary but the agent can confirm the latest ETA with you directly. 

 

Your guiding light(bulb)
K
Rank
Long story short, had the original smart meters fitted but after a month they stopped communicating and didn't send readings back and I complained, was told to manually submit readings.
Got another call to have smart meters fitted told the guy I already had them and didn't work, he then says "but these are 2nd generation and I will guarantee they will work and they are free fitting so you cant lose"
Had them fitted by the same engineer who fitted the first ones who thought it strange.
Guess what..... they don't communicate and I am back to submitting my readings manually.
I complained and was told they take time to adjust and send information back never happened.
I think the last time I got any communication from OVO was they were going to take them out and put old style meters back in... Which has never happened..
So as I work away alot I don't always get the right day to submit my readings so get estimates and have since been told to increase my monthly payment by £30.
What is going to happen to the smart meters I have, will they be replaced again?
Eva_OVO
Rank
Userlevel 6
It's strange that we suggested getting a SMETS2 meter installed, @KevinT. Take a look at Nancy's best answer for more information about this and what we need to do.
My friend told me how electricity is measured and I was like Watt!
K
Rank
It is all a bit strange after not communicating for approx two years I have just checked my meter readings and a reading is being sent everyday, although at the top of the readings page it says next meter reading due on the 18th.
It would be good customer service to tell people that something that didn't work now does, as like I said in my original post the last I heard they were going to be removed but now they work... But for how long??
Nancy_OVO
Userlevel 6
Hi @KevinT - that really is quite strange. Unfortunately it's hard to give you any assurance on this without looking into your account. If you want anything checking over, I'd recommend calling the team on 0330 303 5063 and they'll be able to offer further advice.
Your guiding light(bulb)
K
Rank
I think I will have to call at some point as the readings stop on the 2nd of May. So it looks like the smart meters have done a month and stopped.
Be interesting to see how my next bill is calculated.
M
Rank
i would like to complain I had a smart metre fitted end of March to make things easier now I’m been told it’s not sending readings I sent an email for someone to come and look at it but have not had any response yet I really need to sort this out as i would also like to calculate any refund please respond promtly
P
Rank
Hi all, I've had a smart meter installed on 24th April. It's not been taking readings on gas and electricity together since. First it was sending electirc readings but not gas, and now sending gas but not electric.
The My OVO app doesn't allow me to put readings in cos it says I have a smart meters.
Are they ever going to work properly and how do I submit readings if My OVO won't let me.
Thanks for any advice in advance.
R
Rank
my smart meter stopped sending meter readings to ovo on the 14th may.
the home display has also stopped displaying anything.
says it is waiting for info from meter.
what can I do?
emailed details and photo to ovo.
Eva_OVO
Rank
Userlevel 6
i would like to complain I had a smart metre fitted end of March to make things easier now I’m been told it’s not sending readings I sent an email for someone to come and look at it but have not had any response yet I really need to sort this out as i would also like to calculate any refund please respond promtly


Sorry to hear this, @Mac. Take a look at Nancy's best answer for more help with this.

Hi all, I've had a smart meter installed on 24th April. It's not been taking readings on gas and electricity together since. First it was sending electirc readings but not gas, and now sending gas but not electric.
The My OVO app doesn't allow me to put readings in cos it says I have a smart meters.
Are they ever going to work properly and how do I submit readings if My OVO won't let me.
Thanks for any advice in advance.

It sounds like your meter isn't communicating with us. @pravp12, we'll need to do a smart meter health check to determine the issue. Take a look at Nancy's best answer for more info.

my smart meter stopped sending meter readings to ovo on the 14th may.
the home display has also stopped displaying anything.
says it is waiting for info from meter.
what can I do?
emailed details and photo to ovo.

If you've spoken to the team about this, then they should get back to you within 48 hours about this!
My friend told me how electricity is measured and I was like Watt!
H
Rank

Have OVO got an issue with reading smart meters , mine is down again.

Last time was 2 half months, been up for month and now down again.

how can you track your usage with no information on the APP.

Eva_OVO
Rank
Userlevel 6

It sounds like there’s intermittent communication with us and the meter, @Hongkongandy. The team will need to do a few checks to determine the issue and we can then look at a fix to resolve this. You can get in touch through Facebook or Twitter or webchat via the Help Centre.

My friend told me how electricity is measured and I was like Watt!
M
Rank

Hello,

 

I raised an issue about my smart electric meter not communicating with the ihd and not sending any readings.

The issue was raised in July 2019, 7 months ago and there is still no resolution. After a few to and fro conversations with a customer service representative, it was determined that the electric meter was faulty and would have to be replaced.

May i know how long will I have to wait for to get a fix. I would have thought 7 months is a long time to wait for a resolution.

Regards,

Anshul

 

 

Eva_OVO
Rank
Userlevel 6

It sounds like you were added to our engineer revisit list, @mchi8av2, so an engineer would contact you as soon as an appointment becomes available.

As you’ve been waiting 7 months, it’s safe to say this needs to be chased up. Send us a message on Facebook, Twitter or webchat via the Help Centre.

My friend told me how electricity is measured and I was like Watt!
N
Rank
Userlevel 1

My electric meter (the new type) was installed in March 2019 and hasn't worked since March 21st 2019. At first I was as told it takes time to start sending readings (even though it had done so for a week and the gas meter is working fine). Then I was told they would add me to their engineer list. Having waited 6 months I was then told it was a known problem and to wait.

This was the reply I got in September.

Thank you for taking the time to email us today, the issues surrounding your meter are quite common with the new version of the Smart meters, and we are working to resolve them as soon as possible, but unfortunately there isn't currently a timeframe for this.

I’ve messaged you today via Facebook to ‘chase’ why I’ve not heard from you in 4 months and why it’s still not fixed.

Noel.

N
Rank
Userlevel 1

Update: I got a response to my Facebook message.

Thanks for the details, Noel. I'm afraid there is no time frame I can offer, I am really sorry this is taking so long, you're still on the revisit list, as soon as an appointment is available we'll be in touch. Thanks for your patience, Amy

I’m thinking of having a birthday party for my ‘dump’ Electric meter on March 22nd this year. The least I can do.
 

Noel

N
Rank
Userlevel 1

Another Update: Apparently they know what the problem is, they just don’t know when an engineer will be available to fix it ! I would ask the question why they don’t have a schedule for engineers being in the area, but I guess they’re not measured on fixing meters just installing them.

Transparent
Rank
Userlevel 7
Badge +2

Hi @NoelR It’s tricky for us on the Forum to respond in much detail without knowing where you are located. Could you please complete your Forum Profile?

I had SMETS2 meters installed on 11th March 2019 and had several bouts of non-communication and two meter exchanges. I wasn’t concerned about this, and ended up having useful discussions with OVO’s internal SMETS2 technical staff.

They used my site for test-code updates, with my agreement. These mostly worked. But when one fails it requires an on-site visit to resolve the issue again.

Even when there’s a known problem and a code-fix is devised, there’s still a lot of work which goes on before the fix gets propagated to customer sites. Remember that the meter manufacturers are also involved and they can coordinate between different Energy Suppliers who are working on similar problems.

Ideally the code-fixes should be distributed to the meters by the manufacturer. This achieves uniformity across the installed base.

 

Save energy... recycle electrons!
N
Rank
Userlevel 2

After 6 months of working perfectly my SMETS2 meter stopped sending readings on the 31st Jan, after a meter health check(Just answering lots of questions) I am told OVO will monitor it for 3 months as it might start working again! I get the feeling I have just been fobbed off.

Transparent
Rank
Userlevel 7
Badge +2

Hi @Neilupnorth Does your Communications Hub look like this?

What colour are the 2 led indicators and what patterns are they flashing?

Save energy... recycle electrons!
N
Rank
Userlevel 2

Hi

Both leds flash green at the same time every 5 seconds.

Thanks,

Neil

Transparent
Rank
Userlevel 7
Badge +2

Hmm… so it thinks all is OK and that it has communication with the Wide Area Network operated by Arqiva (left indicator, green, slow-flash).

Did OVO ask you that question?

You could message the team on webchat via the Help Centre.

You can then ask a more technical question such as

  •  Are you receiving acknowledgements from my Comms Hub in response to Retrieve Import Daily Log commands?
  • Am I in a location where Arqiva have lost communication with their masts?
  • Are you able to do a Comms Hub Status Update?
Save energy... recycle electrons!
N
Rank
Userlevel 2

Hi @Transparent  Yes OVO asked about the LED colour and frequency.  Thanks, I’ll try to get a more technical response.

I
Rank

I switched to OVO last year, making the first payment in October 2019. OVO used my smart meters (fitted by previous supplier) for the reading in November 2019(appears as ‘smart read’ in the meter reading history). After that I ignored the reminders to send readings. I now see that there were no readings taken in Dec 2019 and Jan 2020 and an estimated reading has been used for Feb 2020.

Why?

Nancy_OVO
Userlevel 6

Hi @IaninYork,

I’ve moved your post over here. Sounds like you might have the issue mentioned in the first post. Check out my ‘best answer’ for help with this.

Cheers

Your guiding light(bulb)

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