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Ben_OVO
Community Manager
Community Manager
September 3, 2024
News

An important update about VAT for Power Move

  • September 3, 2024
  • 15 replies
  • 687 views
An important update about VAT for Power Move

Updated on 30/09/25 by Ben_OVO

 

 

We’re correcting the way we calculate your VAT for your Power Move discounts. This is because we made a mistake – and undercharged you. You won’t need to pay anything back, but we want you to know what the change means for you.

 

Here’s how we fixed things and what this means for your bill.

 

We’re really sorry. We had been calculating your VAT charge incorrectly for your Power Move discounts, meaning you were undercharged. 

 

You won’t be charged for any underpaid VAT

 

From your next energy bill (August credit being paid in September) the calculations will be right and there’s nothing you need to do. 

 

Here’s what happened 

 

Normally, VAT should be calculated as 5% of your total energy costs. Instead, we were deducting your Power Move discount and then applying the VAT.

 

What this means for your bills

 

Here’s an example of what VAT you’d pay if your total energy cost was £50. Below, you can see how the steps for our calculation will change. 


 

Old calculation

New correct calculation

Step 1

Total energy cost = £50

Step 2

Minus Power Move discount 

£50-£10 = £40

Step 3

Apply VAT at 5% 

= £40 x 0.05 = £42

 

Final total:  £42

VAT charge: £2

Step 1

Total energy cost = £50

Step 2

Apply VAT at 5% = 

£50 x 0.05 = £52.50

Step 3

Minus Power Move discount £52.50-£10 = £42.50

 

Final total: £42.50

Correct VAT charge: £2.50

 

As this table shows, an extra £0.50 VAT is charged on the bill that is calculated correctly. Remember, you won’t be billed for any undercharged VAT. This table is to show how the correct calculations are done going forward.

 

Thanks,

The OVO Team

 

15 replies

Rank 6
September 3, 2024

True, but I was thinking of other people, who may be in more difficult situations than me!!!  

Jasmin10
Rank 4
Rank 4
September 3, 2024

Well, I think……. thank you OVO for the transparency.

I admit I don’t seem to either understand, or want to be bothered with, (on a ‘life’s too short basis’) the kind of detail others go into on this forum but I like OVO’s overall ethos and not sure any other supplier would be any different.

 

Nukecad
Super User
Super User
September 3, 2024

They take a lot of stick on these forums

That is the nature of any company forum.

You only get to see the complaints on such fora, justified or not, because the majority of customers who don't have any complaints are not shouting on their forum.

A company forum can, and will, make things look one sided - until you realise that it is not representative of the majority of customers who have no need to shout.

(Disclosure - I'm active on a few company sites, and even a moderator on a major software company forum - unpaid volunteer moderator there I’ll add, they prefer/value having some independent, possibly disenting, “official” voices on their forum; and believe me we let them know in no uncertain terms if we consider that they do anything wrong).

I said, Hey - Watts going on.
Rank 6
September 3, 2024

Yes, I do agree that OVO are a reasonable and efficient supplier; in particular, their Smart meter works fine, and their billing is accurate.  And, I wouldn’t consider switching to one of the smaller companies, with (slightly) cheaper tariffs, because they have a tendency to go bust!!

But, they could do better!!!!

In particular, my view of this change is that a 50p rebate is due on a £10 discount.  We used to get it ourselves, but they are planning to pay it to the VAT man instead to offset some of their future VAT liability.

 

 

Newcomer
July 18, 2025

Updated on 07/03/25 by Chris_OVO

 

 

We’re correcting the way we calculate your VAT for your Power Move discounts. This is because we made a mistake – and undercharged you. You won’t need to pay anything back, but we want you to know what the change means for you.

 

Here’s how we fixed things and what this means for your bill.

 

We’re really sorry. We had been calculating your VAT charge incorrectly for your Power Move discounts, meaning you were undercharged. 

 

You won’t be charged for any underpaid VAT

 

From your next energy bill (August credit being paid in September) the calculations will be right and there’s nothing you need to do. 

 

Here’s what happened 

 

Normally, VAT should be calculated as 5% of your total energy costs. Instead, we were deducting your Power Move discount and then applying the VAT.

 

What this means for your bills

 

Here’s an example of what VAT you’d pay if your total energy cost was £50. Below, you can see how the steps for our calculation will change. 


 

Old calculation

New correct calculation

Step 1

Total energy cost = £50

Step 2

Minus Power Move discount 

£50-£10 = £40

Step 3

Apply VAT at 5% 

= £40 x 0.05 = £42

 

Final total:  £42

VAT charge: £2

Step 1

Total energy cost = £50

Step 2

Apply VAT at 5% = 

£50 x 0.05 = £52.50

Step 3

Minus Power Move discount £52.50-£10 = £42.50

 

Final total: £42.50

Correct VAT charge: £2.50

 

As this table shows, an extra £0.50 VAT is charged on the bill that is calculated correctly. Remember, you won’t be billed for any undercharged VAT. This table is to show how the correct calculations are done going forward.

 

Thanks,

The OVO Team

 

Thanks….. for the update. I appreciate the transparency. It’s good to know we won’t be back-charged for the VAT miscalculation... The corrected method makes sense now VAT applied before discount. Thanks for sorting this and keeping us informed!!!!