Upgraded smart meter not working correctly

Thanks ​@bpking, please do keep us updated, and feel free to ask any further questions should they arise.

Fingers crossed there’s no issue, and this is just a visual discrepancy on the app/online ‘Usage’ graphs, which is normal following a smart meter installation. When you’re next billed, compare the bill against the bill you had for the same period - hopefully there shouldn’t be a huge difference.

Good afternoon

Just an update following the incredible amount of information provided by everyone on here. It’s all very much appreciated! A representative of Ovo Energy has provided a written confirmation that there is no error in the smart meter readings being provided to Ovo and it does appear that the rates are switching according to the correct timings.

As per your suggestions, I will compare the amount of electricity used in January 2026 to that of January in 2025 and 2024 and, if any large discrepancy exists, will contact Ovo Energy to discuss this further.

Thank you again for your help!

Morning ​@bpking,

I’m glad to hear that everything is as it should be. If there does turn out to be any sort of issue, or if you have any further questions at all, please do get back in touch on here. We’re always happy to help!

Cheers!

Just a word of caution here: it may well be that the tariff rates are switching when they’re supposed to (i.e. at the times given in your plan, 00:30-07:30), although these times will be delayed by the Randomized Offset (RO) as I explained above. However, there is still the question of whether the meter is powering your heating equipment at the same times. You will appreciate that if your storage heaters and immersion heater are being switched on at midnight (+ RO) but the tariff price doesn’t come down to the offpeak rate until 00:30 (+ RO), you could be being charged for 30 minutes’-worth of energy consumed by this equipment at peak rates. 

We have seen repeatedly that in very few cases does the OVO agent check both timetables to confirm that they are properly aligned. That’s why I suggested you should do your own investigation to see the precise time the tariff changes and the switched circuit is energized, and to find out what your RO is*. 

I’d also point out (again?) that the charts and tables on the Usage pages of the account website are of no use for checking the accuracy of billing on a multi-rate system (e.g. Economy 7). This is because billing is based solely on meter readings and takes no account of the half-hourly usage data. While you might expect the whole of the usage in the period 00:30-01:00 to be billed at the offpeak rate, in fact only part of it will, with the rest billed at the much more expensive peak rate. I don’t know if this slightly complicated graphic will make this any clearer:
  

*   If you know what your RO is, you can take advantage, say, of the minutes after 07:30 (08:30 during British Summertime) to use other power-hungry appliances at offpeak rates, e.g. an electric shower or tumble dryer.