Octopus energy company. Anyone use 'em?
Discussion
Following on from the 'bulb' thread.
We have just bought our house and need to switch and am considering Bulb, £50 for me and same for my colleague.
Currently: British Gas for gas (ok, not great or cheapest) and Scottish Power for elec (appalling service already, just sorting out the interim billing period, most expensive quote to date as well).
The other option appears to be Octopus. Slightly more money, but another 'small' green provider with good rates and ratings, fractionally more but fixed for 12 months. They have rung me out of the blue, seemed fair enough.
Daniel
We have just bought our house and need to switch and am considering Bulb, £50 for me and same for my colleague.
Currently: British Gas for gas (ok, not great or cheapest) and Scottish Power for elec (appalling service already, just sorting out the interim billing period, most expensive quote to date as well).
The other option appears to be Octopus. Slightly more money, but another 'small' green provider with good rates and ratings, fractionally more but fixed for 12 months. They have rung me out of the blue, seemed fair enough.
Daniel
selnic said:
Just in the process of switching from Scottish Power to Octopus via U Switch. They seem to have the best deal for us, mainly £48 a month instead of £76, minimum one month contract and unlike some, no hidden terms forcing you to have a smart meter. Will have to update later as to how they perform.
Thanks, sounds good.HTP99 said:
I was told that it wasn't the "smart" features that were causing the issue, it was actually the meters themselves, they don't work with Octopus, I would need new meters.
I would have been fine to have lost the smart functions, I wasn't paying though for new compatible meters.
Oh right, then that's really odd. Unless they are so 'smart' they don't have a readout on the front of them preventing manual reading?I would have been fine to have lost the smart functions, I wasn't paying though for new compatible meters.
Just had a chat from a salesman at Octopus, as per when I joined Bulb they are able to match Bulbs current rate and as such quoted me what I am currently paying, as well as for their other tariffs, as below. They are all renewable elec, the super green includes carbon off-setting for the gas. Monthly DD is 12th of the total.
Variable rate (both) £1650
Oct Fixed for 12mth £1714
Oct 'super green' £1800
Daniel
Condi said:
Absolutely.
1 fridge or EV being shut down for half an hour has negligible affect on the householder or the grid, but 1 million fridges and EV's shutting down has a noticeable effect on the national demand.
It is far harder and more expensive to find an extra 1MW at peak time than it is to shed 1MW of load for a short period of time.
This. 1 fridge or EV being shut down for half an hour has negligible affect on the householder or the grid, but 1 million fridges and EV's shutting down has a noticeable effect on the national demand.
It is far harder and more expensive to find an extra 1MW at peak time than it is to shed 1MW of load for a short period of time.
Its what a smart grid actaully looks like, rather than radio-read meters that dont work properly!
Daniel
Big Al. said:
Because Ben Lowden has already stated that they are not allowed as it breaches the rule of posting No.6 which states:-
No.6 Do not post for the purpose of advertising for personal or business gain, unless Etc.
Fair enough. I hadn't thought of it like that, in part as said I guess because it's a muteral gain.No.6 Do not post for the purpose of advertising for personal or business gain, unless Etc.
pingu393 said:
BTW, St. Vincent's Hospice has benefitted to the tune of £100 thanks to the two people who have used my code. I don't see any losers. I understand that PH doesn't gain. If anything, it loses, as we spend bandwidth discussing how petty they can be.
Playing devils advocacy very slight, I guess if give your reference away and hence you have not personal or business gain....?
pingu393 said:
I'm assuming you have the Tesla app.
Go to Settings
Then Powerwall
100% Backup / 0% Time-based Control
I'm now drawing 5.0kW into the wall. The washing machine has just gone on, but it hasn't really started yet. Wifey just asked if I wanted a cuppa, so it's now 8.3 from the grid. - KERCHING
All bonkers!Go to Settings
Then Powerwall
100% Backup / 0% Time-based Control
I'm now drawing 5.0kW into the wall. The washing machine has just gone on, but it hasn't really started yet. Wifey just asked if I wanted a cuppa, so it's now 8.3 from the grid. - KERCHING
About a week ago, having submitted meter reads for the first time in a while and well under their estimate, I got an email saying they are putting my monthly payments up!
The only thing that makes less sense than that, is that in December they they put them down, by around the same amount they have just put them up. Annual estimates remain pretty much the same throughout and although I have not done the sums to confirm them, the match the new (and older) rate.
The only thing that makes less sense than that, is that in December they they put them down, by around the same amount they have just put them up. Annual estimates remain pretty much the same throughout and although I have not done the sums to confirm them, the match the new (and older) rate.
KTF said:
Nothing yet and they seem to be a bit slow this time round. A new fix is out but no information on the other rates that I can see.
I've not been following the energy saga for a few years, since bulb went bust and we ended up being Octopus customers.Is it worth shopping around for energy prices again yet? We do about a grands electric and £2500 gas a year.
Octupus' own tariff comparison thing says I can save £350 a year by fixing my prices for a year vs remaining on a flex rate?
dhutch said:
Is it worth shopping around for energy prices again yet? We do about a grands electric and £2500 gas a year.
Octopus'' own tariff comparison thing says I can save £350 a year by fixing my prices for a year vs remaining on a flex rate?
Uswitch says I can save Octopus'' own tariff comparison thing says I can save £350 a year by fixing my prices for a year vs remaining on a flex rate?
£450 switching to Eon Next Pledge tracker 12m v8 £25exit per fuel
£396 switching to So Energy two year green £75 exit per fuel
£389 switching to Ovo Energy 1 year fixed £50 exit per fuel
dhutch said:
dhutch said:
Is it worth shopping around for energy prices again yet? We do about a grands electric and £2500 gas a year.
Octopus'' own tariff comparison thing says I can save £350 a year by fixing my prices for a year vs remaining on a flex rate?
Uswitch says I can save Octopus'' own tariff comparison thing says I can save £350 a year by fixing my prices for a year vs remaining on a flex rate?
£450 switching to Eon Next Pledge tracker 12m v8 £25exit per fuel
£396 switching to So Energy two year green £75 exit per fuel
£389 switching to Ovo Energy 1 year fixed £50 exit per fuel
Majority of the benefit, no exit fees, zero hassle.
And better to do something than nothing.
Saleen836 said:
dhutch said:
KTF said:
Nothing yet and they seem to be a bit slow this time round. A new fix is out but no information on the other rates that I can see.
I've not been following the energy saga for a few years, since bulb went bust and we ended up being Octopus customers.Is it worth shopping around for energy prices again yet? We do about a grands electric and £2500 gas a year.
Octupus' own tariff comparison thing says I can save £350 a year by fixing my prices for a year vs remaining on a flex rate?
thought mine was high at 62p per day, current fix from them onn domestic....Fairly similar standing on the gas, if a touch more.
But the elec being 3.25p a unit more and standing change at 24.41p/day more is steep.
£92/year more unit cost and £44/year more standing charge. £136 total.
Gas £2/year more standing change but £29 more unit cost.
That said, only £167 estimated saving if we where on your rates!
We are on the Wirral, where abouts are you?
Edited by dhutch on Thursday 26th June 10:34
Bit more hunt, extracting the rates from the switch site quotes.
Tulo Vari-one £158 year saving.
Gas breakdown
Daily standing charge 32.66p
Unit rate 6.09p
Exit fee £0
Electricity breakdown
Daily standing charge 51.24p
Unit rate 22.79p
Exit fee £0
Eon Next 12m tracker v8 £95 year saving
Gas breakdown
Daily standing charge 30.09
Unit rate 5/90p
Exit fee £25.00
Electricity breakdown
Daily standing charge 67.65p
Unit rate 25.34p
Exit fee £25.00
So Energy SoDean 24m Fixed £40 year saving
Gas breakdown
Daily standing charge 31.39p
Unit rate 6.07p
Exit fee £75.00
Electricity breakdown
Daily standing charge 71.72p
Unit rate 24.69p
Exit fee £75.00
Ovo Exclusive 12m Fixed £33year saving
Gas breakdown
Daily standing charge 28.18p
Unit rate 6.09p
Exit fee £50.00
Electricity breakdown
Daily standing charge 70.39p
Unit rate 25.28p
Exit fee £50.00
Tulo Vari-one £158 year saving.
Gas breakdown
Daily standing charge 32.66p
Unit rate 6.09p
Exit fee £0
Electricity breakdown
Daily standing charge 51.24p
Unit rate 22.79p
Exit fee £0
Eon Next 12m tracker v8 £95 year saving
Gas breakdown
Daily standing charge 30.09
Unit rate 5/90p
Exit fee £25.00
Electricity breakdown
Daily standing charge 67.65p
Unit rate 25.34p
Exit fee £25.00
So Energy SoDean 24m Fixed £40 year saving
Gas breakdown
Daily standing charge 31.39p
Unit rate 6.07p
Exit fee £75.00
Electricity breakdown
Daily standing charge 71.72p
Unit rate 24.69p
Exit fee £75.00
Ovo Exclusive 12m Fixed £33year saving
Gas breakdown
Daily standing charge 28.18p
Unit rate 6.09p
Exit fee £50.00
Electricity breakdown
Daily standing charge 70.39p
Unit rate 25.28p
Exit fee £50.00
Edited by dhutch on Thursday 26th June 10:46
KTF said:
New Octopus prices are meant to come out today for the variable tariff so I would wait for those until deciding.
Also consider looking at Octopus tracker if you can handle a bit of volatility as that has been below the flexible price pretty much consistently over the past 12 months.
I was on Octopus tracker, and the June 12m Fix was significantly cheaper.Also consider looking at Octopus tracker if you can handle a bit of volatility as that has been below the flexible price pretty much consistently over the past 12 months.
Normally I would happily go tracker, but when its cheaper to fix, with no exit fees. Feels like a no brainer.
Due our second in September so fixing the winter fuel costs for maternity leave doesnt feel to daft.
Byker28i said:
dhutch said:
Byker28i said:
We're on Loyal Octopus 14M Fixed
Loyal Octopus 14M Fixed March 2025 v4
Ending 28/05/2026
23.74p/kWh
43.76p/day
How long have you been with Octopus to be considered 'Loyal' ?Loyal Octopus 14M Fixed March 2025 v4
Ending 28/05/2026
23.74p/kWh
43.76p/day
We came over from Bulb when the folded in 2022.
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