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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
November 22, 2022

Hey @P50WKB ,

Nice one! I’m afraid you can’t use online services for a FiT Account with OVO. You’ll be notified when the readings are next due though.

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 23, 2022

Ah, that’s a shame - someone’s missing the reduced🤓 paperwork trick 😂😂.

Blastoise186
Super User
Super User
November 23, 2022

I asked about it myself a few months back.

The official reason is because there’s not enough FiT/SEG Customers too justify building the system out for it. But it’s still paperless - you get an email when readings are due with a link to the form.

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 30, 2022

Well, that was a massive anticlimax !
There I was at 8 bells of the Afternoon Watch, in freshly laundered Stokers whites, non- conductive spirit level at the ready, waiting for the Smart Meter Tech to turn to………………….between 12 noon and 16:00 the card said………..by 18:00 I gave up and had a brew. No phone call to say sorry I’m running late, off sick, no Polyphase parts available, broken a finger nail – nothing. Worse still, there wasn’t much wind to make stopping the turbine expensive. So nothing else to moan about! Very disappointing indeed.

I tried phoning the recommended 0330 303 5063 and several others, but, as everyone knows, that’s a waste of (even more) time. I did manage to get on OVO Chat and have a relatively fruitless conversation with a chatBot and then with Paulina who was very obliging but couldn’t really add anything to the conversation – she clearly didn’t have any booking information available to her; but fair dues, she promised to raise a case for £30 to be credited to my account as the engineer failed to show.
Tomorrow she will email an update about a new booking…………….

As I said a month ago Blastoise I admired your confidence in a successful outcome but unfortunately the OVO system has let both of us down👎🙄

Tim_OVO
OVO Staff
OVO Forum Legend
December 1, 2022

Very frustrating @P50WKB. Usually this would happen if there was an issue sending the appointment information initially. In other words the engineering team never got it. If they had you’d been contacted one way or another. 

 

Please let us know if this isn’t re-booked this week so we can help. 

Carbon neutral - we need a community to get there! My green tech: Aclara SGM 1411-B smart meter, Chameleon IHD6
Newcomer
December 1, 2022

More a waste of time and money for everyone than frustrating. After the initial booking email (27/09), the appointment confirmation email (05/10), a reminder email (23/11) and then an actual Royal Mail posted card (28/11) to reconfirm day and time segment I think it is unlikely that someone didn’t know of the appointment……is there not an internal confirmation system ?…….Perhaps “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” caught the engineering team out. It would have been nice to have had some indication of intent even if it was “sorry, too difficult”.
But thanks for your response anyway.

SeanSAuthor
Rank 2
January 15, 2023

Happy New 2023 to all!!

 

So what’s the latest news with polyphase / 3-phase metering in OVO land then?!

 

Best wishes. Sean 

Tim_OVO
OVO Staff
OVO Forum Legend
January 16, 2023

Hi @SeanS, I’ve recently been asked the same question over on this topic. In short, there’s no change:

 

Polyphase meters are being fitted for OVO customers on a small but growing scale. Are you on OVO’s variable plan, Simpler? As most suppliers are priced the same these days you might consider getting a quote from a supplier that can book in a polyphase smart meter today. 

Carbon neutral - we need a community to get there! My green tech: Aclara SGM 1411-B smart meter, Chameleon IHD6
SeanSAuthor
Rank 2
January 16, 2023

…As most suppliers are priced the same these days you might consider getting a quote from a supplier that can book in a polyphase smart meter today. 

Thanks for your message and update Tim. This is precisely the exercise I’m going through currently; being with OVO on a previous property, but moved back to my own property with another energy supplier - this is fitted with a 100A 3-phase supply with an AMR type meter which is getting rather expensive recently with the additional read etc. fees I’m being levied.

 

I was hoping in the intervening 2+ year period we first discussed this topic, matters might have advanced a bit more rapidly with SMETS2 polyphase meter rollout.

 

But appears not quite there yet. I’ll keep making enquiries. Thanks again for your time. 

Newcomer
January 31, 2023

Hi @SeanS, I’ve recently been asked the same question over on this topic. In short, there’s no change:

 

Polyphase meters are being fitted for OVO customers on a small but growing scale. Are you on OVO’s variable plan, Simpler? As most suppliers are priced the same these days you might consider getting a quote from a supplier that can book in a polyphase smart meter today. 

I was on this pilot but had to cancel the appointment and now there’s no way to rebook it that I can find out - any idea what I could do?