Can I switch to OVO and go from Economy 7 to a single rate meter and tariff?

I am on an Economy 7 plan which I want to change to a single rate one. I already have a smart meter (electricity, no gas supplied). Already paying by Direct Debit so I hoped a relatively simple ask, and have read on this site that it would be a simple case of just summing up night/day units and applying the same rate to both.

After spending an age to be told on Live Chat that I had to call up and then being passed from pillar to post, was told the following:

• needed to pay £385 for a new smart meter
• £0.49/kWh rate would be applied (more than the price cap allows…?)

This rate is considerably more than even the day tariff I’m currently on and I know I don’t need a new meter.

I want this to be as straightforward as possible and don’t want to be battling endlessly on the phone - how can I get this sorted quickly without it being a big headache?

Thanks

Hi @jsmith12 could you post a photo of your current meter? 

Hey @jsmith12,

Sorry for the issues you’ve had,

Unfortunately, we don't currently have the functionality to change Smart Meters from Single Rate to Economy 7, or vice versa. This is something we are looking to make possible in the future and we’ll keep you posted with any further updates here on the Forum!
 

Economy 7 to Single Rate 

Although we're unable to physically change the functionality of meters right now. We can offer an Economy 7 to Single Rate plan! This means you’ll be paying the same rate for each register.

If this is something you’re interested in, please get in touch with our Support Team. They’ll be able to calculate your consumption figures and work out if you’d be financially better off switching from Economy 7 to Single Rate.

Hope this helps.  

The poster already asked that

"so I hoped a relatively simple ask, and have read on this site that it would be a simple case of just summing up night/day units and applying the same rate to both." 

@Emmanuelle_OVO @Tim_OVO do you think some of the customer support team could do with some more training on this?

It wasn't just one customer support person who wasn't aware this was an option which is quite worrying to be honest if people are being told a new meter will cost £385. 

Could you find out who they were so they can get some extra training?

Also the unit rate doesn't look like the correct advice is being given? This is way above the price cap so perhaps again some training is needed

Of course @jsmith12 can phone up again but the root cause of potential issues with the advice being given still remains. 

@jsmith12 vote on this if you don't think OVO has enough capacity in the Support Team

Vote for this to be able to check rates without having to phone up

I have replaced night storage heaters with non-storage electric heaters and now use little electricity at night. As a result I wish to remove the Economy 7 element from my plan and simply use the basic Simpler Energy tariff. A Smart meter was fitted 2 weeks ago. How can I change my Plan? I don’t want to go through the laborious Chatbot route which promises much but delivers nothing.

Hey @Tiresias !

You can indeed do this, but it requires a hack. Please call Support on 0330 303 5063 as they can set the tariff rates to be the same for both registers to simulate a flat rate.

A change like this requires verbal consent.

Thanks. I’ve just done as you suggest and it seems to have gone through very quickly and easily.