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Firedog
FiredogBest Answer
Super User
December 23, 2023

Updated on 23/04/26 by Abby_OVO

 

These LED indicators are on the Communications Hub, bolted on top of your electricity smart meter.

The left LED displays information about the power status and the Wide Area Network. As you’re in the Northern Territory, the WAN signals are picked up by a network of 70 masts operated by Arqiva.

The right LED gives the status of the Home Area Network. This links to your In-Home Display (IHD) and gas meter (if present).

Under normal operating conditions, both LEDs provide a green flash once every 5 seconds. This is called the Slow Frequency.

Which LED is red?

Is it flashing once every 2 seconds (Medium frequency), or faster?

Here are the three possible frequency patterns for a fault. But as you’re in the Northern Territory, they will flash red, not green:

 

 

 

There [is] one red light flashing on my smart meter

 

I can’t see that this was covered by @Transparent’s otherwise excellent answer. Many modern OVO-supplied meters have a little red lamp which you may see flashing.  This is a modern Aclara SMETS2 meter:
  

The green arrow points towards the red lamp 

  
The red lamp flashes at a rate governed by the meter constant shown beside it, here 1000 impulses per kWh. If there is not much power being used, it will flash infrequently. Switch the kettle on to see it flashing about once a second. This is how the meter measures how much energy you’re using: it just counts each Wh passing through it.

If you count the number n of flashes in a minute, the formula connecting the frequency of flashes to the power draw in kW (the load, L) for a meter like this with a meter constant of 1000 is L = 0.06n. 

 

If your meter lights are flashing more frequently than every 5 seconds or are solidly on, we’d advise carrying out a smart meter health check for your meter type below and contacting our Support Team with the results:

 



Hope we can get to the bottom of your smart meter issues so you can enjoy the full benefits of going smart!

 

OVO member but not got a smart meter yet? - Book today!

Interested but not yet an OVO member? - Check out our plans!

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 | It may look as if I know what I’m talking about, but don’t let that fool you. |
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6 replies

Transparent
Rank 20
Transparent
Rank 20
July 29, 2020

Updated on 05/10/26 by Ben_OVO

 

These LED indicators are on the Communications Hub, bolted on top of your electricity smart meter.

 

The left LED displays information about the power status and the Wide Area Network. As you’re in the Northern Territory, the WAN signals are picked up by a network of 70 masts operated by Arqiva.

 

The right LED gives the status of the Home Area Network. This links to your In-Home Display (IHD) and gas meter (if present).

 

Under normal operating conditions, both LEDs provide a green flash once every 5 seconds. This is called the Slow Frequency.

 

Which LED is red?

 

Is it flashing once every 2 seconds (Medium frequency), or faster?

 

Here are the three possible frequency patterns for a fault. But as you’re in the Northern Territory, they will flash red, not green:

 

 

If your meter lights are flashing more frequently than every 5 seconds or are solidly on, we’d advise carrying out a smart meter health check for your meter type below and contacting our Support Team with the results:

 

 

OVO customer but not got a smart meter yet? - Book today

Interested but not yet an OVO customer? - Check out our plans

 

Save energy... recycle electrons!
Newcomer
Christopher Taylor
Newcomer
December 15, 2023

My gas/electric meter has a red flashing light. What does this mean?

Blastoise186
Super User
Blastoise186Super User
Super User
December 15, 2023

Hi @Christopher Taylor ,

Please post photos of it, this helps us know what you’re looking at so we can adapt our advice.

Thanks!

Securing energy by zapping security bugs... For that is The Blastoise Way! Remember, I'm just like you - AI Powered Evil Geniuses aren't Staff!
Emmanuelle_OVO
Retired Moderator
Emmanuelle_OVO
Retired Moderator
December 18, 2023

Hey @Christopher Taylor,

 

The following topics may be helpful:

 

 

Renewable Energy? Big Fan.
Firedog
Super User
FiredogSuper UserBest Answer
Super User
December 23, 2023

Updated on 23/04/26 by Abby_OVO

 

These LED indicators are on the Communications Hub, bolted on top of your electricity smart meter.

The left LED displays information about the power status and the Wide Area Network. As you’re in the Northern Territory, the WAN signals are picked up by a network of 70 masts operated by Arqiva.

The right LED gives the status of the Home Area Network. This links to your In-Home Display (IHD) and gas meter (if present).

Under normal operating conditions, both LEDs provide a green flash once every 5 seconds. This is called the Slow Frequency.

Which LED is red?

Is it flashing once every 2 seconds (Medium frequency), or faster?

Here are the three possible frequency patterns for a fault. But as you’re in the Northern Territory, they will flash red, not green:

 

 

 

There [is] one red light flashing on my smart meter

 

I can’t see that this was covered by @Transparent’s otherwise excellent answer. Many modern OVO-supplied meters have a little red lamp which you may see flashing.  This is a modern Aclara SMETS2 meter:
  

The green arrow points towards the red lamp 

  
The red lamp flashes at a rate governed by the meter constant shown beside it, here 1000 impulses per kWh. If there is not much power being used, it will flash infrequently. Switch the kettle on to see it flashing about once a second. This is how the meter measures how much energy you’re using: it just counts each Wh passing through it.

If you count the number n of flashes in a minute, the formula connecting the frequency of flashes to the power draw in kW (the load, L) for a meter like this with a meter constant of 1000 is L = 0.06n. 

 

If your meter lights are flashing more frequently than every 5 seconds or are solidly on, we’d advise carrying out a smart meter health check for your meter type below and contacting our Support Team with the results:

 



Hope we can get to the bottom of your smart meter issues so you can enjoy the full benefits of going smart!

 

OVO member but not got a smart meter yet? - Book today!

Interested but not yet an OVO member? - Check out our plans!

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 | It may look as if I know what I’m talking about, but don’t let that fool you. |
    Firedog
    Super User
    FiredogSuper User
    Super User
    December 23, 2023

    My gas/electric meter has a red flashing light. What does this mean?

     

    See here:


    I know @Emmanuelle_OVO posted a link to that thread earlier, but there’s a recent addition to it that you may not have seen ...

    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 | It may look as if I know what I’m talking about, but don’t let that fool you. |
      Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement

      OVO Energy Ltd, Floor 5, Crescent, Temple Back, Redcliffe, BS1 6EZ, (Company no. 06890795) registered in England and Wales.

      OVO (S) Gas Limited is registered in England and Wales (Company No. 02716495) at Floor 5, Crescent, Temple Back, Redcliffe, BS1 6EZ.

      OVO (S) Gas Limited is part of OVO Group Ltd