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Rank 1
DerekH
Rank 1
September 29, 2017
Solved

Why is my overnight usage shown on my smart meter In Home Display (IHD) so high?

  • September 29, 2017
  • 87 replies
  • 110339 views

My smart meter was installed yesterday at 7.40 this morning my electric usage was 42p & gas usage was 28p. Even taking into account fridge/freezer, broadband, TV’s on standby overnight 42p electric seems high. The gas at 28p is a bigger mystery as no gas was used overnight (heating is off at the moment). Does some of the cost include a daily standing charge? Can anyone shed any light on this please?

Best answer by Tim_OVO

Updated on 24/04/26 by Chris_OVO

 

It’s worth factoring in your daily standing charges when checking the costs showing on your smart meter In Home Display (IHD) in the morning. These charges are usually added to your daily energy costs around midnight each day and will vary depending on the rates on your current plan.

 

The best place to check the standing charges which apply to your current plan is the ‘Plan’ page of your online account or OVO app (download for Android or iOS):
 

Exact appearance may vary

 

You can also view your smart meter usage data here too, by heading to the ‘Usage’ pages. Check out the guide below for more help with this:
 

 

 

Still worried that your overnight usage seems high with the standing charges excluded?  Bear in mind some appliances (like fridge/freezers and TVs on standby) use electricity overnight.

 

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

 

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

87 replies

Show previous replies
Emmanuelle_OVO
Retired Moderator
Emmanuelle_OVO
Retired Moderator
September 28, 2022

Hey @PDK,

 

Sorry for the issues you’re having.

 

If your new smart meter isn’t working and sending us readings, and your previous meter was traditional. Then it is likely that the figures you are comparing are both estimated.

 

It can also take up to 6 weeks for everything to be up and running smoothly. Do you remember if you chose for readings to be sent half hourly, daily or monthly?

 

The best thing to do is get your smart meter up and running. We have a great guide here you might find helpful:

 

 

Have you completed a smart meter health check? This will help us diagnose the communication issues:

 

 

Hope this helps.

Renewable Energy? Big Fan.
S
Newcomer
Sassi2711
Newcomer
October 3, 2022

Three different mornings all before anything happens as just woken up……

Tim_OVO
OVO Staff
Tim_OVOSolved
OVO Forum Legend
October 4, 2022

Updated on 24/04/26 by Chris_OVO

 

It’s worth factoring in your daily standing charges when checking the costs showing on your smart meter In Home Display (IHD) in the morning. These charges are usually added to your daily energy costs around midnight each day and will vary depending on the rates on your current plan.

 

The best place to check the standing charges which apply to your current plan is the ‘Plan’ page of your online account or OVO app (download for Android or iOS):
 

Exact appearance may vary

 

You can also view your smart meter usage data here too, by heading to the ‘Usage’ pages. Check out the guide below for more help with this:
 

 

 

Still worried that your overnight usage seems high with the standing charges excluded?  Bear in mind some appliances (like fridge/freezers and TVs on standby) use electricity overnight.

 

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

 

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

Carbon neutral - we need a community to get there! My green tech: Aclara SGM 1411-B smart meter, Chameleon IHD6
    S
    Newcomer
    Sassi2711
    Newcomer
    October 4, 2022

    Just heard from OVO that incredibly since 1st October they knew of a problem as the home displays had the decimal point in the wrong place……. Incompetence!

      6
      Newcomer
      69etype
      Newcomer
      November 4, 2022

      Why does my IHD show gas usage when everything is off. Yesterday it showed £0.65/hr when everything was off. This continued for more than half an hour. The previous night the history showed gas being used between 3 and 7am but again nothing is switched on. There are no leaks as verified by the gas safe certificate issued last month. OVO tell me they are getting all the readings and everything is okay but I dispute this if the display is telling me a different story. I have completed the smart meter email questionnaire but it can take 47 working days for an answer. Not good enough. Its bad enough paying these rising energy costs but to steal additional funds as well has to be criminal.

      Blastoise186
      Super User
      Blastoise186Super User
      Super User
      November 4, 2022

      Hi @69etype ,

      OVO only uses the meter readings sent to them by the gas meter for billing purposes. Usage data and anything shown on your IHD are not factored into your bills at all.

      It’s also worth noting that the IHD can only refresh gas usage roughly once every 30 minutes, as the gas meter only pings a heartbeat every 30 minutes.

      Could you show us some photos please?

      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!
      6
      Newcomer
      69etype
      Newcomer
      November 4, 2022
      This photo shows usage during the night

       

      Blastoise186
      Super User
      Blastoise186Super User
      Super User
      November 4, 2022

      Those will most likely be snapshots from those periods.

      It’s very, very possible something fired up during the night and was recorded doing so. Let me ask @Jeffus and @juliamc to stop by. They’re more experienced than I am at tracking down the culprits.

      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!
      6
      Newcomer
      69etype
      Newcomer
      November 4, 2022
      This photo shows the IHD and the thermostat/timer. The boiler is off and had been for over an hour but usage is indicated.

       

      juliamc
      Rank 20
      juliamc
      Rank 20
      November 4, 2022

      I don’t have any gas appliances now except the hob, however previously when I switched off the pilot light on our old warm air heating unit I saved a significant amount of gas. It wouldn’t have shown as a single peak of use like that though. How is your hot water heated ? There was an incidence the other day of a system reheating a hot water reservoir in a fancy tap, though again that was throughout the day. 

      Are these usage figures being passed on to the account or could it be just on the IHD (in home display!)?

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