Switched supplier: Economy 7 smart meter not sending reads and IHD needs re-configuring?

Hey @MikeMilf,

I just had a similar query from another Community Member:

Based on the research I’ve done, I imagine that after the switch your IHD has reverted back to assigning ‘high’ or ‘low’ usage colors based on average consumption. After a while, your IHD will learn your habits and adjust everything on your energy use. 

However, as for the consumption issues with the meter itself, I’d advise performing a ‘load test’ to see if your peak/off peak are clocking when they should: 

How do I tell my day and night readings apart?

If you’re unsure which reading is which sometimes the readings will be labelled - high and low or day and night. If not you might be able to check the current reading against your reading history on the ‘Meter Readings’ page of your online account.

If you can’t work it out using these methods the next step is to carry out a Load Test​. This involves taking two sets of readings at midday and during the afternoon. Only one reading should change between these times which will be your daytime register. 

Erm with the greatest of respect thats exactly what Ive already done and mentioned in my previous post

I had everything else in my flat switched off or on standby. I then turned on my immersion heater on for 3 hours at a time that should be off peak rate (2pm to 5pm) and went out so nothing else was being used. The offpeak light in my immersion cupboard came on as it should so my flat certainly thought it was in an off peak time,

Having done this twice now, on separate days, when I check my meter readings it is the  peak, not off peak readings that have jumped.

Ive been told I have to wait six weeks, but im seeing a problem develop here and would sooner nip it in the bud

Wow Jessica that is an incredibly useful response.

Whilst a speedy resolution doesnt look like likely, it certainly helps  that Im not barking up the wrong tree.

My overall usage is currently pretty low, but there is a definite spike in peak readings on days where Ive done the load test (which sounds identical to how you do it). I will do some more, only a little more scientifically with dates/times as you suggest. Incidentally does your IHD instantly go red as well?

Because my summer usage is low this isnt going to cripple me, but I must get this sorted before my offpeak night storage heaters start becoming necessary.

Finally, may I enquire how receptive CS were to realising there might be a problem? I only ask because whilst I was with SEB I had to endure a billing problem which only got resolved via the formal complaints procedure (I won).

Also did you contact them directly by phone first or did you have to endure a chatbot or webform first?

Anyways, sincerest thanks again for relaying such useful info. Lets hope we both get this sorted. At least the forum team know there is a problem that others may run into.

This is really interesting, so thanks @JessicaRose  for unravelling this mystery. I should have spotted the fault when @MikeMilf posted his meter configuration.

I discovered earlier that DCC insists on treating the first tier (in Mike’s case, that would be Register 0 labelled Tier 1) as the peak register - it would naturally be the only register for a single-rate supply. So I was quite wrong in assuming that your (identical?) configurations were working properly since the peak/off-peak TPR settings were right. But if DCC is pushing register readings the wrong way round, this will of course affect billing and it looks like there will be a real mess to clear up for all those E10 customers recently migrated to OVO. 

The aspersions that have been heaped on your ‘misbehaving’ IHDs seem to have been misplaced: the red lights worked to alert you to an apparent fault, and they were reporting peak/off-peak usage correctly, as far as I can tell from Jessica’s report.

It would be helpful to know what make/models of meter and IHD are involved here, in case the fault is confined to particular types of meter. 

We’ve all learnt something valuable today 🙂

Yes there are some very helpful people on these forums. When I was with SEB I had hell of a job getting them to admit I was stuck on an obsolete, overpriced tariff. (Standard Superdeal…..sounds so normal doesnt it?) A very helpful guy on the Martin Lews forums who works in the electricity industry helped me draft a complaint letter using all the correct technical niceities which resulted them eventually caving in.

Anyway……

My SMETS2 meter has “WNC” on the top left of the bit with flashing lights, and “Aclara” to the left of the readings window.

My little black IHD only has “GEO” stamped into the rear of the plastic case. No other branding that I can see

Hope this helps

Mike

My smart meter is an Aclara SGM1416-B and IHD is a Chameleon IHD3.

I tired calling up my meter c config using the link in an earlier comment but it just times out and I can't retrieve anything.

Surely this was caused by SSE / OVO pushing out a faulty config file when the meter was initialised during the switch?  I would hope they can just push a new config file with the error corrected, cover all the meters in one go.  I’m not a smart meter technician but I am a computer tech so I have a rough understanding of the config files and ability to push OTA updates, surely that would be the best solution here?

Jessica

You are waaayyyy more savvy with the real nitty gritty of tech than me, however I managed to get that config data ONLY once I realised I had to be logged into my online account at the same time

ie two tabs open

You are probably chuckling at my suggestion, but it was the difference to me. Difference is…..you understand the end product lol

As for the config file, lets hope its something like that which can be corrected without the need for lots and lots of engineer site visits

@MikeMilf , I’ll be honest I hadnt spotted that in the original reply so thanks for pointing that out.  Sadly it change the error that I get (attached).  I’m not going to get too wound up over it but would have been interesting to look at my meter config and confirm that it shows that error.

I’ll be putting my test results in to OVO on Monday so hopefully that will get some action, especially if I can explain the technical side of the issues in a way that they can understand it

Ive just seem Firedog’s post from a little earlier and yes it does seem that my Tier 1 register has been mis-labelled “off peak” if DCC push it as “peak”

Here’s the dumb question…..who are what are DCC? 🤣 Edit….Google is my friend lol

Jessica, best of luck with CS and please do keep me updated. It certainly looks like I will be treading the same path as you