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danielbailey106
Rank 1
June 16, 2026
Solved

Would a gas leak outside of house cause spike in usage?

  • June 16, 2026
  • 16 replies
  • 251 views

Hey everyone, I’ve just come home from work to find my smart meter saying I’ve used £19 in gas today. The heating has been off since about April, and I spent about 4 minutes in the shower this morning (so about 8p’s worth of gas!)

Has this happened to anyone else?

    Best answer by Bendog

    Updated on 03/07/26 by Abby_OVO

     

     

     

    This image shows your total gas usage for the month and you said, much earlier, that you use hot water for showering. The image like this one that shows your actual daily usage would have been more helpful.

    However, as woodstok2000 pointed out: ONLY gas that actually goes through your meter is measured and counted towards your usage. A gas leak in the street, before your meter, would not be measured by your meter. A leak between your meter and your boiler (or anything else in your house that uses gas) would be measured and charged for. I assume that someone has fixed the leak and that you now have hot water again. As far as OVO are concerned, your meter recorded gas usage. It may be worth asking if they could treat this as a special case and ask for a discount. I have never known anyone do this but, if you don’t ask, you don’t get! I am also not sure if a household insurance claim would be worth it as, in my experience of any insurance, a claim means a higher premium next year.

     

    Hey ​@danielbailey106,


    I’ve shared some details about who is in charge of each area of the supply chain. If you could share a bit more about your situation, it would really help us give you the best advice to tackle the challenges you’re experiencing.

     

    I hope this helps! 

     

    16 replies

    Show previous replies
    Abby_OVO
    Community Manager
    Abby_OVO
    Community Manager
    June 19, 2026

    Hey ​@danielbailey106 

     

    Bendog made a good point about the screenshot showing the overall, while it still looks odd, it would be helpful to see what it shows just for gas. 

     

    It would also be handy to see what the meter readings are showing for gas and if there’s something there that might point to an accurate, but out of line reading. If you’d be able to share a screenshot of the meter readings that’d be really helpful.

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    Rank 1
    danielbailey106Author
    Rank 1
    June 19, 2026

    There is the gas usage. There was a leak somewhere outside the property, which I was able to provide evidence of. But OVO have refused to help me with the charge, even though I provided the proof that I hadn’t actually used the gas.
     

    Customer service has been really disappointing all round, which is not my usual experience, I have to say. 

    W
    Rank 6
    woodstok2000
    Rank 6
    June 19, 2026

    There is the gas usage. There was a leak somewhere outside the property, which I was able to provide evidence of. But OVO have refused to help me with the charge, even though I provided the proof that I hadn’t actually used the gas.
     

    Customer service has been really disappointing all round, which is not my usual experience, I have to say. 

    If it’s showing up on your usage, surely the leak must have been after the meter, which would mean it’s in the house? When you say there ‘was’ a leak, is it fixed now?

    Did someone leave the hob on?

      B
      Rank 12
      BendogSolved
      Rank 12
      June 20, 2026

      Updated on 03/07/26 by Abby_OVO

       

       

       

      This image shows your total gas usage for the month and you said, much earlier, that you use hot water for showering. The image like this one that shows your actual daily usage would have been more helpful.

      However, as woodstok2000 pointed out: ONLY gas that actually goes through your meter is measured and counted towards your usage. A gas leak in the street, before your meter, would not be measured by your meter. A leak between your meter and your boiler (or anything else in your house that uses gas) would be measured and charged for. I assume that someone has fixed the leak and that you now have hot water again. As far as OVO are concerned, your meter recorded gas usage. It may be worth asking if they could treat this as a special case and ask for a discount. I have never known anyone do this but, if you don’t ask, you don’t get! I am also not sure if a household insurance claim would be worth it as, in my experience of any insurance, a claim means a higher premium next year.

       

      Hey ​@danielbailey106,


      I’ve shared some details about who is in charge of each area of the supply chain. If you could share a bit more about your situation, it would really help us give you the best advice to tackle the challenges you’re experiencing.

       

      I hope this helps! 

       

        Nukecad
        Super User
        NukecadSuper User
        Super User
        June 20, 2026

        No, no smell of gas, but also no hot water! So I’m going to have to phone the out of hours helpline

         There was a leak somewhere outside the property, which I was able to provide evidence of. 

        I have to say that it seems unlikey that you could have a gas leak after the meter but not smell gas.

        “Somewhere outside” also seem vague, how did you provide evidence?

        We would like to help you work out what has happened here.

        I said, Hey - Watts going on.
          Chris_OVO
          Community Manager
          Chris_OVO
          Community Manager
          June 22, 2026

          Hey ​@danielbailey106,


          I’ve shared some details about who is in charge of each area of the supply chain. If you could share a bit more about your situation, it would really help us give you the best advice to tackle the challenges you’re experiencing.

           

          I hope this helps! 

          Renewable energy jokes never get old.
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