Consumer Rights - Investigation

OVO Energy Refund 2026:
Are You Owed Money?

OVO Energy has agreed over £24m in Ofgem settlements since 2020. Here is who was affected and how to claim if you were missed.

Ofgem settlements since 2020
£24m+
Four cases
Inaccurate annual statements
500,000+
2017-2020
Average EPG refund
£181
2023
Prepayment meter settlement
£10.4m
2026

Ofgem has closed four cases of OVO Energy overcharging since 2020. The OVO Energy fine Ofgem total now sits above £24m, but many OVO Energy customers were never told the case applied to them.

The full OVO Energy fine Ofgem timeline

OVO's record covers four distinct cases. Working out which one fits your account is the first step in any OVO Energy refund claim.

2020
£8.9 million: billing and communications failures
OVO issued inaccurate annual statements to over 500,000 customers across three years - a systemic OVO billing error. £8.9m paid to a voluntary redress fund.
May 2023
£4 million (jointly with Good Energy): EPG overcharging
10,987 OVO Energy customers charged above the EPG cap between Oct 2022 and Mar 2023. OVO's £2m share was paid as an average OVO Energy Price Guarantee refund of £181 per customer.
January 2026
£2 million: further Energy Price Guarantee overcharging
A separate Ofgem enforcement OVO case found OVO did not pass on EPG support to 11,646 customers for 19 months - well beyond the crisis window.
2026
£10.4 million: OVO prepayment meter failures
The 2026 OVO Ofgem settlement covered PPM customers 2018-2024, OVO Priority Services Register customers most affected. The OVO PPM refund split: £7m to a redress fund, £3.4m direct credits, £1.1m for Highlands and Islands customers.

OVO Ofgem settlement 2026 summary

Case Settlement Affected period Refund route
Billing & communications £8.9m 2017-2020 Voluntary redress fund
EPG overcharging (joint) £2m (of £4m) Oct 2022-Mar 2023 OVO automatic refund avg £181
EPG overcharging (further) £2m 2022-2024 OVO automatic refund to 11,646
OVO PPM refund & PSR failures £10.4m 2018-2024 £3.4m direct credits + redress fund

Were you on the OVO automatic refund list?

For the 2023 and 2026 EPG cases, OVO rebilled and most went out as an OVO automatic refund. The 2020 billing failure went to a voluntary redress fund, so anyone with an inaccurate statement needs to file an OVO billing complaint themselves.

Switched supplier in those windows? Refunds follow you, not your old account. If your contact details changed after leaving OVO, the supplier may not have reached you. Contact OVO with the old account number and the period.

How to get a refund from OVO Energy

How to claim energy refund UK style: an OVO billing complaint runs on the Ofgem framework - suppliers get eight weeks before the Energy Ombudsman complaint route opens. Check bills against the cap first to spot the wider energy overcharging UK pattern.

1
Gather evidence

Collect OVO bills, compare unit rate and standing charge against the Ofgem cap on our SwitchPilot tariff tracker.

2
File OVO Energy complaints in writing

Email or OVO's online form, not the phone. State dates, rate charged, correct rate. Get a reference number.

3
Wait up to eight weeks

If OVO resolves the case satisfactorily, the matter concludes. Otherwise, escalate.

4
Request a deadlock letter and refer to the Ombudsman

Go to the Energy Ombudsman at ombudsman-services.org. Their decisions are binding on OVO and can include compensation.

5
Contact Citizens Advice for support

The free Citizens Advice energy helpline (0808 223 1133, Mon-Fri) can draft your complaint letter.

SwitchInsights' take:

OVO Energy customers from the affected windows (Oct 2022-Mar 2023, 2017-2020, PPM 2018-2024) should check accounts for an OVO Energy refund. If nothing was credited, write to OVO - the eight-week clock starts when you complain. Use our SwitchPilot tariff tracker to see if a fixed deal beats your rate.

How SwitchInsights tracked this

The SwitchInsights analysis tracks the four Ofgem enforcement OVO actions since 2020. The SwitchInsights methodology checks settlement values against Ofgem press releases, and SwitchInsights research will update this if Ofgem opens any further OVO case.

OVO Energy refund: FAQ

Was I overcharged by OVO Energy?

You might have been if you were a PPM customer between 2018 and 2024, an EPG recipient between Oct 2022 and Mar 2023, or one of the 500,000+ customers with inaccurate annual statements between 2017 and 2020. Most got an OVO automatic refund; switched-away customers should check.

How to get a refund from OVO Energy?

For the specific Ofgem cases, refunds were issued automatically. Otherwise, file an OVO billing complaint in writing. If unresolved in eight weeks, raise an Energy Ombudsman complaint.

How much was OVO fined by Ofgem?

Over £24m since 2020: £8.9m billing failures (2020), £2m share of £4m with Good Energy (2023), £2m EPG overcharging (2026), and the £10.4m OVO Ofgem settlement 2026 for prepayment meter failures.

What if OVO does not resolve my complaint?

If OVO does not get back to you in eight weeks, ask for a deadlock letter and take it to the Energy Ombudsman. Citizens Advice offers free help on 0808 223 1133.

Who were the OVO prepayment meter failures affecting?

OVO PPM refund cases covered PPM customers 2018-2024, especially OVO Priority Services Register customers. The £10.4m settlement: £3.4m direct credits plus £1.1m for Highlands and Islands.

Can I switch away from OVO while a complaint is open?

Yes. Switching does not affect your refund right. Contact OVO with your former account number and the dates in dispute.

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Sources & References

  1. [1] Ofgem - Good Energy Limited and OVO Energy Limited pay £4 million for overcharging customers (May 2023). ofgem.gov.uk
  2. [2] Ofgem - OVO Energy Limited to pay £2,000,000 for Energy Price Guarantee overcharging (2026). ofgem.gov.uk
  3. [3] Ofgem - OVO Energy to pay £8.9 million for communications and billing issues (2020). ofgem.gov.uk
  4. [4] Eastern Eye - OVO Energy £10.4m Ofgem settlement: prepayment meter customer failures (2026). easterneye.biz
  5. [5] Ofgem - How to complain about your energy supplier. ofgem.gov.uk
  6. [6] Citizens Advice - How to complain to your energy supplier. citizensadvice.org.uk

Published 7 June 2026. Figures come from Ofgem's published enforcement notices. General information, not legal or financial advice.