Skip to main content
A
Rank 1
appshine
Rank 1
March 18, 2021
Solved

What happens to my current British Gas PAYG smart meter credit if I switch to OVO?

  • March 18, 2021
  • 4 replies
  • 2361 views

I recently moved into a new (rented) property which was supplied by British Gas.  It has a smart meter and was initially set to use PAYG topups.  I want to switch to OVO on a monthly DD.

What will happen to my existing credit on the meters that I have already topped up?

Best answer by Tim_OVO

Updated on 13/08/26 by Abby_OVO

 

In simple terms, British Gas would refund any credit left on your smart prepayment (PAYG) meters after you’ve switched to a new supplier. This is usually refunded within 6 weeks of a switch but you may want to confirm their refund process by contacting them directly.

 

You should be able to request that British Gas change your meter mode from prepayment to ‘credit mode’, so that the meter won’t run out of credit and turn off. However this generally happens without you requesting it as part of the switch. When you’re on supply with OVO we can discuss switching you over to be pay monthly (we can do alter the meter remotely).

You can check out our current fixed plans here.

 

Find out more about the switching process in the guide below.

 

4 replies

Tim_OVO
OVO Staff
Tim_OVOSolved
OVO Forum Legend
March 18, 2021

Updated on 13/08/26 by Abby_OVO

 

In simple terms, British Gas would refund any credit left on your smart prepayment (PAYG) meters after you’ve switched to a new supplier. This is usually refunded within 6 weeks of a switch but you may want to confirm their refund process by contacting them directly.

 

You should be able to request that British Gas change your meter mode from prepayment to ‘credit mode’, so that the meter won’t run out of credit and turn off. However this generally happens without you requesting it as part of the switch. When you’re on supply with OVO we can discuss switching you over to be pay monthly (we can do alter the meter remotely).

You can check out our current fixed plans here.

 

Find out more about the switching process in the guide below.

 

Carbon neutral - we need a community to get there! My green tech: Aclara SGM 1411-B smart meter, Chameleon IHD6
Blastoise186
Super User
Blastoise186Super User
Super User
March 18, 2021

Hiya!

I’ve been digging into some research on this one today. Tim is indeed correct with everything there. When it comes to PAYG refunds, they can generally be issued by cheque if no other options are available. When this happens, whatever credit balance was still on the meters at the point when the old supplier (such as British Gas) takes you off-supply and you come on-supply with the new supplier is generally what’ll be issued as the refund.

Please note that the switching process does wipe your credit balance off the meters as part of the process though.

My best advice would definitely agree with Tim here as well. If you’re planning on moving from PAYG with ANY supplier to OVO’s pay monthly tariffs, definitely get your old supplier to switch you to Pay Monthly/Credit tariffs first! The easiest ones to use for this would be the standard variable tariffs, since these don’t lock you in. From there, you can freely switch to OVO and it’ll go through just fine.

In short, the process is as follows:

  1. Switch from Pay As You Go/Prepayment > Pay Monthly/Credit with the old supplier using the standard variable tariff
  2. Wait for the old supplier to swap your Prepayment Meter with a Credit Meter and/or change your smart meters from Prepayment Mode to Credit Mode
  3. Start a switch to OVO, choosing whichever tariff suits you best
  4. Allow the switch to go through from there
  5. After coming on-supply with OVO, the old supplier should definitely be well on the way to sorting out the refunds from PAYG and issue the final bills
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!
    A
    Rank 1
    appshineAuthor
    Rank 1
    March 19, 2021

    Thanks for your replies - looks like I have the S1 meter.

    So it looks like I will have to switch on to a monthly DD arrangement with British Gas for now and then look to switch to OVO in the future.

    Can you clairfy.. if I change my account with BG to a monthly DD arrangement, will I still have to wait for my meter to be upgrded to a S2 meter before I switch to OVO if I want it to remain smart?

      Blastoise186
      Super User
      Blastoise186Super User
      Super User
      March 19, 2021

      No worries @appshine !

      I have good news there. If you go onto Pay Monthly with British Gas now and then switch to OVO, the only side effect is your meter will go dumb for a bit, but will still be upgradable anyway. So feel free to switch now if you’d like to. You’d just have to submit manual readings for a while.

      What will happen later on, is that your meter will be upgraded to S2 firmware and then migrated onto DCC, even if you’ve switched to OVO in the meantime. When this happens, it will re-activate and resume sending readings. OVO will notify you when this process starts. There’s more info about this over at SmartMe. We use this resource a lot and it helps us out a ton!

      If you need anything else, feel free to give us a shout. We’ll be happy to help. :sunglasses:

      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!
        Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement

        OVO Energy Ltd, Floor 5, Crescent, Temple Back, Redcliffe, BS1 6EZ, (Company no. 06890795) registered in England and Wales.

        OVO (S) Gas Limited is registered in England and Wales (Company No. 02716495) at Floor 5, Crescent, Temple Back, Redcliffe, BS1 6EZ.

        OVO (S) Gas Limited is part of OVO Group Ltd