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Rank 2
August 17, 2020

Does OVO have plans to offer a 3 Phase smart meter for supplies larger than "100A per phase” connections (CT-type meters), and “vector sum” compliant?

  • August 17, 2020
  • 89 replies
  • 5990 views

Updated on 06/05/25 by Abby_OVO

 

I notice that there has been news earlier this month of the first 3-phase SMETS2 meter install in the country by Smart Metering Services (SMS) on behalf of their client, Good Energy for a private domestic customer in Gloucestershire.

https://www.smart-energy.com/industry-sectors/smart-meters/britain-installs-first-ever-polyphase-smets2-smart-meter/

This “UK first” appears to have been installed using a “direct current” type three-phase Aclara SGM1400 meter, suitable for “smaller” three-phase (sub 100A per phase) supplies found in larger domestic and small commercial installs….presumably the sort of customers that OVO previously could not provide SMETS2 smart meters to.

 

Are there any plans for OVO to follow suit?

 

Do OVO offer 3 phase smart meters?

 

3 phase (aka polyphase) installations in domestic properties are few and far between, so it's a minority of meter engineers across the country that have the skills required to complete these installations. There are also some technical challenges in making sure your job is allocated to an engineer with these skills but we are just as keen as you are to have Smart available for these sites ASAP, so if you would like to take part in this beta stage release, please consider the steps below:
From the start of May 2023, if you have a single rate 3 phase meter (i.e. not Economy 7 / 2-rate etc.) we would encourage you to book a smart meter appointment as normal online or over the phone on 0330 303 5063. (Please do not attempt to book sooner than May unless you have been contacted.)


This will then go through to a specialist team who will validate that it is single rate job and that an 3 phase engineer is available in your region. If this is the case, they will re-book your appointment with the right engineer. (So please bear in mind your appointment date/time will likely change, but we'll try to keep it the same where possible.)


Unfortunately, if you have a 2-rate meter or are not in an area covered by our current crop of 3 phase skilled engineers, you will need to continue with your heritage meter. We know this will be frustrating, so we are sorry about that, we are working to expand our coverage and by you flagging your interest to us, you are helping us shape where and when that coverage develops. - thank you!

 

89 replies

Blastoise186
Super User
Super User
September 22, 2021

Thanks Luke! I knew you’d probably know the answer. :)

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Jess_OVO
OVO Staff
OVO Staff
September 22, 2021

 

Thanks for the update @Blastoise186 I will reach out to Jess or Tim in respect of participating in a trial as I have a property with a connection that would be compatible with the Aclara S2 polyphase meter. The service cutout there is 3-phase with 100A fuses and uses direct current style metering.

 

Hi @SeanS and welcome back!

 

See you’ve already had some great 3 phase smart metering advice from our community volunteer, @Blastoise186 and OVO engineer, @Lukepeniket_OVO

 

Just to add a little more info on where were at currently - We’re trialing the installation of a 3 phase smart meter on a number of test sites. These test sites are limited to a small area of South East England at the moment, but if you’d like to be considered as a potential 3 phase site send me a PM and we can forward these details on to the team.

 

We’ll keep you posted on any future changes to this - there’s hope that the trials may be extended early next year.

 

Hope this info is helpful! :slight_smile:

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SeanSAuthor
Rank 2
September 22, 2021

Thanks very much @Jess_OVO - will drop you a PM once I look into the account for the smaller 3-phase supply connection.

Newcomer
August 28, 2022

Sooo…. 11 months later… Any updates?

Blastoise186
Super User
Super User
August 28, 2022

Hey @uwantfries ,

Good news. OVO has pretty much completed the Three-Phase Smart Meter trials now and is almost ready to start installing them officially. The forum moderators are keeping a list of forum members who are known to be interested, so they’ll be happy to add you to that list if you’d like them to.

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!
Newcomer
August 29, 2022

Hey @uwantfries ,

Good news. OVO has pretty much completed the Three-Phase Smart Meter trials now and is almost ready to start installing them officially. The forum moderators are keeping a list of forum members who are known to be interested, so they’ll be happy to add you to that list if you’d like them to.

 

 

I have mine now, after months of failed visits. 

It was fitted about a month ago. 

Tim_OVO
OVO Staff
OVO Forum Legend
August 30, 2022

@uwantfries yep as blastoise mentioned, we have an update on this and I’ll be editing all related topics (like this one) and reaching out to interested members directly this week or next, depending on how busy it is here.

 

Thanks for bearing with us, I’ll add you to my list. 

Carbon neutral - we need a community to get there! My green tech: Aclara SGM 1411-B smart meter, Chameleon IHD6
Newcomer
September 7, 2022
20kW Split Phase
 

“OVO has pretty much completed the Three-Phase Smart Meter trials now and is almost ready to start installing them officially”
Any Smart Meter news for the many new OVO customers (ex SSE) in North East Scotland that have a Split Phase supply for their Turbines ? When SSE insisted that we had a Smart Meter installed it took several phone calls, a technician visit and a video call before they admitted that it couldn’t be done.

Blastoise186
Super User
Super User
September 7, 2022

Hey @Lukepeniket_OVO , I think this one’s right up your street! :)

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OVO Engineer
September 7, 2022

We are literally, literally soooo close to being able to offer polyphase meters to our customers!! Almost there!!!!!

OVO Operations Excellence Manager and Former Field Operations Team Leader