Best energy provider and tariff for EV and normal bills
Discussion
First of all apologies if there is already a thread about this.
I am currently on octopus go as was advised this was the best option about 14 months ago. In light of considerable increases in electric and more so gas. Is octopus go still the best tariff? My concern is that although it may be best for charging my car, am I paying a huge premium for gas. For disclosure, I have a 4 bed house to heat.
I have never paid much attention to my bills in all honesty but now Im very concerned with their projected figures so any help would be much appreciated
Thanks in advance
I am currently on octopus go as was advised this was the best option about 14 months ago. In light of considerable increases in electric and more so gas. Is octopus go still the best tariff? My concern is that although it may be best for charging my car, am I paying a huge premium for gas. For disclosure, I have a 4 bed house to heat.
I have never paid much attention to my bills in all honesty but now Im very concerned with their projected figures so any help would be much appreciated
Thanks in advance
Yeah, I'm in the same boat. 4 bed house, family of four, and an EV. I think the answer is "it depends", and it's going to be fairly marginal. This link though has helped me understand it all a bit better.
https://lovemyev.com/explore/ev-tariffs/help-my-ev...
I *think* I'd be a bit better off with the EDF GoElectric 35 tariff. I'm already with EDF, having been put there when my old supplier went under last year. But I have my doubts as we now have 2 people WFH permanently and two energy hungry teenagers. There isn't much energy use other than the EV that I can shift into the cheap rate.
https://lovemyev.com/explore/ev-tariffs/help-my-ev...
I *think* I'd be a bit better off with the EDF GoElectric 35 tariff. I'm already with EDF, having been put there when my old supplier went under last year. But I have my doubts as we now have 2 people WFH permanently and two energy hungry teenagers. There isn't much energy use other than the EV that I can shift into the cheap rate.
But surely if you moved over to Ocotpus Go then you must have signed up for one of their other tariffs for elec and gas first, therefore on a fixed term?
When i changed from Shell energy they said i had to join one of their smart tariffs then jump over to Go for my elec. I'm still on the same gas tariff i was on when i switched:
Octopus Price Promise July 2021 v1
Fixed term ends 30/09/2023
When i changed from Shell energy they said i had to join one of their smart tariffs then jump over to Go for my elec. I'm still on the same gas tariff i was on when i switched:
Octopus Price Promise July 2021 v1
Fixed term ends 30/09/2023
Same here, 4 beds etc.
I changed from Octopus Go to Octopus Go Faster last August.
I've definitely benefited from the earlier low rate start ime.
I selected 5 hours at 5.5p starting 8:30 pm.
All the big loads stay off until 8:30.
Did you do the Octopus,'Save Gas Energy' exercise ?
I managed to drop my gas usage by 15% without hardly trying.
Just followed some of their tips.
I changed from Octopus Go to Octopus Go Faster last August.
I've definitely benefited from the earlier low rate start ime.
I selected 5 hours at 5.5p starting 8:30 pm.
All the big loads stay off until 8:30.
Did you do the Octopus,'Save Gas Energy' exercise ?
I managed to drop my gas usage by 15% without hardly trying.
Just followed some of their tips.
so called said:
Same here, 4 beds etc.
I changed from Octopus Go to Octopus Go Faster last August.
I've definitely benefited from the earlier low rate start ime.
I selected 5 hours at 5.5p starting 8:30 pm.
All the big loads stay off until 8:30.
Did you do the Octopus,'Save Gas Energy' exercise ?
I managed to drop my gas usage by 15% without hardly trying.
Just followed some of their tips.
haha it was my first year on gas and they had my estimate as about the same as a cigarette lighter. I was over my total estimate in about 5 days. However i did drop the temp down to 18.5 and no one has really complained - so i guess i did save, just didn't have a chance to win the compI changed from Octopus Go to Octopus Go Faster last August.
I've definitely benefited from the earlier low rate start ime.
I selected 5 hours at 5.5p starting 8:30 pm.
All the big loads stay off until 8:30.
Did you do the Octopus,'Save Gas Energy' exercise ?
I managed to drop my gas usage by 15% without hardly trying.
Just followed some of their tips.
TheDrownedApe said:
haha it was my first year on gas and they had my estimate as about the same as a cigarette lighter. I was over my total estimate in about 5 days. However i did drop the temp down to 18.5 and no one has really complained - so i guess i did save, just didn't have a chance to win the comp
That isn't very fair is it.Why didn't they use your previous supplier numbers ?
When I transferred 2 years ago, my previous 12 month usage was 22,300kWh and the new Octopus estimate is reduced to 14,000.
I'd already been working to reduce wastage so didn't think 15% more reduction was possible so it was a pleasant surprise.
There were loads of energy saving tips and Tip 1 (below link) was what made the most savings for me.
https://octopus.energy/blog/winter-workout-gas-sav...
Thanks to the OP for posting this thread, it has prompted me to look in to it properly since I posted yesterday. I've switched from my EDF standard variable tariff (which I got forced on to) and have started the process of getting Octopus Go. I'll now be charging my car at 7.5p per kwh instead of 29p. Also, the standing charge is about half, although the day rate is slightly higher - I expect the EV charging and lower standing charge will offset this and save me some money.
Now to convince the Mrs to stop using the tumble dryer...
Now to convince the Mrs to stop using the tumble dryer...
So I called Octopus and as a previous poster suggested, I am on a fixed rate for gas and octopus go for electric. I asked about 'go faster' but was told that for my consumption I was better off staying as is. I find this all quite confusing but realise that I also need to now monitor things like dishwasher and tumble dryer.
At least I'm not paying £1.70 for diesel though!
At least I'm not paying £1.70 for diesel though!
One of my colleagues recently switched to an EV. I instantly assumed Go would be the right answer for him.
But when we looked at his current fixed plan, and how much he used at home vs the car, it was clear that there was next to no point switching. Yes the car charging at a cheaper rate was good, but compared to the amount used the rest of the time, and that cost going up, it wasn't anywhere near as clear cut.
In short if the car is a large proportion of your electricity usage, then it's worth looking at. If it's not, then it's likely to be more expensive to switch.
But when we looked at his current fixed plan, and how much he used at home vs the car, it was clear that there was next to no point switching. Yes the car charging at a cheaper rate was good, but compared to the amount used the rest of the time, and that cost going up, it wasn't anywhere near as clear cut.
In short if the car is a large proportion of your electricity usage, then it's worth looking at. If it's not, then it's likely to be more expensive to switch.
I’m not sure this tariff makes any sense right now.
I’m with octopus on the Avro flex and pay 20p kWh. Think it’s 27p after April.
Octopus go is 7.5p between 00:30-04:30 but 30p all other times. Standing charge is also higher.
I dont see how i can push enough consumption to those 4 hours to offset the much higher cost outside of that.
Yes I can do the 4 hours car charging, dishwasher, that’s about it. Everything else is either on all the time or needs to be on during waking hours.
I’m with octopus on the Avro flex and pay 20p kWh. Think it’s 27p after April.
Octopus go is 7.5p between 00:30-04:30 but 30p all other times. Standing charge is also higher.
I dont see how i can push enough consumption to those 4 hours to offset the much higher cost outside of that.
Yes I can do the 4 hours car charging, dishwasher, that’s about it. Everything else is either on all the time or needs to be on during waking hours.
Sorry, slightly off topic but how do these off peak hours things work? I don't own an EV and have never seriously looked into them but if I just wanted to charge on the cheap hours, is it done in an app? Is there something in the charger where you can set your preferred charging time?
RazerSauber said:
Sorry, slightly off topic but how do these off peak hours things work? I don't own an EV and have never seriously looked into them but if I just wanted to charge on the cheap hours, is it done in an app? Is there something in the charger where you can set your preferred charging time?
It's in my car's menu, I programme it to only accept charge between the alloted times for chap rate. Plug the car in at the end of the day, and it waits until 12.30am to start charging.RazerSauber said:
Sorry, slightly off topic but how do these off peak hours things work? I don't own an EV and have never seriously looked into them but if I just wanted to charge on the cheap hours, is it done in an app? Is there something in the charger where you can set your preferred charging time?
Most cars support timed charging, some chargers also support timed charging. AF07 said:
I’m not sure this tariff makes any sense right now.
I’m with octopus on the Avro flex and pay 20p kWh. Think it’s 27p after April.
Octopus go is 7.5p between 00:30-04:30 but 30p all other times. Standing charge is also higher.
I dont see how i can push enough consumption to those 4 hours to offset the much higher cost outside of that.
Yes I can do the 4 hours car charging, dishwasher, that’s about it. Everything else is either on all the time or needs to be on during waking hours.
I changed from Octopus Go to Octopus Go Faster last August.I’m with octopus on the Avro flex and pay 20p kWh. Think it’s 27p after April.
Octopus go is 7.5p between 00:30-04:30 but 30p all other times. Standing charge is also higher.
I dont see how i can push enough consumption to those 4 hours to offset the much higher cost outside of that.
Yes I can do the 4 hours car charging, dishwasher, that’s about it. Everything else is either on all the time or needs to be on during waking hours.
With 'Go Faster' you choose from the following options;
3 hours @ 4.5p/kWh
4 hours@ 5p/kWh
5 hours@5.5p/kWh.
You then choose the starting time which can be anywhere between 8:30pm to 12:30am
I selected 5 hours at 5.5p starting 8:30 pm so Dryer, Washer, Dishwasher, Showers etc after 8:30pm.
I don't know what the increase on these rates will be yet ?
AF07 said:
I’m not sure this tariff makes any sense right now.
I’m with octopus on the Avro flex and pay 20p kWh. Think it’s 27p after April.
Octopus go is 7.5p between 00:30-04:30 but 30p all other times. Standing charge is also higher.
I dont see how i can push enough consumption to those 4 hours to offset the much higher cost outside of that.
Yes I can do the 4 hours car charging, dishwasher, that’s about it. Everything else is either on all the time or needs to be on during waking hours.
On a 7kW charger you'd be able to pull 25kW or so after losses, which in a reasonably efficient EV is going to provide 85 miles or so of range per charge session at a cost of £2.10. On your current rate that'll cost £7.50, so you've got 18kW a day essentially for freeI’m with octopus on the Avro flex and pay 20p kWh. Think it’s 27p after April.
Octopus go is 7.5p between 00:30-04:30 but 30p all other times. Standing charge is also higher.
I dont see how i can push enough consumption to those 4 hours to offset the much higher cost outside of that.
Yes I can do the 4 hours car charging, dishwasher, that’s about it. Everything else is either on all the time or needs to be on during waking hours.
The question then of course is how many miles are you doing a month compared to how much electricity you use the rest of the time if you are paying an additional 4p or so a kWh for the rest. Highly unlikely you will need those 85 miles a day, every day I'd guess?
if your mileage is consistent and you have a decent idea of average monthly power usage for everything else it should be straightforward enough to work out which is the best deal for you. They will vary of course by time of year but now is probably a decent point to get those numbers as won't be as bad as mid winter or as good as summer.
AF07 said:
I’m not sure this tariff makes any sense right now.
I’m with octopus on the Avro flex and pay 20p kWh. Think it’s 27p after April.
Octopus go is 7.5p between 00:30-04:30 but 30p all other times. Standing charge is also higher.
I dont see how i can push enough consumption to those 4 hours to offset the much higher cost outside of that.
Yes I can do the 4 hours car charging, dishwasher, that’s about it. Everything else is either on all the time or needs to be on during waking hours.
My standing charge Octopus Go rate is 25p (new customer from yesterday). The Price Cap standing charge rate is about 45p.I’m with octopus on the Avro flex and pay 20p kWh. Think it’s 27p after April.
Octopus go is 7.5p between 00:30-04:30 but 30p all other times. Standing charge is also higher.
I dont see how i can push enough consumption to those 4 hours to offset the much higher cost outside of that.
Yes I can do the 4 hours car charging, dishwasher, that’s about it. Everything else is either on all the time or needs to be on during waking hours.
Basically on Octopus Go you're paying about 3p kWh more in the day to save 19.5p kWh in the 4 hours in the night and 20p a day on the SC.
For me : even with two tropical fish tanks with 300w heaters running about 10 hours a day (£600 a year) I still save a significant amount on charging my car to make it worthwhile going with Octopus.
Also, I'm fixed for a year on this, so will avoid any price increases happening in October if I was on the variable rate.
Octopus go is now 7.5p offpeak which hurts.. Ideally you need to do some calculations or look at your bills to see if GO is worth it vs the price-capped flexible tarriff.
As Octopus go is electricity only, you can just go on the standard variable tarriff for gas, which is pretty much the same with every company being at or just below the price-cap.
As Octopus go is electricity only, you can just go on the standard variable tarriff for gas, which is pretty much the same with every company being at or just below the price-cap.
Backing up what NeoVR just posted.
4 years back I went through three years of monthly bills to detail my peak electricity, off peak electricity, and gas usage by month then work out the average. It took a fair while and was a PITA but until this year it meant I could just plug tariff rates into my spreadsheet to see what each provider would cost me on average. For me (and my circumstances/usage) Octopus was not the cheapest, though not far off. The change is partly down to having an EV for almost 2 years now, but more due to having a solar panel/battery set up so I need to redo my base calculations (which is going to be made worse by me having to work out car charging and remove that). I'll then have a new base figure and a second one if I guess say 2 to 4 three hours charges per month (I do not do much mileage any more). I suspect gas rates will make the difference for me at renewal in June.
4 years back I went through three years of monthly bills to detail my peak electricity, off peak electricity, and gas usage by month then work out the average. It took a fair while and was a PITA but until this year it meant I could just plug tariff rates into my spreadsheet to see what each provider would cost me on average. For me (and my circumstances/usage) Octopus was not the cheapest, though not far off. The change is partly down to having an EV for almost 2 years now, but more due to having a solar panel/battery set up so I need to redo my base calculations (which is going to be made worse by me having to work out car charging and remove that). I'll then have a new base figure and a second one if I guess say 2 to 4 three hours charges per month (I do not do much mileage any more). I suspect gas rates will make the difference for me at renewal in June.
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