Why are OVO disabling the real-time smart usage features!?

Just to echo the posts of the other users on here, I'm extremely disappointed in this and have already provided my thoughts on it to OVO directly. I understand OVO want to protect users from incorrect information, but:

- no timescales on alternatives for something that many signed up with OVO as a unique selling point is unacceptable, especially when users like myself have just tied myself into a fixed term based on this facility.
- I don't get the OVO logic and misunderstanding of how customers use the service. You've provided an app and website that provides real time information. If your customers were happy to just use the IHD, you'd have no users of the live information and so you wouldn't need to worry about switching off the feed. That's obviously not the case and you know people use the live data outside of the home in the app and website, so how can you suggest using the IHD alone as satisfactory?

OVO was more expensive than my other green energy options, and having this feature was the main reason for me signing up for another 12 months. To have it removed within 2 months is a pain.

@OVO - please focus on fixing this asap or giving us information on what the alternatives will be and timescales. In the meantime try to appease your loyal advocates by looking into ways of letting people access the live data from the smart gateway.

Unfortunately without either of these, you'll find us slowly moving away - I'm only one customer so it's hardly threatening with an ultimatum. But the reality is, that if a company chooses to remove a USP, customers will simply revert back to supplier choice based on price, and you'll lose out based on that.

Once my current contract expires I will choose the cheapest supplier and say goodbye to OVO. I only stayed with OVO once prices went up because i like the Smart gateway Live data features.
I think this withdrawal of an important feature counts as breach of contract by OVO and I am looking into legal aspects of leaving immediately without penalty because of this.
Will keep you posted.

Another dissatisfied customer here. The real-time usage data was one of the big reasons why we stayed with OVO. Can't see that there's really much point now. @Scotty22 - if you make any progress on the contractual side, do please share it here!

I can't help wondering whether it's a coincidence that the real-time data is being switched off on exactly the same date that the new General Data Protection Regulations come into force. Is there some aspect of this related to privacy and data security, that OVO can't (or can't be bothered to) solve? @Emma_OVO - care to comment on that, please?

I can't help wondering whether it's a coincidence that the real-time data is being switched off on exactly the same date that the new General Data Protection Regulations come into force. Is there some aspect of this related to privacy and data security, that OVO can't (or can't be bothered to) solve? @Emma_OVO - care to comment on that, please?

Maybe there's a big old data leak that they don't want to admit to...

I can't help wondering whether it's a coincidence that the real-time data is being switched off on exactly the same date that the new General Data Protection Regulations come into force. Is there some aspect of this related to privacy and data security, that OVO can't (or can't be bothered to) solve? @Emma_OVO - care to comment on that, please?

You know, I was thinking the exact same thing...

Once my current contract expires I will choose the cheapest supplier and say goodbye to OVO. I only stayed with OVO once prices went up because i like the Smart gateway Live data features.
I think this withdrawal of an important feature counts as breach of contract by OVO and I am looking into legal aspects of leaving immediately without penalty because of this.
Will keep you posted.

This may be of use:

https://epr.ofgem.gov.uk/Content/Documents/Gas%20Supply%20Standard%20Licence%20Conditions%20Consolidated%20-%20Current%20Version.pdf

This quotation stands out to me:

Condition 34. Provision of an In-Home Display
The general duty
34.1 The licensee must, where it installs or arranges for the installation of a Smart Metering
System at any Domestic Premises on or after the Smart Metering Designated Date,
ensure that it:
(a) provides to the Domestic Customer at the premises complete and accurate
information, which does not mislead the Domestic Customer, concerning the
availability and benefits of an In-Home Display;
(b) communicates that information in plain and intelligible language;
(c) offers the Domestic Customer the opportunity to have an In-Home Display
provided at the Domestic Premises on or after the HAN Date;
(d) where the Domestic Customer accepts the offer, provides at the premises on or
as soon as reasonably practicable after the HAN date, an In-Home Display; and
(e) where it provides an In-Home Display pursuant to sub-paragraph (d), provides
an In-Home Display that is of a type that is capable of being connected, through
the HAN to the Smart Metering System at the premises, at the Specified
Frequency Band, unless it would be technically impracticable for an In-Home
Display provided at the premises to be so connected (and for the purposes of this
sub-paragraph (e) it shall be considered to be technically impracticable for an InHome
Display provided at the premises to be so connected where any such
connection cannot be made without the installation of additional equipment or
the relocation of any part of the Smart Metering System at the premises).

Considering the IHD does *not* provide real time data in relation to the Gas consumption, as well as the fact that the costs figure on the IHD is also never accurate (I've seen posts where the tarrif amount on the IHD is different to that on the bills) to be they are in breach of the licensing requirements set out by ofgem? The data is not accurate, and is most definitely misleading...

As for the 2 exceptions

34.5 The licensee is not required to comply with paragraph 34.1 if a device has been
provided by any person at the Domestic Premises which on the date on which the Smart
Metering System is installed at the Domestic Premises constitutes an In-Home Display.

Well they don't let us use our own CAD device, so this doesn't apply...

34.9 Where the Secretary of State gives a direction to the licensee under paragraph 34.10,
the licensee:
(a) is not required to comply with paragraphs 34.1 and 34.6 to such extent and
subject to such conditions as specified in the direction; and
(b) must submit to the Secretary of State the evidence specified in the direction by
the Relevant Date.

Have ovo had this exception from the Sec of State?

Unfortunately I suspect this thread will continue to be ignored by OVO while it still has a solved tag on it! Maybe making lots of individual threads will get their attention faster...

I have to share my similar disappointment at the switching off of the online smart usage meters, which I agree was surely one of the most useful elements of the service provided. I haven't even had an email or any form of contact regarding the removal of this service. The pipit IHD is of no use whatsoever as it never seems to reset itself after the issuing of a bill / statement so can't be used to monitor daily usage at all. Once my contract is up I shall be looking to move away to another provider that can provide a service more in line with the whole purpose of having had a smart meter fitted.

Hi there I'm new here and totally confused. I am not technical so please excuse any mistakes I may make. I joined Ovo in October when my fixed rate deal with British Gas finished. Ove were not the cheapest but it was important that I had a smart meter as I'd been using them from BG for a while and liked them. I called Ovo before my switch and they confirmed I would be getting the same service from BG although I'd have to switch meters which I did.

I check my readings via the usage graph every morning and evaluate the previous day's use, if I've used a lot of gas I look to turn my boiler down a touch if it is not too cold, I am not only helping my purse but the environment too. I don't quiet understand the email about the changes, will I still be able to do this because over the past week my readings have been missing or are all the same so presumably wrong. I joined Ovo for this feature and if they are not providing this surely I can be released from my fixed term contract? I hope I have understood all this correctly :s.

Hi there I'm new here and totally confused. I am not technical so please excuse any mistakes I may make. I joined Ovo in October when my fixed rate deal with British Gas finished. Ove were not the cheapest but it was important that I had a smart meter as I'd been using them from BG for a while and liked them. I called Ovo before my switch and they confirmed I would be getting the same service from BG although I'd have to switch meters which I did.

I check my readings via the usage graph every morning and evaluate the previous day's use, if I've used a lot of gas I look to turn my boiler down a touch if it is not too cold, I am not only helping my purse but the environment too. I don't quiet understand the email about the changes, will I still be able to do this because over the past week my readings have been missing or are all the same so presumably wrong. I joined Ovo for this feature and if they are not providing this surely I can be released from my fixed term contract? I hope I have understood all this correctly :s.