Understanding your energy use, and how it shows on your account

Why is working out your energy use so important?

When it comes to energy bills, knowing exactly how much energy you’ve used could save you money. And it can also help cut our collective carbon footprint.

If you have a traditional meter, it’s important to take meter readings and send them to your supplier, so that your bills are accurate.

The best way to know exactly how much energy you’re using is to have a smart meter. Your smart meter automatically sends meter readings to your supplier. And it connects to your In-Home Display (IHD), giving you real-time insights on your energy use.

What happens if your energy use is overestimated

If you have a traditional meter, but haven’t sent meter readings, your supplier will use an estimate to work out your bill. If the estimate is higher than the amount of electricity you’ve used, your bill could be higher than it should be. 

If you use an estimate when looking for a quote to switch suppliers the quote could be higher than what you’d pay based on your actual energy use.

If you’re with OVO, paying too much will mean your account is in credit. This can help pay for your future energy costs – like in winter, when you’re likely to use more energy.

You can also apply for a refund if your account is in credit.

What happens if your energy use is underestimated

If your energy supplier’s estimate is lower than your actual energy use, then you might not be paying enough. This means that when you send a meter reading, your bill could be higher than usual. Sending regular meter readings helps avoid this happening.

It also means your Direct Debit payments will be smaller to start with, but might need to go up if they aren’t enough to cover your energy use.

When you’re getting a quote for your energy, it’s best to give an accurate estimate of your energy use. This helps your supplier set your payments at the right amount. It lowers the chance of unexpected payments later down the line, if you use more energy than expected. 

Find out more about how billing works.

Get a quote in under 2 minutes, to find out how much you could save.

Where can you find details of your energy use?

If you’re an OVO customer, you can see how much energy you’ve used in your online account. Click Usage in the sidebar to view your energy use in both kilowatt hours (kWh) and £ (on graphs).

To check your daily energy use:

• Login to your online account

• Choose the "Monthly" view to check your daily energy use

• Hover over the graph to see each day’s energy use in either £ or kWh

• Switch between £ and kWh using the button below the graph

• Click on any day’s data to get a detailed breakdown from the timed readings your smart meter sends

Another way to see your daily energy use is to scroll down below the graph, where it’ll be listed in £ or kWh.

What is a kWh?

A kWh is a unit of measurement that represents the amount of energy used to keep a 1,000 watt appliance running for 1 hour.

Find out more about kWs and how they’re used.

How we work out your energy use

We calculate your energy use based on the meter readings you send us. If you have a smart meter, the readings will be sent to us automatically. Every time we receive a reading, we update your energy use graphs.

If you have a traditional meter and you haven’t sent us a reading, we’ll use your most recent readings to estimate how much energy you’ve used that month. Similarly, if your smart meter doesn’t send us a reading, we’ll estimate your energy use based on your previous readings. You’ll see any estimated readings on your bill.

The more often you send us your meter readings, the more accurate your energy use graphs will be.

How your energy costs are worked out

Each OVO Energy tariff has its own unit rate, which is the amount you pay per kWh of electricity used. Each tariff also has a standing charge – a fixed daily amount you pay regardless of how much energy you use.

We use your tariff unit rates to show the cost of your energy use in £ on the graph.

This might be different from your bill if we’ve had to estimate your energy use due to missing readings. Once we get your next reading, we’ll update your energy use and cost graphs, and adjust any difference on your next bill.

How your Direct Debit payment is worked out

The aim is to make sure you have credit for 1 month’s payment in your OVO account by the end of March. This is to help cover any change in your home energy use over the course of the year. 

For new customers, this only comes into effect once you’ve reached March. When you first join, the aim is to make sure you have no balance left to pay after 1 year.

Your Direct Debit payment amount will be regularly reviewed to make sure it still covers your home’s energy use.

If you need financial support, we’re here to help

If you’re worried about your payments or you can’t afford them, please speak to our team. We can make sure you get financial support that’s tailored to you and your situation. There are many options available for anyone who needs help. To get in touch with our team: 

• Sign up to our online tool at ovoenergy.com/payment-support and we can find the best plan for you.

• Call us on 0800 408 6615. We’re here Monday to Friday, 9am and 5pm, and 9am to 2pm on Saturday. 

• Talk to us online at ovoenergy.com/help Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, and 9am to 2pm on Saturday. 

Another option is to have a Pay As You Go meter installed. You can pay off any balance gradually, while paying for your current energy use too.

Find out more about ways to get financial support.

What’s the average energy use?

The average household in the UK uses around 2,700 kWh of electricity and around 11,500 kWh of gas per year.¹ 

This can vary depending on factors such as the size of your home and how much energy you use. For example, flats and mid-terrace houses tend to use less energy, while detached houses generally use more. For more information, read our guide to average UK electricity use.

Find out more about how to monitor your energy use, especially when it comes to heating your home.

How to switch energy suppliers

When you're considering switching suppliers, shopping around makes sure you're getting the best deal based on your energy use.

Here’s how to switch:

• Visit suppliers' quote pages and enter your energy use information

• You’ll receive an immediate quote

• If you’re happy with the offer, provide a few more details (like your payment information)

• Your new supplier will take care of the rest and you’ll be switched over within 5 working days.

Get a quote from OVO in just a few minutes.

For more detailed advice, read our full article on switching energy suppliers.

Sources and references

1 https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/decision-typical-domestic-consumption-values-2023