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Rank 2
markocosic
Rank 2
December 15, 2017
Solved

Can I connect a CAD to my smart meters if OVO open the Home Area Network (HAN)?

  • December 15, 2017
  • 53 replies
  • 11788 views

Hi,

Will OVO "open the HAN" to allow use of a CAD (consumer access device) such that I can access the data from the Liberty electricity/gas meters?

Specifically this CAD. Alternatively is there any other means to retrieve "live" meter data in a less useless way than screen-scraping the Ovo website or a webcam on the IHD?

It's an R&D project on combi boiler efficiency. "Real time" heat use is easy using heat/electricity sub-meters with open M-Bs protocols. "Real time" gas use is tricksy.

Thanks,
M

    Best answer by

    Updated on 12/06/24 by Abby_OVO

     

    We currently offer a free Chameleon IHD6 to view your Smart meter data. You can request this if you haven’t already received one by contacting our Support Team.

     

    If you have a SMETS2 compatible In Home Display (IHD) or Consumer Access Devices (CAD) not provided by us, our Support Team can help connect this to your Smart Meters via the  Home Area Network (HAN), provided the meters are in communication. However it’s worth bearing in mind that we can’t help troubleshoot any issues with the device - these should be directed to the device supplier.

     

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

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

    53 replies

    Show previous replies
    E
    Newcomer
    ErTnEc
    Newcomer
    July 3, 2018
    On the contrary @TerryE

    The *only* way to get bullies like people in charge at Ovo to fulfil their regulatory duties *is* to publicise their behaviour and so threaten the one thing (appearances) that they actually care about.

    My CAD was paired back in January.

    This was a combination of the folks in charge at Ovo realising that their reputation was at risk...and Her Majesty's Government tapped them on the shoulder and suggested that life would be easier if they discharged their regulatory duties.

    Don't confuse me negotiating in public with me venting frustration. ;-)

    There was an element of frustration yes, but the purpose of documenting how outrageous their behaviour was in public was more about negotiation. And equipping others with the collateral needed to negotiate on more equal terms with a large utility company. :-)

    Could you share the details on what make/model and firmware revision your CAD is at? I would like to have a device paired too which would give me the data I need to feed into my heating system, however I got this response back from Secure, which does somewhat back up what OVO are saying:

    In order to connect a CAD device to a Secure SMETS 1 HAN the following must be provided;

    1. A compliance certificate for Zigbee SEP 1.1 issued by the Zigbee alliance.

    2. Two test devices for approval.

    3. Details of installation process along with MAC id and install codes for the above test devices.

    4. Release details for the version of CAD firmware to be tested.



    Once a date is agreed testing typically takes 4 - 6 weeks, Secure levies a nominal charge of £4000 + VAT for each firmware version tested. Secure reserves the right to remove any device from the network if its behaviour impacts the correct operation of the HAN. Testing by Secure does not validate the operation of the CAD device only that it does not adversely impact the correct operation of other devices on the network. Data privacy for data retrieved from devices on the HAN network is the sole responsibility of the CAD manufacturer.



    Once approved individual CAD devices must be whitelisted, this request to whitelist must be submitted via your energy supplier and is subject to a nominal charge.



    Secure does not provide a list of approved CAD devices, please contact each individual CAD manufacturer for confirmation of approval.


    Unless OVO can provide the list of supported 3rd party CAD devices, as mentioned by Secure.
    M
    Rank 2
    markocosicAuthor
    Rank 2
    July 3, 2018
    Hi ErTnEc,


    It's a Hildebrand (Enerrgyhive) CAD firmware 0.8.6
    https://shop.energyhive.com/products/energyhive-cad

    Ovo know full well that it's already been tested and whitelisted and paired at least once.


    If Ovo's chosen smart meter supplies wants to charge Ovo £4,000+VAT and take 6-8 weeks to test, before levying an additional charge to whitelist each individual device, in order that Ovo may meet their regulatory obligations to the consumer...that's Ovo's business not yours.

    If Ovo whinge about having to meet the terms of the supply license that they signed up for being deeply unfair they're welcome to hand it back and exit the market. If Ovo whinge about what their supplier charges them they're welcome to think more carefully when buying next time. They're not allowed to refuse you or to force you - or the CAD vendor - to pay extra. It's their job to do this and part of the regulated supply made to you.


    If given any s**t pick up the phone to Ofgem and BEIS and refer Ovo to them for anti-competitive behaviour (they found "smarts" too hard and are trying to prevent others doing "smarts" which is an abuse of their position) and wilful failure to meet the terms of their supply license (a much bigger stick to negotiate with)


    --
    M
      R
      Newcomer
      redwood
      Newcomer
      December 8, 2018
      Got there in the end!

      10 months after my request to OVO to connect my CAD, it was finally connected on 30/11/2018

      During the 10 months, after many unsuccessful attempts to get OVO to connect my CAD, I raised a format complaint with OVO - which they completely ignored.

      I then referred OVO to the Energy Ombudsman, who found in favour of OVO, saying it was unreasonable to expect OVO to pay the £500 that Secure required to connect my CAD. The fact that OVOs supply licence requires them to connect a CAD when requested and at no cost to the customer counted for nothing. The £500 charge, I have subsequently found out was for a single operation which could be for 1 or a 1000 devices. So why couldn't they lump my CAD in with the Chameleon IHDs which OVO appear to have been connecting in great numbers.

      My next move was to contact the smart metering team at BEIS, who took an interest in my case and seemed to be moving things forward, providing me with updates and setting deadlines.

      In the meantime Hildebrand have been working with Secure to remove the £500 connection barrier. That became operational on the 31st of August and Hildebrand connected their first CAD to a Secure meter 21/09/2018 (utility company unknown but not OVO).

      Throughout the 10 month period the support from Hildebrand and from BEIS, once I got them involved has been superb. The support from OVO has been non-existent, some honesty, instead of pointless waffle in their replies to me would have helped.
      M
      Rank 2
      markocosicAuthor
      Rank 2
      December 8, 2018
      Wowser.

      Ombudsman rules that a supplier doesn't need to comply with the conditions of their supply license... publish that in full then complain to Ofgem that the ombudsman is endorsing not complying with supply licenses?

      I've switched to octopus and have been experimenting with their agile tariffs. Thus far they've not been the obnoxious, lying, self interested corporate that Ovo has become since it achieved scale. I guess it must make some money now though, what with charging above market rate and dialling back the service level.

      Shame on the ombudsman though.
      R
      Newcomer
      redwood
      Newcomer
      December 8, 2018
      I supplied BEIS with a full copy of the Ombudsman's adjudication. They were somewhat surprised at the decision of the Energy Ombudsman and 'had words' with them!
      E
      Newcomer
      ErTnEc
      Newcomer
      February 1, 2019
      So how's it working out for you now? The original CAD device mentioned doesn't seem to be available any more, the only one is the glowstick here:

      https://shop.glowmarkt.com/products/glow-stick

      @redwood did you use the same CAD device as @markocosic or something else? I want to get this sorted now as I'm fed up of the smart meter playing 'dumb'
      R
      Newcomer
      redwood
      Newcomer
      February 1, 2019
      @ErTnEc

      It's working well using the app on my phone. I intend to use the API to integrate it into my home automation "real soon now!"

      Although Hildebrand have told me they don't directly support elec. export the (almost) realtime updates, app homepage every 5 seconds and graph every 1 minute do show export which will be quite useful to me.

      Yes the same CAD as @markocosic

      https://www.hildebrand.co.uk/our-products/hub/ seems to show a similar CAD to mine. Suggest you contact Hildebrand support, I've always found them most helpful.
      blakedrayson
      Newcomer
      blakedrayson
      Newcomer
      August 11, 2019
      This is now very much doable and supported by OVO.

      You can buy and pair a third party HAN very easily. In fact the Hildebrand Glow HAN can be paired by them without you having to ask OVO to unlock your smart meters.

      There is access to an app and an API for getting real time data and historical data. The API is ok (it falls down in places but can be worked around). I am in the process of writing a Python class interface with the API that sorts out some of the oddness.

      Hildebrand as a company appear to be quite responsive and helpful and the setup was a doddle.

      Will post back here when I have the Python code up on GitHub.

      **UPDATE**
      Version one of the python library for the Hildebrand API. May well be a bit sketchy.

      https://github.com/ghostseven/Hildebrand-Glow-Python-Library
        Amy_OVO
        Retired Moderator
        Amy_OVO
        Retired Moderator
        August 12, 2019
        Thanks for the update and share @blakedrayson ☺️
        OVO-Joyed to help!
          M
          Newcomer
          mgoodge
          Newcomer
          October 11, 2023

          Looking back at previous smart meter topics, there were some a few years ago regarding adding a third party CAD. Responses from OVO to the issues raised then indicated that the approval process for third party devices was, at the time, ongoing.

          Given that those topics were all more than five years ago, I’d presume that the process for approving new third party CADs has been sorted out in the meantime and a number of them have been approved. But I can’t find a list anywhere of those which have been approved.

          So, has anyone seen such a list? Is there one that OVO make available to customers who might be thinking of getting a third party CAD? If not, could we possible try to crowd-source one on the forum by asking people who use third-party CADs which one they were successful in connecting? 

          The reason for asking is simple. The Chameleon IHD supplied by OVO at the moment doesn’t provide an API for me to hook into, so I’d want one which does. But, rather than buy a third party CAD and then jump through hoops trying to get it connected, I’d rather start from a list of ones which have already been approved and then pick one which best suits my needs.

          Show more replies
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