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I've take over new business premises- Can OVO install three phase?

  • July 24, 2025
  • 6 replies
  • 65 views

I have just taken over a new premises for my business, I need to change my meter from single phase to economy 7 as landlord has installed dimplex storage heaters. can you change my meter? will there be a charge for this as have been quoted over £200 from someone else! 

Best answer by Blastoise186

Hi ​@Nunn84 ,

Are you sure it’s Single-Phase to Three-Phase that you actually want? It sounds like you should instead be looking at Single-Rate to Economy 7.

I’m really sorry to tell you this, but OVO unfortunately doesn’t support business premises as they’re a Domestic Supplier only and specifically exclude Non-Domestic supplies. This means OVO wouldn’t be able to help you get this done.

However, the OVO Forum is happy to offer our advice to you for free, just as we’d do for everyone else. The only caveat is that we don’t really know as much about business supplies, so we might not be able to answer absolutely everything but we’ll do what we can.

Please show us photos of the current meter setup. If we can spot a way to salvage this without a Meter Exchange, those photos will tell us. Either way, we can advise further once we’ve seen what you’ve got.

Thanks

6 replies

Blastoise186
Plan Zero Hero
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  • Plan Zero Hero
  • Answer
  • July 24, 2025

Hi ​@Nunn84 ,

Are you sure it’s Single-Phase to Three-Phase that you actually want? It sounds like you should instead be looking at Single-Rate to Economy 7.

I’m really sorry to tell you this, but OVO unfortunately doesn’t support business premises as they’re a Domestic Supplier only and specifically exclude Non-Domestic supplies. This means OVO wouldn’t be able to help you get this done.

However, the OVO Forum is happy to offer our advice to you for free, just as we’d do for everyone else. The only caveat is that we don’t really know as much about business supplies, so we might not be able to answer absolutely everything but we’ll do what we can.

Please show us photos of the current meter setup. If we can spot a way to salvage this without a Meter Exchange, those photos will tell us. Either way, we can advise further once we’ve seen what you’ve got.

Thanks


  • Author
  • Carbon Cutter*
  • July 24, 2025

I’m not entirely sure what I need because I’m not very technical it was British Gas who told me what I needed to change to. It’s a single phase now I will attach a photo. Not sure what I need to ask for or what I need and the person I spoke to didn’t seem too sure either which wasn’t helpful. So it’s single phase, landlord has installed dimplex quantum heaters. Any advice will be greatly received! 

 


Blastoise186
Plan Zero Hero
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  • Plan Zero Hero
  • July 24, 2025

Thank you! This helps a lot.

I think there’s a safety issue here, so please don’t touch the meter or anything near it at this time. I’ll call in ​@Lukepeniket_OVO for a second opinion, but I don’t like the missing tamper seal nor that exposed copper on the fourth terminal meter tail. There’s no charge for having Luke give his thoughts on that - it’s on the house because we care about your safety.

It does look like the meter will need to be swapped for a Five-Terminal Smart Meter as that’s the only way to get proper E7 support - this will also allow those Dimplex Quantum heaters to be controlled by the meter in a way that means they get synchronised with your Off-Peak times, but that would require additional work by a private electrician once the meter swap is done. Dimplex has thought of this and reconfiguration for this purpose is definitely possible with Dimplex Quantum, it just can’t be done by the end user for safety reasons because you have to crack open the unit just like the installer would have done.

Any business supplier should be able to swap the meter over - but you’d need to be on-supply with them first.

If you feel you need an engineer to check the meter safety immediately, please call 105. Otherwise, we’ll get Luke to give his thoughts when he next stops by.

Let me know if you’ve got more questions and I’ll swing by again.


  • Author
  • Carbon Cutter*
  • July 24, 2025

So my understanding is once the new meter is installed my landlords electrician will connect the heaters. 
 

I take over the account on 1st August, it’s currently with British Gas, what do I need to ask for when I call up in terms of what I need it swapped to? I think this is the confusion and why I’m being told I will be charged over £200. 
 

I really do appreciate your help and advice. 


Blastoise186
Plan Zero Hero
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  • Plan Zero Hero
  • July 24, 2025

No worries. 

You'll want to ask for a Five Terminal SMETS2 Smart Meter


  • Author
  • Carbon Cutter*
  • July 25, 2025

Perfect thank you!