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Rank 1
August 30, 2022
Solved

Applied for OVO's smart export guarantee (SEG) - how long till it's set up?

  • August 30, 2022
  • 61 replies
  • 4026 views

Having installed our solar panels, we applied to receive the OVO Smart energy guarantee payments and sent the requested initial export meter reading on the 12th July, which will be seven weeks ago tomorrow. 

We were told that we would receive the welcome email within four weeks from receiving this initial meter reading.

Is it normal to have to wait this long? I cannot speak to the SEG team by phone and any email sent just gets a standard reply that a response will be within 15 days.

Getting frustrated now

 

Malcolm

Best answer by Tim_OVO

The teams are really busy at the moment. It’s September which represents a generation (if feed in tariff (FiT)) or export (if SEG) reading window, so high volumes of contact. Alongside that the price cap news is meaning all customer facing teams are very busy and response have been affected. 

 

Despite this our teams are committed to getting to your emails, applications and any outstanding payments as soon as possible. It’s still something we’re trying to put right for everyone.

 

Hi @TrishT 

 

I’ve recently been advised that a smart export guarantee (SEG) applicant is only eligible for SEG once an export supply number (MPAN) has been created. As soon as that's been done we ask the customer for an opening reading which is the point they will be paid from. Unfortunately we cannot make payment for anything exported before then.

 

At the moment there’s a longer time frame than usual for applications and emails to the SEG team. Any customers still waiting to be set up may wish to cancel their SEG application with OVO and re-apply elsewhere as a different supplier may be able to register them quicker. It's not ideal by any means but unfortunately we can't process any quicker than we currently are.

 

Hope this helps outline your options,

Tim

61 replies

Rank 5
June 28, 2023

What’s the draw back of changing suppliers mid through An seg application. If so if I change to octopus  or similar what will happen to the seg or does this run separately. I heard u can have energy supplies by OVO in my case but another energy provider pays u money for the seg grant.  Any thoughts?

Newcomer
June 29, 2023

I phoned OVO today and to my pleasant surprise spoke to a human called Peter about my SEG application (made 17/5/23).  He said that my documents had been received, passed on to my local electricity distributor, and had been checked as OK.  However he did not know how long they would take to issue a MPAN and get back to me.  He did however say that I could use the issued MPAN with any supplier, not just OVO.  So I must be very, very patient and then decide what to do next when I have got a MPAN.

Abby_OVO
Community Manager
Community Manager
June 30, 2023

Hey @JohnDB 

 

Glad to hear you’ve had a good experience with the Support Team, and they’ve been able to confirm some of the details for you.

 

Hopefully they get back to you with the rest soon. Keep us updated on how you get on with this.

Currently Playing: She's Electric
Newcomer
June 30, 2023

Hello

I have submitted an application for SEG in december2022 , after many conversation on the phone still have not got anywhere with this. I have supplied the documents several times but keep getting fobbed off by people that don't seem to know what they are talking about. It all  seems to be a big joke. Every time you contact them on the phone its halve an hour of you life wasted.

As you get my tone i’m not a happy bunny

Issue 1 is my flexi- orb certificate good enough as accreditation.

Issue 2 i have generated over 400kwh of electricity to you , will i get my money.

issue 3 I am a new generator  i don't have an export number yet.

Am i better off cutting my losses and moving all my business, gas, electric to another company.

I need to get this sorted out as  i have an electric car coming in two weeks , and was hoping to get onto an ev tarif .  

Thank you 

BPLightlog
Super User
Super User
June 30, 2023

Hi @nigel10p , 
 

 

From what I can see, OVO are listed as an agreed source for the Flexi-Orb cert

https://www.flexi-orb.com/consumers/smart-export-guarantee/

If you don’t already have an export number, I doubt you will get any compensation for any pre generation. 
 


There are those who suggest using others with a SEG license. Obviously it’s your decision although OVO do seem to have a bit of a lead in their EV tariffs

Bring me Sunshine ~ E&E {Solar PV, Battery Storage, Hybrid EV, ASHP and Home Assistant automation}
Newcomer
July 5, 2023

Wondering if anyone has recently had their SEG approval and how long has it taken?

Submitted ours on 27th April and still waiting. Called the SEG team today and was told ‘they are taking a very long time’!

 

Hey @JohnDB 

 

Glad to hear you’ve had a good experience with the Support Team, and they’ve been able to confirm some of the details for you.

 

Hopefully they get back to you with the rest soon. Keep us updated on how you get on with this.

I sent my application in on 27th April. I called the FIT team last week and was told that he couldn’t give me an update and had no idea when my application would be sorted and just to wait as they are taking a long time. Wasn’t that helpful really! 

Newcomer
July 5, 2023

If I believe OVO,  it is my local electricity distributor, another company, who are dealing with my application so slowly.  So if I were now to start another application to Octopus I would probably experience the same slow processing and from a later start.  I’m therefore waiting.  It seems to me that neither OVO nor my local electricity distributor has any financial motivation to deal with applications promptly - presently OVO get small amounts of electricity free from my panels.

Newcomer
July 5, 2023

If I believe OVO,  it is my local electricity distributor, another company, who are dealing with my application so slowly.  So if I were now to start another application to Octopus I would probably experience the same slow processing and from a later start.  I’m therefore waiting.  It seems to me that neither OVO nor my local electricity distributor has any financial motivation to deal with applications promptly - presently OVO get small amounts of electricity free from my panels.

I think you are correct.

Newcomer
July 7, 2023

Prompted by an aside on an Octopus video, I asked my DNO (see below) what my MPAN is and they replied within an hour!  Why has OVO not told me?  They know I am waiting!

Who is my electricity supplier and what's my MPAN? | UK Power Networks

So it now looks as if I can now switch to Octopus and apply to them for an export traiff!

What a hassle and waste of time!

BPLightlog
Super User
Super User
July 7, 2023

Prompted by an aside on an Octopus video, I asked my DNO (see below) what my MPAN is and they replied within an hour!  Why has OVO not told me?  They know I am waiting!

Who is my electricity supplier and what's my MPAN? | UK Power Networks

So it now looks as if I can now switch to Octopus and apply to them for an export traiff!

What a hassle and waste of time!

You’ve probably checked @JohnDB but it has to be the MPAN for export, not your normal supply MPAN

Bring me Sunshine ~ E&E {Solar PV, Battery Storage, Hybrid EV, ASHP and Home Assistant automation}