Would it be possible to program options when using Octopus Agile to charge from grid when under a set pence and discharge to grid when over a set pence? I am currently getting a Zappi charger and noticed they have a feature that when linked to the Octopus Agile API you can set it to charge when below a set price. As the times for cheaper energy move on Agile it would be great to have some kind of automation to do it for you just by setting a dial.
THALL
That is possible, but we are also minded of customers that have different suppliers. Time based tariffs are common. Not all suppliers have APIs so we are looking at more generic ways to deliver this capability in future to provide capbility for as many customers as possible.
For traditional regular 2 rates a day, they can already used effectivley via the schedular. As those rates don't change it is a setup and forget process, just needing to be updated when you change your tariff. Thats how I do it.
We already have Agile optimisation in the Octopus card. Thats automating the cheepest slots
Intelligent tariffs its trickier and will take some effort. So we can focus effort we use the system to tell us how many customers have set up the Octopus card, which then allows us to see what tariff they are on. If the evidence shows a big need then it will get prioritised sooner.
The take away for all Octopus customers, please set up you Octopus cards
Set my card up already. I am currently on the Go tariff so manging it is easy but if rates ever recover and I switch back to Agile the more options the better. Though on the card I do not see the option to set the battery to be optimised for Go? I have set the timed charge myself for the Go cheap rate.
THALL
correct, there is no real need to optimise for go as the standard schedular does it easily. So we havn't made the system overly complex as it needs to meet the needs of other suppliers too. Thats a design decision.
It does bring back the tariff data and consumtion so you can see if would optimised the off peak time well
Thats the same logic for Economy 7 etc etc
Intersting logic for Agile though. If you can already charge for a number of slots that are the cheepest, why would you need price? You will charge anyway. A goal is to keep the solution as simple as possible but as functional as required. Its an interesting balence
Ah ok understood regarding Go. Having used the old dashboard I was hunting for the same Smart Tariff options.
Well for me with the Agile optimisation it is deciding the best prices for you to keep your average price low. But for me I would like to be able to simple set a dial for these smart tariffs like Agile to say if lower then 5p charge the battery or even say if lower than 0p charge from grid. But then for the greedy side in me I would like to be able to say if the price goes over 50p on export then discharge. Rather than letting a algorithm decide for me a simple spinning dial would be a nice option. MyEnergi provide this with their Zappi charger, when you link to to the Agile API you can then set a max price per kilowatt and anything under it will charge from.
simon_swinburne The take away for all Octopus customers, please set up you Octopus cards
Not sure if it's me being a bit thick, but don't seem to have an Octopus card. I have a smart tariff card and have added my Octopus details but don't seem to see anywhere to set any charging times.
Martyn
The smart tarif card ( which becomes branded as Octopus if you enter your details ) shows tariff and consumption for your Octopus account
Setting the smart charge should still be in the Inverter settings as its still a requirment, just far fewer people currently need it. I think it may have been lost. @Mickey (GivEnergy) ?
Does smart charge still exist?
mcardus
I am on Agile and rates are extremely low at the moment (It won't last!). Octopus have stopped accepting folk onto Agile. I sneaked in just in time when I noticed that the low rates.
I have the Octopus card but if I select the automations tab, the only option is to 'Stop Automation'.
The info suggest that different automation options should be shown but there its nothing there.
Is this something that needs to be set up through Octopus?
Rob
I'm currently charging overnight when its low CO2.
Having this could open up yourself to expense. exporting flat out could mean you need to pull from the grid during the peak.
Moving into winter, charging overnight and afternoon should allow me to buy for 35p and export for 60p plus which should sadly be the norm.
Hopefully agile will reappear in some form before I drop off the current deal in March.