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Updated on 20/06/24 by Shads_OVO

 

Your guide to setting up an account after a home move

 

Just moved home? Welcome to the new pad! :house_with_garden:

 

 

Finding out the current energy supplier

 

So it might not be the first thing on your to-do list when you're packing up and moving into a new place - but before you make a start on the unpacking it’s always best to find out who’s supplying the energy. You might have found out that’s us through the letting agency or previous homeowners. Or you might see a nice ‘Welcome’ letter from OVO waiting for you when you move in. But if you’re not quite sure and want to get a head start on finding out, use this online tool to find out your gas supplier.

 

To find out who supplies your electricity will depend on who is your Distribution Network Operator (DNO). You can locate who your DNO is using this map -

 

And then find out your supplier using the online tool provided by your local DNO below:

 

Western Power

SP Energy Networks

Electricity North West

Northern Power Grid

UK Power Networks

 

 

Taking opening meter readings

 

Before contacting the current energy supplier of your new home, you’ll need to find out the meter reading on the day you moved in. We’d advise making a check of the meters one of the first things on your moving in checklist, that’s right even before getting started on unpacking.

 

Your landlord or the previous homeowner should let you know where to find the meters. As the meter locations can vary wildly from home to home; a cobwebby cupboard under the stairs to a meter box attached to an exterior wall, it’s best to ask if you’re not sure to avoid a game of find-the-meter.

 

Even if you find there’s a smart meter installed it’s always worth taking the reading manually, just in case. Having an accurate reading from the date you took on responsibility avoids the chance you’ll be charged for energy used before you moved in. Even better if you’re able to take a photo of the meter. Need any help taking a reading from your smart meter? Check out this guide to reading an OVO installed smart meter, or this guide to reading an L+G meter (got another smart meter installed? Comment below and we’ll help you figure it out).

 

 

Researching the best plan

 

As you’re not tied to the supplier that supplies the property when you first moved in, it might be worth checking the current plans on offer by all suppliers to help you decide which is the best option for you. 

 

You can check the current plans available with OVO here. As you’ve just moved in you might not have accurate annual consumption figures so it’s worth bearing in mind we’d use the average consumption figures for your type of property when calculating the recommended Direct Debit amount. You can find out the exact annual consumption figures your quote is based on by clicking on each fuel under the ‘Tariff Information Label’. When checking the plans offered by other suppliers, we’d recommend using the same consumption figures to enable you to make a fair comparison of what’s on offer.

 

 

Setting up an OVO account

 

Decided to fix in to an OVO plan or switch to another supplier? Either way we’ll need to set you up an OVO account. 

 

Even if you’re planning a next day switch, setting up an account with OVO can help the switch progress smoothly and be sure you’ll receive an accurate statement covering the time between your move-in and your switch away.

 

If your new home is supplied by OVO, you can call our Support Team on 0330 303 5063, we’re open Monday- Friday 9am to 5pm. Or, if you’d prefer to do it all online you can sign up here

 

Once you put in your new address details the website will recognise we already supply your new home and give you a quote based on the usage figures we have for the property. 

 

 

Managing your account online

 

Once you’ve received that ‘Welcome’ pack, head on over here to log in to your sparkling new OVO online account. The same great online features are also available on the OVO app (download for Android or iOS).

 

First things first, you’ll need to request a password reset email, you can do this by clicking ‘first time logging in’. You should then receive an email to your registered email address (don’t forget to check that pesky junk folder). Click on the link in the email to get a password setup - be quick though the link will expire in 30 minutes.

 

Password set? You’re in.

 

You might want to head on over to the ‘Meter Reading’ menu option first,

 

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This will allow you to check the last reading we received from your smart meter (if you’ve got one) or register the opening meter reading if required.

 

There’s plenty of great actions you can now take yourself online, from checking your payments and usage to reviewing the details of your plan. 

 

Need more help finding your way around? - Check out our great online account tutorial collection.

 

 

Need any extra help?

 

We’re hoping we’ve pretty much covered the basics in terms of getting set-up. Got any more questions on getting to grips with your new account? You’ve come to the best place.

 

Check out this guide on how to use this community to get the help and support you might need, we’re always happy to help, Just sorry we can’t help unpack! :relaxed:

 

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

 

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

 

You need to set up an account with OVO (see the post above for details) then you can switch to whichever supplier you prefer.


I want to enter a fixed price plan but will be moving home in a few months.

I will have OVO in my new home but will I have to pay the exit fee as my fixed plan will be at my current home?

Cheers.


Hi @Ovum , basically yes. When you move home, you take on the current supplier at the new property and then after a sort time, you can switch to whichever supplier you want but it would be a new supply

 


Darn! Thank you for that.


I went through my existing supplier’s “move house” process, but they’ve come back to me with a message along the lines of

“The previous supplier has objected … ... the previous supplier doesn't know about you yet. Your previous supplier probably thinks that you owe them for the energy used by the previous tenants. To resolve this, you'll need to contact them to open a temporary account for the property in your name.”

How do I do that?


Hi @henryjlaw ,

Generally, you must sign up with the existing supplier when moving in before you’re allowed to switch away.

Try https://switch.ovoenergy.com for this. You may be best off doing a fix deal for now as that’ll be the fastest option if a variable rate deal isn’t offered.


Got it; thank you.  Makes sense, I suppose.


Had a look at this.  All I can find to do is set up a new contract, fixed for a year (or more); I don’t really want a contract at all, I just want to switch to a new supplier.  Am I heading off down the wrong track?


Had a look at this.  All I can find to do is set up a new contract, fixed for a year (or more); I don’t really want a contract at all, I just want to switch to a new supplier.  Am I heading off down the wrong track?

Does the Simpler Energy plan appear as an option?

 


I moved into a property supplied by OVO. I want to use a different provider, I spoke with someone on the chat function the day I moved in but now I have an email stating that OVO are objecting to my switch. I understand the previous owner of the property had debts, could this be why they won’t let me switch. And assuming, I’m not responsible for this.

 

Thanks


Hi @namico2410 ,

Whenever you move into a new property, you MUST sign up with the existing electric/gas supplier(s) before you can switch away - this is because otherwise the existing supplier will suspect that someone is trying to evade a debt.

You are not responsible for the debts of a previous customer, but you need to have your own account to take control of the supply. Only then will you be able to switch away without objections being raised provided you keep up to date with the bills in the meantime.

Are you sure you definitely signed up with OVO? If not, head over to https://switch.ovoenergy.com to set things up.


 have very unique problem with OVo, I am trying to contact  the customer service but in vain.  I am receiving letters from OVO in my name  which has  different  account numbers  but   claims that  there is balance to pay. But I have recently moved in to my flat   and landlord  has confirmed to me that OVO doesnt supply energy to my flat. I never opened an account with OVO  because I have an engird account with another supplier to whom I am paying my bill. is OVO trying to scam me ?  although they dont supply energy they want me to pay  in common sense to me it looks like a scam. has anyone else had this or similar 

 can someone please help. if anyone in OVO who has authority  to help me, please let me know, I a, happy to be contacted in email. 

 

thanks,

Rahul. 


When you move into a property, the existing supplier has ‘control’ and you would take up that supply initially before switching away if you prefer. 
You need to check who is registered as supplier and go from there.

 


When you move into a property, the existing supplier has ‘control’ and you would take up that supply initially before switching away if you prefer. 
You need to check who is registered as supplier and go from there.

 


 thanks for your reply BPLightlog, my issue here is I am a tenant of the property  and the landlord says ‘ there is no OVO meter installed at the property. but I am getting letters stating that I owe money to OVO. hoe come a Energy  Supplier send bill to someone who doesnt use their energy at all.. I hope someone in OVO would be part of this community and look into this .. 


Hey @rahul8592 

 

While we may not have fitted the meter at the property, this doesn’t necessarily mean we don’t supply the property now as we wouldn’t need to fit a new meter just to take over supply. 

 

Did you check the postcode on the link from BPLightlog to find who your network operator is? https://www.energynetworks.org/customers/find-my-network-operator 

 

You can then contact your network operator to find out for sure who your supplier currently is, or you can contact our Support Team with the account details you have and they can also double check the details and if we’re the supplier. We don’t have access to accounts here at the Forum but the Support Team can check this for you.

 

Let us know how you get on.


I have moved into a house 2 months which was supplied previously by ovo. When I have phoned (3 times now) to just open an account so I can start paying they are having issues opening an account because there are two MPANs at the address, presumably because it is THTC as I am in highland perthshire and have electric heating. I do have two meters.
I have been passed pillar to post with it and all I want to do is be able to not worry about a mega bill coming my way.
I have received a generic bill today for July but that doesn’t seem to make any reference to being on a multi-rate meter and my heating/hot water is being charged at the same rate as my day to day electric. The other thing is they have grossly over estimated my usage for that month and actually that is closer to the two months I have now been trying to sort this out.
I do not fancy having to phone again and being put on hold to be told the multi rate team will help me and then they don’t help me because of some unknown issue on their side. I have a case number, I have put an official complaint in and heard nothing.
If they don’t have me on the THTC plan then I know exactly what will happen, I will be overlooked when the time comes to get a replacement and suddenly I won’t have any heating and hot water and then the fight will start again. I am sick of Ovo and if they didn’t have me trapped because I have multi meter then I wouldn’t be going near them ever again.
Help!


I moved house a few month ago.ovo supplied my gas at old place and now supply electric at new place. On app I can’t find were to add new account details so I can keep tabs, it comes up with old property details/bills ect


Hi @Paulaarch ,

Please talk to OVO Support about that - they can set this up for you! https://ovoenergy.com/help .


Hey @ajbrant

 

I’m sorry to hear this it must be extremely frustrating. When you said “which was previously supplied by OVO” did you mean that the supply is currently with another company and you’re trying to switch it back or that the supply is currently with us and you’re just trying to create an account. 

 

This unfortunately isn’t something that we’d be able to help with on the Forum as we don’t have access to accounts or to create accounts. The best way to get this resolved is to speak with our Care Team here. It does sound like somethings in the way of the application being processed and the account creation. If you give them a call they’ll be able to give you more information. 


Sorry I wasn't clear. I moved into the property 2nd July and the previous owners were supplied by ovo.

I have contacted the customer care team previously and they aren't very helpful because they can't/won't tell me what the issues is. 


Hey @Paulaarch,

 

@Blastoise186 is spot on! If you speak with our Support Team using that link they’ll “move you in” to your new property and give you the relevant account information that you’ll need to manage things. 

 

Let us know if you get things resolved! 


Hey @ajbrant,

 

Sadly, we can't help with this through our Forum as we can’t access accounts here. You'll need to give them another call and follow up with them, and they should be able to provide you with an update on the progress. 

 

I hope you get things resolved soon, and I'm sorry we couldn't do more for you! 


Hello All,

I am honestly at my wits end in trying to register for an account with OVO. Whenever I try to register, it gives me an error that “Opps there was a problem, please call the number xxx or email customer care” .
 

When I call the customer care ( again tried for almost twenty times), and enter the 8 digit account number which is there on my energy bill, they say that the account number is incorrect and that they cannot find the account. When I try to email them, I get a rebound email that states, this email ID is not linked to any registered account ( Again tried this multiple times) . The online chat feature just keeps sending me the link to register and I am just unable to get any sort of help or connect with a human on the other side.

 

Creating an account should not be this difficult.

I am honestly incredibly fed up. I just want to pay my energy bills. 
 

Any thoughts or suggestions please.


Hi @Gauri0904 ,

Have you tried https://switch.ovoenergy.com by any chance? It sounds like you probably just moved in so you need to set things up there first.


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