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Rank 2
October 27, 2023
Solved

The smart meter shows electricity consumption that was not there. Why?

  • October 27, 2023
  • 53 replies
  • 1710 views

To install the smart meter, I had normal power consumption. After installing this, the counter suddenly increased. I wasn't able to determine how much electricity consumption had increased. But from April 15 to September 25, 2023, I was not in the apartment. I turned off everything. even the electricity consumption indicator which supposedly consumes 1kWh of electricity per year. I also turned off all the sockets. I also unplugged the refrigerator and washing machine. Unfortunately, after receiving the bills, I saw in black and white that I used over 111 kWh per month when I was not at home. Nobody has a key to my apartment. How is it possible?

Best answer by Emmanuelle_OVO

Updated on 01/04/25 by Ben_OVO:

Hey @Dorota Parker,

 

From the screenshots you’ve sent it does seem that your meter is communicating fine, and that usage was consumed. 

 

I think the best advice for you would be to follow these instructions:

 

What’s the best way to locate an energy guzzling appliance?

 

Worried that your electricity usage seems high? By checking the usage of each circuit you might be able to find out the particular appliance which is the culprit. The meter will need to have decimals showing in the reading for this test to be useful:

  1. Leave the main breaker in.
  2. Turn off all individual circuits (on the fuse board, for example).
  3. The electricity meter should stop clocking usage. If not, there could be a short in the fuse/breaker panel box or an appliance connected without fuse/breaker protection. An electrician will be needed to investigate this.
  4. Turn on one individual circuit.
  5. Watch to see if the electric meter starts to clock usage.
  6. Turn off that individual circuit and turn on another one. Again, watch to see if the electric meter is clocking.
  7. Repeat step 6 until all individual circuits have been checked.

You’re looking for a circuit that causes the meter to clock a lot of usage, compared to the other circuits. There could be a problem with an appliance or a connection on that circuit. We’d recommend contacting an electrician to check the appliances on this circuit, particularly if there are any old or potentially faulty appliances plugged in.  Find out the average usage for each appliances on this great guide and some great energy saving advice on the Centre for Sustainable Energy.


How do I perform a Creep Test on my electricity meter?


If you’ve been unable to get to the bottom of an increase in our usage by locating a greedy appliance, the next step would be to carry out an initial check on the accuracy of the meter with a ‘Creep Test’. To carry this out: turn off the power to your fuse box and check if the meter continues to clock. If the meter clocks (more than 1 - 2 units which could be down to residual power in the wires)  then it's either faulty, or clocking someone else’s usage.

 

If your meter is in a communal meter cupboard, sometimes the meter details can get mixed up. Firstly it’s worth checking the meter serial number on the meter matches the serial number registered on your account. You can see this on the ‘Meter readings’ page of your online account.

 

53 replies

Rank 2
November 2, 2023

I told many time that I OFF ALL FROM SOCKETS TOO before we go out from flat.

Now I was lucking usage every 30 min and I do not this is estimated? Every 30 min on my online account we can see how many kWh we really use. This is not estimated, because I cannot see today day but only all OCtober and I can see every 30 min how much we use. When my child is there and fridge is working her usage in 30 min specially night time is smaller as we OFF ALL. How to explain that?

Tim_OVO
OVO Staff
OVO Forum Legend
November 3, 2023

Hi @Dorota Parker

 

I don’t fully understand your question. But let’s create two scenarios so we can advise you on what to do for each:

 

  1. Your smart meter isn’t estimating usage but somehow is over-recording your usage
  2. Something beyond the meter is drawing power and inflating your meter readings and costs. 

 

For scenario one, we outline your options here:

 

 

And for scenario two, there’s an OVO guide here that’s worth a look. 

 

Hope this helps

Carbon neutral - we need a community to get there! My green tech: Aclara SGM 1411-B smart meter, Chameleon IHD6
Firedog
Super User
Super User
November 3, 2023

@Dorota Parker 
Can you please post screenshots of these two pages:

https://account.ovoenergy.com/usage?date=2023-09-23&datePeriod=daily&unit=kwh

https://account.ovoenergy.com/usage?date=2023-09-24&datePeriod=daily&unit=kwh

 

This will show us the usage pattern for a day when you say the flat was empty and the for following day, which showed markedly greater consumption. We might be able to spot when and how all this electricity was being used. 

I would just say that 17kWh for a day when someone is home isn’t remarkable; it’s equivalent to turning on a one-bar electric fire when you get up and off again when you go to bed. 3.6kWh for a day when no-one is home and everything is switched off is too much, unless there’s some heating involved, e.g. governed by a thermostat and not by a socket switch.

 

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. |
Rank 2
November 3, 2023

Ovo does not helping us to solve the problem. We paid from August 2022 for smart meter and from that time we have extra usage 111 kWh we pay more 32 pounds each month extra. Now I found only one way for my child- student with loan and who is not working and pay for nothing -- sell the flat and buy another one but NEVER EVER any smart meters. My child will be lost about 700 pounds to the time this meter was fix to the time we will move away.

I found information from my country that there are problem with smart meters not only we have it. Thank you very much for all of you for supporting me. I am very sad because we will change nice flat to mold and damp place only because I know we pay for nothing

Firedog
Super User
Super User
November 4, 2023

Ovo does not helping us to solve the problem.

 

 

No-one knows what’s causing the problem yet, so that’s why nothing can be done to solve it. So far, it sounds as if there’s something still connected and using power even though you think everything is switched off. Whatever is wrong, it’s not likely to be with the meter, smart or not. To be sure, you’ll have to do some investigating yourself, by following the steps in this article that Tim referred to earlier. And if you posted the screenshots I asked for, we might have some suggestions.

 

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. |
juliamc
Rank 20
Rank 20
November 4, 2023

@Dorota Parker Before you sell the flat please can you check these pages as has been suggested above. This will help diagnose the problem:

Can you please post screenshots of these two pages:

https://account.ovoenergy.com/usage?date=2023-09-23&datePeriod=daily&unit=kwh

https://account.ovoenergy.com/usage?date=2023-09-24&datePeriod=daily&unit=kwh

 

This will show us the usage pattern for a day when you say the flat was empty and the for following day, which showed markedly greater consumption

Rank 2
November 4, 2023

Thank you. Now I see something new. We came to this flat on 24th of September about 9pm, but we have usage 12AM to 1.30AM? If I have problem with water tank for ex I have usage every 30 min about 0.07-0,08kWh I investigate this now and our tank is off from fuse. and this usage I see when we was not there 4 months but how explain usage on 24th of September night -- nobody came and on something for 1.30 hour. If it was like that each day or each week or each month in this 4 months time was night time usage but is it not. I was looking out coach tickets. We came to Cardiff only about 8.30--9PM, 

Your 24 Sep 2023 energy use

Total Electricity cost

Total Electricity kWh

17.03

 

Before midday

Time period Usage
12:00am 1.87 kWh
12:30am 3.15 kWh
1:00am 1.04 kWh
1:30am 0.14 kWh
2:00am 0.07 kWh
2:30am 0.07 kWh
3:00am 0.08 kWh
3:30am 0.07 kWh
4:00am 0.08 kWh
4:30am 0.08 kWh
5:00am 0.07 kWh
5:30am 0.08 kWh
6:00am 0.08 kWh
6:30am 0.07 kWh
7:00am 0.07 kWh
7:30am 0.07 kWh
8:00am 0.07 kWh
8:30am 0.07 kWh
9:00am 0.07 kWh
9:30am 0.07 kWh
10:00am 0.07 kWh
10:30am 0.07 kWh
11:00am 0.07 kWh
11:30am 0.07 kWh

After midday

Time period Usage
12:00pm 0.07 kWh
12:30pm 0.07 kWh
1:00pm 0.07 kWh
1:30pm 0.07 kWh
2:00pm 0.07 kWh
2:30pm 0.07 kWh
3:00pm 0.07 kWh
3:30pm 0.07 kWh
4:00pm 0.08 kWh
4:30pm 0.07 kWh
5:00pm 0.07 kWh
5:30pm 0.07 kWh
6:00pm 0.07 kWh
6:30pm 0.07 kWh
7:00pm 0.07 kWh
7:30pm 0.08 kWh
8:00pm 0.07 kWh
8:30pm 0.08 kWh
9:00pm 0.81 kWh
9:30pm 1.73 kWh
10:00pm 1.72 kWh
10:30pm 0.72 kWh
11:00pm 1.67 kWh
11:30pm 1.35 kWh

Your 23 Sep 2023 energy use

 

Total Electricity cost

Total Electricity kWh

3.59

 

Before midday

Time period Usage
12:00am 0.07 kWh
12:30am 0.07 kWh
1:00am 0.08 kWh
1:30am 0.07 kWh
2:00am 0.08 kWh
2:30am 0.07 kWh
3:00am 0.08 kWh
3:30am 0.08 kWh
4:00am 0.08 kWh
4:30am 0.07 kWh
5:00am 0.07 kWh
5:30am 0.08 kWh
6:00am 0.08 kWh
6:30am 0.08 kWh
7:00am 0.07 kWh
7:30am 0.07 kWh
8:00am 0.07 kWh
8:30am 0.08 kWh
9:00am 0.07 kWh
9:30am 0.07 kWh
10:00am 0.07 kWh
10:30am 0.07 kWh
11:00am 0.07 kWh
11:30am 0.07 kWh

After midday

Time period Usage
12:00pm 0.07 kWh
12:30pm 0.08 kWh
1:00pm 0.07 kWh
1:30pm 0.07 kWh
2:00pm 0.07 kWh
2:30pm 0.07 kWh
3:00pm 0.07 kWh
3:30pm 0.07 kWh
4:00pm 0.07 kWh
4:30pm 0.07 kWh
5:00pm 0.07 kWh
5:30pm 0.07 kWh
6:00pm 0.07 kWh
6:30pm 0.07 kWh
7:00pm 0.07 kWh
7:30pm 0.07 kWh
8:00pm 0.07 kWh
8:30pm 0.08 kWh
9:00pm 0.07 kWh
9:30pm 0.07 kWh
10:00pm 0.07 kWh
10:30pm 0.07 kWh
11:00pm 0.08 kWh
11:30pm 0.07 kWh

Need help? You can get support on our help centre (opens in new window) 

juliamc
Rank 20
Rank 20
November 4, 2023

This information is exactly what’s needed for detecting how much electricity use has been during each half hour period of the day. You can only get this kind of detail from a smart meter !!! That’s every reason to keep it, and the flat. 

Rank 2
November 4, 2023

Thank you very much. I am trying to find if it is water tank, because one person here told me that it can be the problem, but you show me another think I do not found it before-, that on 24 of September night I have usage 1,5 hours and in 4 months time I do not have this kind of usage. And it is something different and happen only one time in 4,5 months time.

I will be investigate the cylinder and one day when my child will off all and go to school I will ask her turn off all but the cylinder off but not from fuse. I will see if there will be again 0.08 kWh or not. and the problem will be with cylinder. Water is cold but maybe programmer or something? I am not electrician but I will try to get the answer.

About night usage I have some idea why it happen. Not to trust any more estate agent and left them key. Now I am happy they use our flat only one night on 24th of September. 

juliamc
Rank 20
Rank 20
November 4, 2023

Great detective work!!!