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MikeMilf
Rank 5
August 13, 2023
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Has my Smart Meter or IHD developed a problem overnight......suddenly seeing a red usage light

  • August 13, 2023
  • 48 replies
  • 3161 views

Just switched to Ovo from SEB, but have had a type2 smart meter / IHD for about a year. Im on Economy 10 and Ive got very used to what Im normally charged at various times of the day.

Got up for a pee at around 1:30am today (not a spring chicken any more) and was surprised to see the red usage light on. Normally its amber as the off peak heating comes on.

Upon checking my IHD I saw was racking up £1.29 per k/wh when Im normally at around £0.84 when the overnight heating is charging up. To check, I turned off the off peak switch and it dropped to £0.14

I also checked the ‘boost’ switch in my cupboard to make sure I hadnt turned it on by mistake and no it was off

I think I may have found the possible issue. When I checked the tariff readings on my IHD, it said I was being charged peak rate at 2am in the morning, and it would revert to off peak at 6am. This puts it out of sync with my storage heaters / immersion cylinder and would explain the red usage light

I have literally just switched from SEB on 09.08.23

I understand there can be switchover problems, but this is going to waste me money just for using my hot water. Do you think its a) an IHD fault or b) someone at Ovo has not put me on the correct Economy 10 hours?

If I am right, who/how do I contact at Ovo to get this looked at asap? I dont want to be racking up an excess bill, then having to fight to get money back through no fault of my own. I would prefer a contact other than general customer services as my experience with SEB was truly horrific in that regard (waiting up to an hour to get answered, then speaking to pretty clueless staff).

Would really appreciate some help….thank you in advance

 

 

Best answer by Emmanuelle_OVO

Updated on 25/03/25 by Ben_OVO

When switching suppliers or having new meters installed you may need to reset your IHD and the set budget. You can find out more here:

 

 

 

Hey @Adeline,

 

You’re billed based on the readings sent across from your smart meters themselves. So to see how much you are being charged you can check your Online Account:

 

 

It sounds like the budget/target for ‘high usage’ has changed when you’ve switched over to OVO. We’ve seen this happen to other Community Members. 

 

I believe what’s happened is your IHD is currently showing the color's based on an ‘average consumer’. After a while, your IHD will re-learn your habits and adjust everything on your energy use.

 

Hope this helps.

48 replies

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Emmanuelle_OVO
Retired Moderator
Emmanuelle_OVOSolved
Retired Moderator
August 18, 2023

Updated on 25/03/25 by Ben_OVO

When switching suppliers or having new meters installed you may need to reset your IHD and the set budget. You can find out more here:

 

 

 

Hey @Adeline,

 

You’re billed based on the readings sent across from your smart meters themselves. So to see how much you are being charged you can check your Online Account:

 

 

It sounds like the budget/target for ‘high usage’ has changed when you’ve switched over to OVO. We’ve seen this happen to other Community Members. 

 

I believe what’s happened is your IHD is currently showing the color's based on an ‘average consumer’. After a while, your IHD will re-learn your habits and adjust everything on your energy use.

 

Hope this helps.

Renewable Energy? Big Fan.
    A
    Newcomer
    Adeline
    Newcomer
    August 19, 2023

    Hi Emmanuelle, thank you for your reply. I would love to believe that my IHD will eventually "re-learn our habits and adjust everything" but forgive me if I'm a little sceptical. I feel that since joining Ovo my electric costs will eventually rise due to my IHD going constantly into the red charging £1.00 per kw. at times. That 's my logic which I would love to think is flawed but I think OVO will benefit at the end of the day.

    Blastoise186
    Super User
    Blastoise186Super User
    Super User
    August 20, 2023

    They won’t. Your IHD is only a guide and is not used for billing.

    You probably just need to change the settings on it to adjust the usage level thresholds again.

    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!
      A
      Newcomer
      Adeline
      Newcomer
      August 20, 2023

      Ok I will try that. So do I reset settings or data or all? 

      Blastoise186
      Super User
      Blastoise186Super User
      Super User
      August 20, 2023

      Neither. You just need to change one setting, not reset the device. 

      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!
        A
        Newcomer
        Adeline
        Newcomer
        August 20, 2023

        Ok so I just said ok to "reset settings"? Was that right?

        Blastoise186
        Super User
        Blastoise186Super User
        Super User
        August 20, 2023

        Not really, that’s kinda like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

        You need to change the usage level setting - doing a full reset won’t have any effect.

        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!
        A
        Newcomer
        Adeline
        Newcomer
        August 20, 2023

        Ok so how do I do that?

        Firedog
        Super User
        FiredogSuper User
        Super User
        August 20, 2023

        I don’t have an IHD like yours, but this may help if the current figure is very wrong: https://sse.co.uk/smart-meters/do-smart-meters-save-money#:~:text=How%20to%20set%20an%20energy%20budget%20in%20your%20In%2DHome%20Display 

        Your meter should make sure that the IHD has the right tariff loaded (p/kWh and p/day for the standing charge), so it’s able to convert consumption in kWh to cost in £. 

        This won’t stop your speedometer going into the red occasionally, like when you switch the kettle on, but so long as it stays in the green most of the time, you should be all right. If it goes into the red when you’re not expecting it to, something may have gone wrong, so it’s worth checking to see what is switched on. 

         

        Noel | I have no official status; I'm just a volunteer who comes here to help other customers. My gear: Aclara SGM 1416-B Electricity-only E7 meter; Chameleon IHD3-PPMID-AAA | It may look as if I know what I’m talking about, but don’t let that fool you. |
        A
        Newcomer
        Adeline
        Newcomer
        August 20, 2023

        Many thanks. Appreciate your advice.

         

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