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February 10, 2023
Solved

Can't get OVO to bill my electricity use following smart meter install

  • February 10, 2023
  • 22 replies
  • 457 views

I had SMETS 2 smart meters installed on 21st December, so coming up for eight weeks ago. 

Meter readings for both the gas and electricity are showing up just fine on my account.

My gas usage is billing nicely (but I barely use any of that because I can’t afford to); but, despite submitting meter readings,  I haven't had a single consumption-based charge for electricity since they stopped doing (wildly inaccurate) estimated charges for the old disconnected meter on 9th of January. 

I haven't had a meaningful bill since November and my next bill is due in three days. 

I've spoken to customer services umpteen times, by (edited by moderator) and voice call, but they are as much use as a chocolate teapot and refuse to let you speak to anyone knowledgeable. 

I am trying to stay ahead by keeping my account in credit by what I THINK the missing charges should be, but I shouldn't have to do that, especially as I am disabled, living with multiple complex health conditions, cognitive impairment resulting from brain damage and on the priority service register. I have asked OVO to help me with working those charges out but they refuse point blank.

I am desperate for an accurate bill. I am terrified about the charges I am going to be hit with when they do finally get this sorted … I also need it sorting so I can get back onto Direct Debit, which isn't going to happen until I do get an accurate bill and a more realistic DD amount than the £170 (£5.59 per day, which is double what my actual average daily use has been during the winter) that OVO currently expect because they aren't working it out based on accurate billing.

Any ideas how one gets OVO to sort this mess out? 

If it isn't sorted out, the next step seems to be to simply refuse to pay anything at all, as is my legal right, until OVO makes a reasonable attempt to meet their statutory obligation to bill accurately; but whilst that might get someone to pull their finger out, it doesn’t help with the stress of outstanding unbilled charges.

Best answer by Jeffus

Updated on 31/10/23 by Abby_OVO

Hey @MCH59,

 

Sorry for the issues you’re having,

 

It can take 6 weeks to get a statement following a meter upgrade, this is because our systems as well as the national database need to be updated with the new meter details.

 

Also, if your previous meter was faulty, we may need to re-estimate your previous billing. It might be best to contact Support with an update as they’ll have access to your account.

 

Keep us posted with how you get on. 

We have seen this before recently @Emmanuelle_OVO . 

The poster sees the electricity smart meter readings on the meter reading page, but these don't feed through to the billing

We are seeing regular examples for some existing customers as well. 

Perhaps there are some edge cases where the Kaluza billing system needs  tweaking? Or some tweaked advice for the Support Team to give out to customers? 

There are examples on the forum if the Kaluza team want them. 

22 replies

MCH59Author
February 10, 2023

 

M.isterW
Rank 6
Rank 6
February 10, 2023

What is your electricity meter reading? Does the reading on the meter match the figure on the app?

1992 4 bed detached house. Solar PV + battery, Zappi EV charger, Mitsubishi Ecodan ASHP and i-life2 fan assisted radiators.... No gas 😊
MCH59Author
February 10, 2023

What is your electricity meter reading? Does the reading on the meter match the figure on the app?

Yes, the meter readings on my online account are accurate … they just aren’t charging me for the electricity (as you can see from the above photos … or rather they are giving me a daily charge for 0.000 kWh).

 

M.isterW
Rank 6
Rank 6
February 10, 2023

Your usage is really low. 2kWh per day is less than 70p so I wouldn't worry too much about being hit with a large bill. I would be tempted to wait until the next bill, if it's only a few days away, and see what it says.

The figures on the app don't look right but you might find the bill arrives with the correct figures.

1992 4 bed detached house. Solar PV + battery, Zappi EV charger, Mitsubishi Ecodan ASHP and i-life2 fan assisted radiators.... No gas 😊
MCH59Author
February 10, 2023

Your usage is really low. 2kWh per day is less than 70p so I wouldn't worry too much about being hit with a large bill. I would be tempted to wait until the next bill, if it's only a few days away, and see what it says.

The figures on the app don't look right but you might find the bill arrives with the correct figures.

 

I do have VERY low usage - barely 2.5 units of electricity per day - because that is all I can afford - I’ve basically retreated to one room with a halogen heater I use in short bursts when I get REALLY cold - but the meter readings from the new smart meters are entirely consistent with my consumption on the old meters … the bonus being that I make a lot, relative to my consumption, on some of the energy saving events when I simply switch everything off at the fuse box/consumer unit for the duration ;)

The balances probably look odd because I have been paying extra in to keep a credit balance to cover unbilled use. 

Emmanuelle_OVO
Retired Moderator
Retired Moderator
February 13, 2023

Hey @MCH59,

 

Sorry for the issues you’re having,

 

It can take 6 weeks to get a statement following a meter upgrade, this is because our systems as well as the national database need to be updated with the new meter details.

 

Also, if your previous meter was faulty, we may need to re-estimate your previous billing. It might be best to contact Support with an update as they’ll have access to your account.

 

Keep us posted with how you get on. 

Renewable Energy? Big Fan.
Jeffus
Rank 20
JeffusSolved
Rank 20
February 13, 2023

Updated on 31/10/23 by Abby_OVO

Hey @MCH59,

 

Sorry for the issues you’re having,

 

It can take 6 weeks to get a statement following a meter upgrade, this is because our systems as well as the national database need to be updated with the new meter details.

 

Also, if your previous meter was faulty, we may need to re-estimate your previous billing. It might be best to contact Support with an update as they’ll have access to your account.

 

Keep us posted with how you get on. 

We have seen this before recently @Emmanuelle_OVO . 

The poster sees the electricity smart meter readings on the meter reading page, but these don't feed through to the billing

We are seeing regular examples for some existing customers as well. 

Perhaps there are some edge cases where the Kaluza billing system needs  tweaking? Or some tweaked advice for the Support Team to give out to customers? 

There are examples on the forum if the Kaluza team want them. 

MCH59Author
February 13, 2023

Hey @MCH59,

 

It can take 6 weeks to get a statement following a meter upgrade, this is because our systems as well as the national database need to be updated with the new meter details.

 

Also, if your previous meter was faulty, we may need to re-estimate your previous billing. It might be best to contact Support with an update as they’ll have access to your account.

 

It is 8 weeks since the meters were installed and neither of the old meters were faulty (as far as I am aware - they certainly weren’t replaced because of a suspected fault).

The meter readings are fully populated back to the date of installation, but none of the electricity readings have resulted in billing .. so all I am being charged is my standing charge. 

What may be relevant is the fact that the installer’s closing reading for the meter hasn’t appeared on my account, but that was only 1 kWh different to the manual reading I submitted first thing on the day he changed the meters .. and just in case that is the problem I have twice sent photographs of the meter swap card giving the meter serial numbers and his meter readings.

I am resorting to posting here because I simply can’t get anywhere with support despite weeks of pestering them. I have a case number, but nothing changes and the frontline people refuse to give an explanation and refuse to put me through to anyone knowledgeable.

Anyway, it is billing cutoff today, so I guess that is yet another month with a meaningless bill.

Jeffus
Rank 20
Rank 20
February 13, 2023

Hey @MCH59,

 

It can take 6 weeks to get a statement following a meter upgrade, this is because our systems as well as the national database need to be updated with the new meter details.

 

Also, if your previous meter was faulty, we may need to re-estimate your previous billing. It might be best to contact Support with an update as they’ll have access to your account.

 

It is 8 weeks since the meters were installed and neither of the old meters were faulty (as far as I am aware - they certainly weren’t replaced because of a suspected fault).

The meter readings are fully populated back to the date of installation, but none of the electricity readings have resulted in billing .. so all I am being charged is my standing charge. 

I am resorting to posting here because I simply can’t get anywhere with support despite weeks of pestering them. I have a case number, but nothing changes and the frontline people refuse to give an explanation and refuse to put me through to anyone knowledgeable.

Anyway, it is billing cutoff today, so I guess that is yet another month with a meaningless bill.

We have seen cases where the creation of a bill suddenly fixes the issues (it did for me), so let us know what happens. We have also seen cases where it hasn't. 

I don't work for OVO, i am just a customer like you. 

MCH59Author
February 13, 2023

We have seen cases where the creation of a bill suddenly fixes the issues (it did for me), so let us know what happens. We have also seen cases where it hasn't. 

I don't work for OVO, i am just a customer like you. 

 

I hope so .. and yes, I realised you are one of the helpful volunteers, THANKS