Skip to main content
R
Rank 2
ruralCTsupply
Rank 2
February 20, 2023
Solved

What smart meter options do OVO offer for polyphase CT metered supplies rated at 200A per phase?

  • February 20, 2023
  • 36 replies
  • 2295 views

Hi,

I have looked at this these threads in the past and always found them detailed and informative - but this is the first time i have put my head above the parapet to ask a question, so apologies in advance if this has been well covered previously. 

*

I live in south of the UK in a rural location and my property has a split (2) phase electricity supply rated at 200A per phase and is currently metered by a Elster A1140 CT meter.  

The meter is modern but operates in single tariff “dumb” mode so requires periodic manual meter readings to be taken.

I am keen to access a wider range of modern electricity tariffs but getting a meter that can facilitate this seems a bit of a challenge.  I have been told that SMETS2 meters (even polyphase ones) seem to only go to 100A per phase so they aren’t an option.  

Most Domestic Electricty supply companies I discuss this with are unable to offer any other options.  Some Business Electricity Suppliers have indicated that our set up is more common on the Commercial side of things and an AMR meeting solution might be appropriate but the Domestic suppliers I speak to seem unable to help with this - even if AMR meters are offered by the Business side of their operations.

*

What meter solutions could Ovo offer in this context?  Can you offer “smart” (not necessarily SMETS2) meters for existing CT metered polyphase supplies rated at 200A per phase that would provide access to wider range of tariffs than single rate variable tariff?

*

Motivation for all of this is since moving in a few year back i have replaced the old oil based heating system with a ground source heat pump, and added a PV solar array too.  Having electrified much of our energy usage I am keen have access to more useful and efficient electricity tariffs and to be able to easily sell excess power from the PV array back to the grid. 

*

Our annual power consumption approx 40,000 kWh per year (largely driven by ground source heat pump system). 

 

Best answer by Emmanuelle_OVO

Updated on 13/03/25 by Ben_OVO:

 

Hey,

 

I got an update from one of our smart meter experts: 

There isn't a Smart solution for CT meters.. it doesn't exist... they must have Automatic Meter Read (AMR). There is confusion about what 'types' of AMR, but all AMR meters are configurable to record export.. (they're technically a Half Hourly meter that's programmed to be read Non Half Hourly) - so they can record the 4 quadrants of energy and present them (import, export, import lag and export lag).

 

Do we support that, I highly doubt it, as we don't support AMR itself very well. All suppliers are required to support it for their domestic CT customers, the licence states that very clearly, it's part of the Smart roll out obligation, that any domestic customer with a CT supply must have a AMR capable meter by a set date and report that to Ofgem.

 

But it must be CAPABLE to providing remote readings (AMR means Automated Meter Reading) but it depends on the communications solution in place.. as sometimes it's not possible to get reads remotely.. this is causing confusion with the RCAMR an RCAMY..

 

*NC stands for Non configurable Remotely (of course!!) where as RC stands for Remotely configurable.. can be done by comms signal.. doesn't need a site visit*

 

The RCAMR and RCAMY bit relates to if they can be remotely enabled or not, to provide reads, but NONE of the descriptions means they are communicating, just that they are all capable of doing so, but need to be connected to a communication solution, be that a telephone line or cellular solution whereas Smart should always communicate..

 

AMR meters are only really one way, they send reads, that's it, nothing else that smart does.

36 replies

Show previous replies
Blastoise186
Super User
Blastoise186Super User
Super User
February 7, 2024

Howdy @ruralCTsupply ,

If memory serves, OVO does have an arrangement in place to support AMR Meters. It is also the only way that OVO can support Polyphase CT Supplies - attempts were made to do it with SMETS2 but it’s a minefield and development efforts for it were abandoned.

I think you’d be able to make this work. HOWEVER, please bear with me - I’m gonna pull out my joker card and send this thread backstage. Back soon!

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!
R
Rank 2
ruralCTsupplyAuthor
Rank 2
February 7, 2024

thanks, from what I have seen on this forum (and limited experience discussing with Octopus)  it looks like matching up AMR produced Half Hourly data provision with the sort of systems used by energy companies to provide access to Time (or Type) of Use tariffs is not possible (sounds like the software data plumbing is too challenging from a system dev pov).  However if OVO could provide an AMR CT meter with an export and import register (or adjust the configuration of the existing in situ AMR CT meter) that would ultimately allow me to participate in an export tariff that would be quite appealing - even if it required manual rather than automated meter reading submissions.

Emmanuelle_OVO
Retired Moderator
Emmanuelle_OVOSolved
Retired Moderator
February 7, 2024

Updated on 13/03/25 by Ben_OVO:

 

Hey,

 

I got an update from one of our smart meter experts: 

There isn't a Smart solution for CT meters.. it doesn't exist... they must have Automatic Meter Read (AMR). There is confusion about what 'types' of AMR, but all AMR meters are configurable to record export.. (they're technically a Half Hourly meter that's programmed to be read Non Half Hourly) - so they can record the 4 quadrants of energy and present them (import, export, import lag and export lag).

 

Do we support that, I highly doubt it, as we don't support AMR itself very well. All suppliers are required to support it for their domestic CT customers, the licence states that very clearly, it's part of the Smart roll out obligation, that any domestic customer with a CT supply must have a AMR capable meter by a set date and report that to Ofgem.

 

But it must be CAPABLE to providing remote readings (AMR means Automated Meter Reading) but it depends on the communications solution in place.. as sometimes it's not possible to get reads remotely.. this is causing confusion with the RCAMR an RCAMY..

 

*NC stands for Non configurable Remotely (of course!!) where as RC stands for Remotely configurable.. can be done by comms signal.. doesn't need a site visit*

 

The RCAMR and RCAMY bit relates to if they can be remotely enabled or not, to provide reads, but NONE of the descriptions means they are communicating, just that they are all capable of doing so, but need to be connected to a communication solution, be that a telephone line or cellular solution whereas Smart should always communicate..

 

AMR meters are only really one way, they send reads, that's it, nothing else that smart does.

Renewable Energy? Big Fan.
R
Rank 2
ruralCTsupplyAuthor
Rank 2
February 8, 2024

thanks Emmanuelle, that is very helpful and one of the clearer and more informative summaries of the situation with AMR (and RCAMR and RCAMY).  

I totally appreciate that (for numerous reasons) AMR is effectively only one way and not as sophisticated as SMETS protocol in a SMART meter so can do much less.  I guess this might change in the future but it seems like a low likelihood at the moment.

QUESTION FOR OVO IS … working on the basis that my current AMR CT meter already operates in “dumb” mode, with zero automatic send communication to supplier, where the Import registry that monitors imported power is periodically read manually (a meter engineer usually reads it a once or twice a year and I submit monthly readings too) could OVO support a situation where the AMR CT meter had an Import and Export registry enabled so Import and Export readings could be submitted on a similar periodic manual basis and if so would this mean I could participate in OVO’s export tariff?

 

As an aside, on the automated communication issue; while my meter is somewhat remote with only a little 4G mobile signal there is a enough communication signal at the location to support a SMETS2 meter and allow it to communicate normally (there is also v good broadband) so the addition of a communications module to the current AMR CT meter to allow automates send communication is a realistic possibility too.

R
Rank 2
ruralCTsupplyAuthor
Rank 2
October 11, 2025

I have an update on this.

After much back and forth I had a new CT/AMR meter installed this year for my 2phase 200A per phase home supply.  The new meter provides half hourly data to my supplier for input and export and has meant that I have been able to sign up for full range of domestic Time Of Use (TOU) electricity tariffs.

It took a lot of back and forth with my supplier and getting the energy ombudsman involved to help push things along but the solution I ended up with was to appoint a 3rd part Meter Operator (MOp) for my supply (not my supplier) who were very happy and able to replace my old meter with a new one that provides HH usage data wirelessly to my supplier.

It took a bit more time for my supplier to sort out the data plumbing on their side to be able to accept and and process the usage data but they put in the effort and got all the data flowing in the right way so I now have full TOU tariff access.

Because I have 200A per phase my meter is not a SMETS2 smart meter (which only goes to 100A per phase) but that hasn't prevented access to the TOU tariffs for import and export.

Access to TOU tariffs compliments the solar pv array, batteries and ground source heat pump systems very well and has been the final piece of the jigsaw in terms of improving and optimising energy usage and cost for my home.

 

    Abby_OVO
    Community Manager
    Abby_OVO
    Community Manager
    October 13, 2025

    Hey ​@ruralCTsupply 

     

    Glad to hear yo managed to get there in the end! Thank you for popping back with that update.

     

    Sounds like quite the lengthy journey but I’m glad to see it’s worked out.😊

    Currently Playing: She's Electric
    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