Ovo Energy Sinks into £8.9 Million Hoops for Billing Blunders
Ovo Energy just agreed to hand over £8.9 million to Ofgem in a voluntary settlement after a whistle‑blower audit revealed customers were charged more than they should have been and received bogus statements. Basically, the company’s “bleeding‑edge” billing system decided to act like a mischievous prankster.
What Went Wrong?
Between July 2015 and February 2018, about half a million people got tangled up in Ov’s “inaccurate statements.” Think of it as getting a bill that says you were charged for a silent dinner when you only bought a sandwich.
Ovo admits that the flaws stem from:
- Mis‑calculated estimation processes—the software misinterpreted the numbers.
- Messy information formatting that left customers guessing which line was which.
- Reckless pricing errors that added pennies (or dollars) to the wrong accounts.
They apologized, saying, “We hold ourselves to high standards, but we haven’t always got it right. We accept Ofgem’s findings of issues regarding estimation processes, information formatting and pricing errors.” Which is a fancy way of saying, “Oops. Our system acted up, and we’re paying for it now.”
Why Now? The Regulatory Grab Bag
Ofgem’s audit didn’t just stop after discovering the billing mess; it also spilled the beans on how Ovo handled data and pricing. It’s clear that the company needed to tighten up its processes before customers had to deal with surprise bills.
Customer Takeaway
If you’re an Ovo customer, the main message is that you may have seen extra charges on your bill. The company is now shuffling its cash to give back what’s due, and it’s a reminder that even big energy firms can slip on the efficiency ladder.
What Should You Do?
- Check your recent bills for discrepancies.
- Contact Ovo’s customer service to see if anything needs to be re‑issued.
- Keep a record—because if a bill ever turns into a prank, you’ll have the proof.
Bottom line: Ovo’s repayment is a shot in the arm for customers, but the company still has to earn back trust. Good vibes and better billing ahead—hopefully!
