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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

Newcomer
September 8, 2022

Excellent - I am available for installation, trial, test, experiment or other. Any chance of a photo so that I can see how it's installed - I don’t want it messing up my straight lines 😀

Tim_OVO
OVO Staff
OVO Forum Legend
September 8, 2022

Wow @P50WKB you have a wind turbine local generation. We don’t have a badge for that. How is it? Would you be happy to post about it and the very complex looking electronics around the meter? For example I’d love to know how it compares in generation to solar and what’s involved in getting one set up...

 

As for polyphase smart meters, as Luke says, we’re really close. I was hoping to update all topics related to this but I’ve needed to prioritise the new activity we’re seeing here. It’s very busy this week and last.

 

The update is:

 

"As of August 2022, we're currently in a pilot, and will be contacting pilot-eligible customers (OVO customers on single rate tariffs) over the next few weeks and months. We are working with a select number of trained engineers around the country therefore we unfortunately can't install to just any willing participant (as much as we wish we could). Our advice is to make sure your contact details are up to date in your OVO account so that our teams can reach you."

Carbon neutral - we need a community to get there! My green tech: Aclara SGM 1411-B smart meter, Chameleon IHD6
Blastoise186
Super User
Super User
September 8, 2022

Well… It looks as if Tim’s found his biggest fan yet! 😛

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!
Blastoise186
Super User
Super User
September 8, 2022

Excellent - I am available for installation, trial, test, experiment or other. Any chance of a photo so that I can see how it's installed - I don’t want it messing up my straight lines 😀

I’m afraid we don’t really have many photos of Three-Phase Smart Meters of either SMETS1 or SMETS2 on the OVO Forum unfortunately, so I can’t really show you any. We’ve never had threads that people post any in that I can recall!

However, from the photo you’ve provided, I think there should be enough space on your backboard for both the meter and a Comms Hub to fit. They won’t be much wider than your existing electric meter and are only a bit taller by around 20-30cm with the Comms Hub included. It might just be a case of moving the new meter down a little bit, but it should work just fine.

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!
OVO Engineer
September 8, 2022

Oh god yeah plenty of room on there (they aren't much bigger than existing heritage meters) and the cables look nice and up to date aswell.

OVO Operations Excellence Manager and Former Field Operations Team Leader
Newcomer
October 19, 2022

 

After being pestered for an appointment I relented - under the “Other Information Box” I wrote that a 100A polyphase meter to accommodate split phase supply for a wind turbine and G59 facility was required. I haven’t heard back so it will be interesting to see what or who turns up !

Blastoise186
Super User
Super User
October 19, 2022

Nice one!

As long as the job notes are set up correctly, that should all be arranged. I think a scheduler will see that job note and make sure the right engineer shows up.

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
October 19, 2022

I admire your confidence 😄 I’ll let you know the outcome - with pictures !!
Just curious - does the Chameleon IHD6 or whatever version is supplied, have a centre zero so that it can clearly indicate generation / consumption behaviour ?

Blastoise186
Super User
Super User
October 19, 2022

I can’t say for sure. It should figure out when you’re exporting though. Most likely you’ll get a Chameleon IHD7-CAD-PPMID now.

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
November 22, 2022

Not long now until Meter Day😀…….I have also just received my new OVO FIT Energy account number (not the same account number as my OVO Energy Account) but how do I log into the FIT account as it just defaults to the “domestic” account ?

 

SSE Energy Services recently let you know that your Feed-in Tariff (FiT) is moving to OVO Energy. Good news: the move's now complete. We're delighted to welcome you aboard!