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deanphillips2005
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April 11, 2024
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Power Move times in relation to recent clock changes

  • April 11, 2024
  • 23 replies
  • 598 views

Apologies if this has been answered previously.

I am pasting my chat with OVO social media in regards to my question, which they stated they couldn’t answer on the social media team. Hopefully, someone can shed some light on it, I can’t be the only one affected by it.

Hello, With regards to the Power Move...when the clocks went forward on March 31, the system wasn't caught up and still records my usage an hour earlier. Therefore, the current Power Move times are between 6pm-9pm which I have been adhering to. However, as the system is still 1 hour out, it means that my Power Move times are unknown and possibly between 7pm and 10pm. Are you able to confirm please if I am on target to get the Power Move reward, I shouldn't be penalised because of a system fault at OVO's end. If I should treat the Power Move hours as 7-10pm, I am struggling with that. It's a big leap from the previous 4-7pm which was entirely doable. 7-10pm is not though for me, as I need to take nutrition with my medication before 10pm
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i can do 6pm - 9pm but need to know if these are the correct hours in relation to the 1 hour time difference that the system is displaying

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as an example of where I might by getting penalised is that last night I cooked at just before 10pm, which meant that I should have qualified for the 6-9pm Power Move target. However the system recorded me as cooking dinner an hour earlier, before 9pm

Best answer by Firedog

Updated on 07/03/25 by Chris_OVO

 

@deanphillips2005 Here’s an idea that may help: account.ovoenergy.com seems to pick up the operating system’s time zone on Windows, so if this isn’t set to UTC+1 for BST, you’ll see the odd behaviour as regards the half-hour timings. This does seem unlikely, because the clock in the corner of the Windows screen will be an hour adrift, and most users will spot that. Perhaps you’re not on Windows …

In any case, check that your time zone is set properly for BST: e.g. right-click on the clock and select Adjust date and time. Most users will have Set the time automatically and Set the time zone automatically selected. If the latter isn’t selected, the two options above it will allow you to Adjust for daylight saving time automatically (DST) and to see and set the time zone. To persuade OVO to show you what you expect to see, it should be (UTC + 00.00) Dublin Edinburgh … with automatic DST.

If you’re using a different OS, the equivalent settings will be there somewhere.

I just compared my Hh usage figures for yesterday with the Windows options to stay on UTC variously on and off. These were the results:
   

  

You’ll see the one hour’s offset, where UTC’s 12:00 becomes BST’s 1:00. 

Any help?

23 replies

Blastoise186
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Blastoise186Super User
Super User
April 11, 2024

Hey @deanphillips2005 ,

From what I understand, it’s 6pm to 9pm in the current timezone i.e. BST right now.

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deanphillips2005Author
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April 11, 2024

Hey @deanphillips2005 ,

From what I understand, it’s 6pm to 9pm in the current timezone i.e. BST right now.

Thanks for the response. That wasn’t my issue though. I am aware that it is 6-9pm BST but the system is recording my usage an hour earlier, which may affect the Power Move reward.

 

Blastoise186
Super User
Blastoise186Super User
Super User
April 11, 2024

Ahhh gotcha.

Let me see what I can find backstage on this. You OK to hang on for a bit? We might have some notes somewhere...

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deanphillips2005Author
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April 11, 2024

Ahhh gotcha.

Let me see what I can find backstage on this. You OK to hang on for a bit? We might have some notes somewhere...

Thanks!

Nukecad
Super User
NukecadSuper User
Super User
April 11, 2024

Just looking at my own chart from yesterday it appears to be correct.

I cooked at 5.30 just before the PM period, air fryer, microwave, and kettle all in use, and that is refected in the usage spike there (a similar spike was when I cooked lunch at 12:30):

PS. If anyone is wondering the biger spikes just after midnight are due to a 1kW fan heater.

I said, Hey - Watts going on.
    Firedog
    Super User
    FiredogSuper User
    Super User
    April 11, 2024

    I wrote a few notes about this here.  The system records all usage in UTC, but it depends on where you’re looking whether you see UTC or BST timings. The online usage pages show BST, but with a fudge for the first and last hours of the day. Where are you seeing last night’s cookery recorded before 21:00?

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      deanphillips2005Author
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      April 11, 2024

      Just looking at my own chart from yesterday it appears to be correct.

      I cooked at 5.30 just before the PM period, air fryer, microwave, and kettle all on, and that is refected in the usage spike there (similar spike to when I cooked lunch at 12:30):

       

      Thanks for the response. My usage are recording like yours but 1 hour earlier. This has been the case since the clocks went forward on Mar 31.

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      deanphillips2005Author
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      April 11, 2024

      I wrote a few notes about this here.  The system records all usage in UTC, but it depends on where you’re looking whether you see UTC or BST timings. The online usage pages show BST, but with a fudge for the first and last hours of the day. Where are you seeing last night’s cookery recorded before 21:00?

      I’ll have a look at those notes. I am unable to get screengrabs of the are, but where I see it being recorded 1 hour earlier is in the daily usage stats (where they are represented in bar charts with the times listed underneath. I was advised by OVO colleague to go with the 7-10pm but this is a pain for me and I don’t think I should be getting singled out in such a manner. 

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      deanphillips2005Author
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      April 11, 2024

      I wrote a few notes about this here.  The system records all usage in UTC, but it depends on where you’re looking whether you see UTC or BST timings. The online usage pages show BST, but with a fudge for the first and last hours of the day. Where are you seeing last night’s cookery recorded before 21:00?

      Your note, here definitely applies in my case:

      “Those attempting the Power Move challenge should be wary of the change. I'm not sure whether the weekday consumption is measured from midnight BST or UTC, even though the peak timings are obviously BST. Again, this won't make much difference for ordinary users, but for those of us who like to get precise results, it could make the difference between earning and not earning the reward if we're on the borderline.”

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      Sally123
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      April 11, 2024

      I do wonder if to many of us were achieving the maximum £15 cash back during the past powermoves. I use such a small amount of electicity that without switching off the fridge/freezer I can’t see me reaching the £10 target this season, which is a real pain as my standing charges are now more than my energy used so it feels I will lose out both ways

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