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MikeMilf
Rank 5
August 13, 2023
Solved

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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Firedog
Super User
FiredogSuper User
Super User
August 22, 2023

Firedog

Please forgive me but I think you are wrong.

 

That’s quite possible, so I’m sorry if what I quoted isn’t helpful. I wonder if we’re talking about different models of IHD?

  

As a test, I set my daily budget to 0.01

 

The page I referred to makes no mention of setting a ‘daily budget’. That doesn’t mean the function doesn’t exist on the device the page is describing, just that whoever wrote the text perhaps didn’t give the whole picture and ended up misleading both of us. 

 

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. |
M
Rank 5
MikeMilfAuthor
Rank 5
August 22, 2023

Firedog

Please forgive me but I think you are wrong.

 

That’s quite possible, so I’m sorry if what I quoted isn’t helpful. I wonder if we’re talking about different models of IHD?

 

Hey Firedog….please dont apologise. You make me feel bad now because you have done nothing but be helpful

All I will say is that on my Geo IHD, there is a menu option to set a daily budget. I do not think this has any link to the O light that first got me thinking something wasnt right. On my IHD the O light is just a representation  of whether instant usage costs are low/medium/high. Obviously if instant usage is being linked to an incorrectly set tariff, then I think that will be the cause of my problem

Where is Jessica the Tech Lady when we need her….I need to hear further tales of her chats with CS lol…. Im not exactly relishing the thought of running all this past a switchboard person in CS. Would rather speak to a techie-type who would instantly recognise the problem weve identified

Once again Firedog, my apologies if any unintended offence was caused

 

 

 

Firedog
Super User
FiredogSuper User
Super User
August 22, 2023

Once again Firedog, my apologies if any unintended offence was caused …

 

No need - I wasn’t offended, and it takes a lot more than being told I’m wrong to offend me (it’s too often true 🙂).

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. |
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Newcomer
Tracy Chesney
Newcomer
August 29, 2023

I have been away for two weeks, so hence not using hardly any  electric. 

Come back to put the kettle on, to find that the dial jumps up to the red, I have never experienced the dial going into the red, are they charging me more to make up for the two weeks i have been away???!!

BPLightlog
Super User
BPLightlogSuper User
Super User
August 29, 2023

Hi @Tracy Chesney , the indication on the IHD (in home display) does not affect your plan rates. You can check these here https://account.ovoenergy.com/plan

Bring me Sunshine ~ E&E {Solar PV, Battery Storage, Hybrid EV, ASHP and Home Assistant automation}
    Emmanuelle_OVO
    Retired Moderator
    Emmanuelle_OVO
    Retired Moderator
    August 30, 2023

    Hey @Tracy Chesney,

     

    Welcome to the OVO Online Community,

     

    BPLightlog has given a helpful suggestion here. If the rates on your IHD are incorrect you can ask the support team for a ‘tariff configuration’. Don’t worry the rates on the IHD won’t affect your billing.

     

    If you’ve recently switched providers, it may be the IHD has re-set to it’s factory settings.

     

     

    Hope this helps.

    Renewable Energy? Big Fan.
    M
    Rank 5
    MikeMilfAuthor
    Rank 5
    September 13, 2023

    Took a break from monitoring readings as to be honest I was getting a bit obsessive lol

    Received my first months bill since the switch from SEB and surprisingly it was only £12.44 (yeah right). They have only billed me for the daily standing charge, but no actual usage despite all my readings being on the website.

    When I rang CS to raise a query I was (tersely) told that I had already been informed that the initial six weeks were subject to “validation”. Yeah ok, but there was no mention of this causing delayed billing…..

    Needless to say I have not heard from tech support about the online form I submitted re incorrect tariffs. Then again, it hasnt been the forty-five days they said I would have to wait. Even if I wanted to chase it up I cant as they dont issue a ticket reference.

    I shall continue my regular prayers to the electricity fairy that all this will sort itself out with me having to spend hours on hold, like I did frequently with SEB

     

    Fingers crossed eh

    Emmanuelle_OVO
    Retired Moderator
    Emmanuelle_OVO
    Retired Moderator
    September 14, 2023

    Hey @MikeMilf,

     

    Sorry to hear this, 

     

    It can take 6 weeks to get your first bill when switching from a new supplier as the opening/closing readings need to be validated by the industry.

     

    Once this time period has elapsed please contact the support team if you haven’t received a proper statement. 

     

    In regards to the results from your load test, I’m not sure of an online form you can fill in for this? I’d advise calling the support team about this and they can get it raised to the right team if you haven’t done so already.

     

    I hope this gets resolved for you soon. 

    Renewable Energy? Big Fan.
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