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Shads_OVO
Retired Moderator
Shads_OVO
Retired Moderator
September 26, 2024
News

Upcoming Smart Meter Comms Hub Pilot

  • September 26, 2024
  • 30 replies
  • 1126 views
Upcoming Smart Meter Comms Hub Pilot

Updated on 22/01/25 by Abby_OVO

 

We’re currently looking for OVO customers who’d be interested in taking part in a Trust Centre Swap Out (TCSO) trial. The trial will hopefully allow us to swap your standard smart meter comms hubs with a new one without needing to exchange/replace the entire smart metering system within your home.

 

In the future this capability will help us to exchange and replace existing comms hubs with newer dual band and 4g variants to overcome in-home challenges associated with poor or low signal. 

 

By taking part in this trial, you'd help us on our journey to make energy better for people and the planet, by reducing the waste and the time required on site to resolve problems with our smart metering equipment.

 

What is a smart meter comms hub?

 

A comms hub connects smart gas and electric meters to a secure network and creates a HAN (Home Area Network). This allows your smart meters and In-Home Display to connect to each other. 

 

Dual Band comms hubs use multiple frequencies to increase the coverage of smart meters. It can help push the signal further in buildings that may be difficult to reach. This allows us to be able to communicate with your meters better.

 

To be able to take part in this pilot you need:

 

A SMETS2 Electricity meter that is sending remote readings that are being used for billing 

 

What happens on the day?

 

An engineer will arrive at your home and conduct a network signal check. 

 

If the signal check is passed, they’ll exchange the comms hub and wait for the HAN to reconnect. There will be no interruption to your power and we should not be on site for longer than 90 minutes.

 

If the new comms hub fails to reconnect our Engineer will remove and replace the entire smart metering system to ensure that you are left with communicating meters. 

 

This will mean your supply will be interrupted , if you're reliant on any medical equipment, please speak to your engineer before shutting off your power.

 

As this is a trial we do have to let you know that there is a chance that this could happen, but we hope it’s unlikely. This won't impact your energy supply and will be done on the same day.

 

If you have any further questions, please feel free to comment below.

    30 replies

    Show previous replies
    Emmanuelle_OVO
    Retired Moderator
    Emmanuelle_OVO
    Retired Moderator
    October 24, 2024

    Hey @Retroanaconda 

     

    If you send me a private message to confirm your details I’ll forward this to the team & they can advise if you’re eligible for the trial 😊

    Renewable Energy? Big Fan.
    M
    Rank 7
    mikes01666
    Rank 7
    October 24, 2024

    Happy to take part.

    South West.

    Electricity supply only.

    Marginal mobile signal. Current connection via domestic WiFi.

    Emmanuelle_OVO
    Retired Moderator
    Emmanuelle_OVO
    Retired Moderator
    October 25, 2024

    Hey Mike 

     

    I’ll PM you for your details 😁

    Renewable Energy? Big Fan.
    G
    Newcomer
    Glasgowhome
    Newcomer
    November 28, 2024

    I am in Glasgow and would be happy to help. Just had my smart electricity meter fitted but he could not fit smart meter for gas as is outside front window and signal not good enough. He said alt han would work but alt han was on pause due to product recall. I see Alt Han Company have now delivered the new products to all energy suppliers and either way I am keen to get my smart gas meter fitted. Thanks.

    J
    Newcomer
    JFisher22
    Newcomer
    November 29, 2024

    Hello,

    I’m in Northumberland and have a non-functioning SMETS2 420DB electricity meter. I’m with another supplier but would happily change if I could be included in this trial.

    We have excellent 4G signal as the mast is just across the road but the 423mhz radio signal is sadly lacking.

     

    Thanks

    Shads_OVO
    Retired Moderator
    Shads_OVOAuthor
    Retired Moderator
    November 29, 2024

    Hi ​@Glasgowhome,

     

    I’ll PM you for your details shortly.

    Blastoise186
    Super User
    Blastoise186Super User
    Super User
    November 29, 2024

    Hi ​@JFisher22 ,

    IIRC you need an already fully functioning and fully communicating S2 Smart Meter for this trial, so I’m not sure you can join right now. I’ll ask ​@Bradley_OVO to double check 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!
      Bradley_OVO
      Community Manager
      Bradley_OVO
      Community Leader
      December 2, 2024

      Apologies for the delay ​@JFisher22 - Loving the interest!

      (Thanks for the tag ​@Blastoise186 👌)

       

      I’ll reach out to our Hub Pilot organiser and see if this is something we can confirm for you 😎

      I'm not lazy, I'm just in energy saving mode!
        Bradley_OVO
        Community Manager
        Bradley_OVO
        Community Leader
        December 2, 2024

        Hey ​@JFisher22 

         

        Speaking with the 4G lead on this pilot and it looks like the industry wide change is for South and Central regions of the UK currently. The North isnt currently a region that’ll be affected by this change for a couple more years unfortunately, so it doesnt look like we’d be able to get you on board with this pilot.

        The team really appreciates your interest though and wanted me to pass this on to you.

        I'm not lazy, I'm just in energy saving mode!
        J
        Newcomer
        JFisher22
        Newcomer
        December 2, 2024

        Thanks for the reply Bradley

         

        I'm aware of the geographical boundaries and the different technology used to deliver (or not) smart meter data to the DCC & suppliers.

        However I noticed that on this thread a customer in Glasgow has also asked to be enrolled in the pilot. As we are in the same northern region would it not be possible to offer the pilot to other customers if for no other reason to establish it as a viable alternative to replace/enhance the poor radio signal on many northern smart meters?

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