Skip to main content
Question

Switching to OVO With an Existing EV Tariff

C
Carbon Cutter*

Is there any way I can move forward with a switch without reverting to expensive single rate tariff first?

I’m with another supplier on their EV tariff. When I try to switch to ovo, the ovo website recognizes my current supply as a “Smart Meter - 2 Rate Multi Rate” and says sorry, we can’t quote you right now (I think this 2 rate is my EV off peak pricing, it’s definitely not economy 7 which is what that name sounds like to me!).

I tried my next door neighbours address (regular smart meter) and it’ll happily quote me so the problem is the 2 rate thing. I tried phoning ovo customer support a couple of times but they say the same as the website - we can’t switch you currently.

I can revert to a regular single rate tariff with my current supplier, and although I’ll start paying more to charge my EV immediately, it’ll take a month to update the MPAS database to change my supply type back to regular smart meter. That’ll cost me around £60 extra for the month due to charging at peak rates, assuming everything goes on time.

My current supplier swears up and down that ovo should be able to switch me directly from my current tariff, they are adamant that I do not need to revert to a single rate tariff and that customers switch all the time and it’s against the energy supply rules to block my switch. I don’t think I’m being blocked as such, it’s just that the ovo computer setup doesn’t seem to have a rule for my case. As I say I’ve spoken to ovo a couple of times on the phone but no luck as yet.

Is there any way I can move forward with a switch without reverting to expensive single rate tariff first?

11 replies

Blastoise186
Plan Zero Hero
Forum|alt.badge.img+1
  • Blastoise186Plan Zero Hero
  • Plan Zero Hero
  • 7892 replies
  • April 4, 2025

Hi ​@craig1234 ,

Are you able to tell us who the supplier is by any chance?

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!
Firedog
Plan Zero Hero
Forum|alt.badge.img
  • FiredogPlan Zero Hero
  • Plan Zero Hero
  • 2037 replies
  • April 4, 2025

I’m not certain, but it’s not unlikely that the ‘2 Rate Multi Rate’ is deduced from your MPAN, in particular the MTC (the middle box in the top line). There may be a ‘stop list’ of unconventional MTCs that OVO isn’t able to take on if their billing platform can’t deal with them. Knowing that doesn’t get you any further forward, of course, but I’ll happily see if I can track yours down. I’d need to know who the DNO is as well (the two digits in the bottom left box of the MPAN panel) to be able to do that. 

 

Noel | I have no official status; I'm just a volunteer who comes here to help other customers. My gear: Aclara SGM 1416-B Electricity-only E7 meter; Chameleon IHD3-PPMID-AAA | It may look as if I know what I’m talking about, but don’t let that fool you. |
Abby_OVO
Community Manager
  • Abby_OVO
  • Community Manager
  • 1091 replies
  • April 4, 2025

Hey ​@craig1234 

 

Sorry to hear about this.

 

It sounds like the MPAN might have the profile class registered incorrectly, it sounds like it may need updated from profile class 2, to 1.

 

Your current supplier should be able to get this updated, and we should then be able to offer you a single rate quote.

 

Would you be able to share a photo of your meter if possible?

 

We should still be able to take you on as it stands with the current registers and then fix it ourselves so we can then get you on the contract you’re looking for, but you would need to join on a dual rate plan first.

 

Once an account goes live, we’d be able to swap you’re tariff over very quickly.

Currently Playing: She's Electric
C
Carbon Cutter*
  • craig1234
  • Author
  • Carbon Cutter*
  • 3 replies
  • April 4, 2025
Blastoise186 wrote:

Hi ​@craig1234 ,

Are you able to tell us who the supplier is by any chance?

It’s utilities warehouse

 

Firedog wrote:

I’m not certain, but it’s not unlikely that the ‘2 Rate Multi Rate’ is deduced from your MPAN, in particular the MTC (the middle box in the top line). There may be a ‘stop list’ of unconventional MTCs that OVO isn’t able to take on if their billing platform can’t deal with them. Knowing that doesn’t get you any further forward, of course, but I’ll happily see if I can track yours down. I’d need to know who the DNO is as well (the two digits in the bottom left box of the MPAN panel) to be able to do that. 

 

Ahh very interesting! DNO is SP Energy Networks - it shows as 18 on my MPAN. The MTC is 827 since i switched to the EV tariff with utilities warehouse, back on the old single rate non-EV tariff it used to be 801.

 

Abby_OVO wrote:

 

It sounds like the MPAN might have the profile class registered incorrectly, it sounds like it may need updated from profile class 2, to 1.

 

Yeah the profile class is showing as 01 currently

 

Abby_OVO wrote:

 

We should still be able to take you on as it stands with the current registers and then fix it ourselves so we can then get you on the contract you’re looking for, but you would need to join on

 

If that were possible, that would be perfect, i’m fine to switch tariffs once joined and understand this can take a few days but that would be far better than what i can do today (wait a whole month!)

 

 

Firedog
Plan Zero Hero
Forum|alt.badge.img
  • FiredogPlan Zero Hero
  • Plan Zero Hero
  • 2037 replies
  • April 5, 2025

  

craig1234 wrote:

It’s utilities warehouse
DNO is SP Energy Networks - it shows as 18
The MTC is 827 
… the profile class is showing as 01 currently

 

Well, I learnt something while ploughing through the enormous Elexon database of supply configurations. I didn’t know that a Profile Class 01 supply could be configured with peak and offpeak times. 

I’m not sure I got it right, and I had to do a lot of guesswork, but I think your current MTC 827 arrangement is:

DNO ID SPOW (Scottish Power PLC)
Supplier ID UTAL (Utility Assets Ltd)
SSC 777 (Standard Settlement Configuration)
TPR 492/516 (Time Pattern Regime - offpeak 00:00-05:00)

… partly because this looks like a fairly common EV arrangement. 

If this is anything like right, then like ​@Abby_OVO I don’t see any reason why OVO couldn’t adopt this supply. MTC 827 covers all sorts of weird tariff types, some of them allowing long offpeak periods at weekends. That may be why Computer says No at first glance, but it should be possible to bypass that particular hurdle if you are indeed on SSC 777.  You would probably have to start on the Standard Variable Tariff (‘Simpler Energy’), but there could well be fixed-rate plans that appeal. I hope the 7p/kWh price for Charge Anytime would make the switch worth it, assuming you’ve done your homework.

Note too that OVO have recently introduced a ceiling for the amount of rebate you can get on Charge Anytime. 
 

 

Noel | I have no official status; I'm just a volunteer who comes here to help other customers. My gear: Aclara SGM 1416-B Electricity-only E7 meter; Chameleon IHD3-PPMID-AAA | It may look as if I know what I’m talking about, but don’t let that fool you. |
Ben_OVO
1 person likes this
  • Ben_OVO
    Ben_OVO
C
Carbon Cutter*
  • craig1234
  • Author
  • Carbon Cutter*
  • 3 replies
  • April 7, 2025
Firedog wrote:

I’m not sure I got it right, and I had to do a lot of guesswork, but I think your current MTC 827 arrangement is:

DNO ID SPOW (Scottish Power PLC)
Supplier ID UTAL (Utility Assets Ltd)
SSC 777 (Standard Settlement Configuration)
TPR 492/516 (Time Pattern Regime - offpeak 00:00-05:00)

… partly because this looks like a fairly common EV arrangement. 

 

If this is anything like right, then like ​@Abby_OVO I don’t see any reason why OVO couldn’t adopt this supply.

I can’t say anything about the codes on the left hand side of that list but the stuff in the brackets on the right hand side of your list all looks like i’d expect. Nothing screams “wrong” to me. Thanks for taking the time to compile that list.

 

Is this something i can move forward with ​@Abby_OVO  ? And if so - how would i go about that?

 

Ben_OVO
Community Moderator
  • Ben_OVO
  • Community Moderator
  • 182 replies
  • April 7, 2025

​@craig1234 Ben here, I work alongside ​@Abby_OVO as a Forum Moderator.

 

I’m going to speak to someone in our Tariffs team to see if I can get some answers for you, I’ll let you know once I’ve heard back!

Powered by the Sun
C
1 person likes this
  • C
    craig1234
Ben_OVO
Community Moderator
  • Ben_OVO
  • Community Moderator
  • 182 replies
  • April 7, 2025

​@craig1234 I’m going to send you a private message now, get back to me when you can 😁

Powered by the Sun
Ben_OVO
Community Moderator
  • Ben_OVO
  • Community Moderator
  • 182 replies
  • April 7, 2025

Hi again ​@craig1234,

 

I’ve been advised the following: 

 

That meter type has been updated to a standard meter and it's not throwing up any issues on the Q&S site. 

 

If you try getting a quote online now it should hopefully work! If you could have a go and let me know that would be great.

 

Cheers!

Powered by the Sun
C
Carbon Cutter*
  • craig1234
  • Author
  • Carbon Cutter*
  • 3 replies
  • April 7, 2025

It works! Thank you ​@Firedog ​@Abby_OVO ​@Ben_OVO 

Firedog
Ben_OVO
2 people like this
  • Firedog
    Firedog
  • Ben_OVO
    Ben_OVO
Ben_OVO
Community Moderator
  • Ben_OVO
  • Community Moderator
  • 182 replies
  • April 8, 2025

​@craig1234 fantastic news! Glad to hear it 😁 

Powered by the Sun

Reply


Terms & ConditionsCookie settings

Cookie policy

We use cookies to enhance and personalize your experience. If you accept you agree to our full cookie policy. Learn more about our cookies.

 
Cookie settings