How to Notify OVO Energy After a Death in the UK

Losing someone is hard enough without worrying that the gas or electricity will be cut off at the wrong moment. If the person who died had an OVO Energy account, the key thing is to tell OVO promptly and decide whether the supply should stay on, transfer to someone still living there, or close later when the property is empty.

In many families, the real risk is not the final bill. It is closing the account too early while someone is still living in the home, clearing it, waiting for probate, or preparing it for sale. OVO’s public bereavement guidance is useful because it recognises that this decision often needs to be made before the estate is fully sorted.

Tell OVO as soon as you can

OVO says you can report a death through its online bereavement form, by phone, or by email. Its dedicated bereavement contact details on the public help page are:

• Phone: 0330 175 9683
• Email: bereavement@ovoenergy.com

You do not need to have every document ready before making first contact. In most cases, it is better to notify the supplier early, explain the situation, and then send anything else they ask for afterwards.

What information OVO is likely to ask for

According to OVO’s bereavement guidance, it may ask for:

• your name and contact details
• the deceased person’s full name
• the postcode or address for the property supplied by OVO
• the date of death
• the details of the executor, administrator, or new account holder if that is someone else
• meter readings, if you can provide them

If you have a recent bill or know the account number, keep that to hand. If you do not, the address and the deceased’s details are usually the most important starting point.

Decide what should happen to the energy account

This is the most important decision in the whole process. OVO’s public guidance says it can usually do one of three things:

1. Transfer the account into a surviving spouse or partner’s name
2. Keep the account open in the name of the estate or “The Executors of”
3. Close the account if the estate is no longer responsible for the property

If somebody is still living in the home, or the home still needs heat, light, hot water or security systems running, do not rush to close the account. Keeping the supply live is often the safest option until the property is sold, handed back to a landlord, or no longer in use.

If the home was shared and the surviving occupier is staying there, a transfer into their name is often simplest. If nobody is living there but the property is still part of the estate, leaving the account open in the estate’s name may make more sense until everything is wrapped up.

Will you have to pay the bill personally?

Usually, no. OVO’s public guidance makes the same practical point many families need to hear: ongoing energy charges are generally a debt of the estate, not a personal debt of the relative who reports the death.

That matters because statements can keep arriving while probate or estate administration is still underway. OVO says it may continue to send statements for usage and standing charges until the property is sold or the keys are returned. That can feel alarming, but it does not automatically mean you personally owe the balance.

If there is money to pay, it is normally paid from estate funds when those become available. If the estate is insolvent or you are unsure how debts should be handled, slow down and get advice before paying anything out of your own pocket.

Meter readings matter more than most people expect

If you can safely access the property, take meter readings as early as possible. This helps OVO calculate a more accurate final balance and reduces the risk of estimated charges. OVO also says on its public page that it may ask for a photo of the meter reading in some situations, including where the credit balance is high.

Good practice is to:

• take clear photos of each meter
• note the date you took them
• keep a record of when the property became empty, was sold, or the keys were returned
• send final readings promptly once closure or transfer is agreed

OVO says it will send a final statement within about four weeks of closing the account.

If the property is empty, think about continuity first

An empty property can still need power. You may need lighting for visits, heating to help prevent damp, or electricity for alarms, fridges, freezers, pumps or access systems. If you are waiting for probate or a sale, it is often sensible to keep the account active until you know exactly when responsibility ends.

This is especially important if:

• the home is being cleared gradually
• the property is on the market
• there are vulnerable items or security systems inside
• there is a prepayment or smart meter setup that needs checking

Do not assume “nobody living there” means “close it now”. In practice, continuity is often the safer choice.

Extra products can mean extra steps

OVO’s public bereavement page also points out that some products are handled by different teams, including Feed-in Tariff arrangements and Home Services. If the person who died had solar export payments, boiler cover or other linked products, ask OVO whether those need separate notifications.

That question can save time. A family may think the energy account is sorted, only to find a different OVO service still in the deceased person’s name weeks later.

A simple checklist

Here is the simplest way to handle it:

1. Report the death to OVO by form, phone or email
2. Gather the property address, deceased’s details and your contact details
3. Decide whether the account should transfer, stay open for the estate, or close later
4. Take meter readings and photos if you can
5. Keep all reference numbers and emails
6. Check for linked products such as Home Services or Feed-in Tariff arrangements
7. Once the property is sold, returned or no longer needs supply, send final readings and confirm closure

If you are trying to juggle OVO with banks, insurers and probate at the same time, using a single checklist tool can help. GetPassage is designed to keep that kind of death administration in one place, so you are not relying on scraps of paper and old email threads while you are grieving.

Final thought

The right move with an OVO account is not always to close it quickly. Usually, it is to keep the property stable first, then tidy up the billing once you know who is responsible and when the home will actually stop needing energy. That one decision can prevent a lot of avoidable stress later.