Trial scheme will pay householders to delay electricity use

Just seen this news item about something coming from Octopus at the end of the week apparently. Not sure how the details work but it looks interesting nonetheless. I wonder if it will be available to customers on Octopus Go...

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/feb/08/trial-scheme-will-pay-householders-to-delay-electricity-use

Someone just shared the link about an hour ago - Tried to sign up to this (Octopus Turn Down Trial) but because I have an export tariff it's not letting me proceed. Import only.
Looks like that's a no go for GE customers with Fit/Seg then.

I might be okay then as I have old school Fit which isn't really an export tariff and is completely separate to Octopus.

@hoggy do you have the link to sign up for this? Cant seem to find it on google!

hmmm dunno if I should share with an API competitor 😀
Supposedly this is it

Haha, im happy for someone else to do the API work! In fairness i just modified what i was given lol

judgepd It says if you sell power back to the grid you are not eligible. So those of us with SEG or fit get shafted. The news is saying some people could be paid 35p per kw?

THALL
It wasn't very clear on the signup page, was it asking if you had an Export tariff or had one with octopus?? I just said no, im sure if i make the cut they will look into it anyway... wait and see i guess

Simon It just says are you on an export or outgoing, it does not say with Octopus or not. Will be interesting for those with EV's signing up. Timed charge for the out of hours and get paid up to 35p per kw for it!

Are you on an export or outgoing tariff?
This question is required. *
Most Octopus tariffs are standard / import only. Outgoing / export tariffs are for customers who sell energy back to the grid, including any Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) tariff, Outgoing Agile or other Outgoing tariff.

A
No - I'm on a standard / import only tariff
B
Yes - I have an export / outgoing tariff

It should be interesting how this unfolds non the less. It may open up cheaper imports for battery users with or without EV’s if it works as you could charge batteries before the slot and “sell(?)” back to them at peak for a higher rate? It could be a usable model as it would outstrip SEG in most cases. FIT a maybe not unless not connected to octopus or the supplier if they all jump on board. Not sure if the modes would support at the moment but I’m sure GE could sort fairly easily?

https://octopus.energy/blog/the-big-dirty-turn-down-free-electricity-trial/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=launch_tweet&utm_campaign=ngeso_turndown_trial

Not sure this will work for anyone with solar and or/a battery. If you already have pretty much zero usage during the listed hours then there is no way to reduce it any lower.

Sort of goes against the Go tariff only being for EV users. If they keep at any who have batteries as well then this could keep us all of the dirtiest energy periods full stop?

So I got an invite link to this sent to me by Octopus, this link had 1 question, would I like to be in the trial, ticked yes, done. No questions about SEG or export etc. But the information they sent said you will be paid in free electricity it you hit the set reduction targets. Again I wont get it when they look at my account though apparently my export is not actually working so maybe..... I will update if I hear anything else.

I joined using this link https://octopus.energy/blog/the-big-dirty-turn-down-free-electricity-trial/ and there were a few more questions.

I've got to be honest I still don't really understand it. Seems to be that if my average usage of a period was for example 4kWh my target would be to use less than that and I would get paid for any energy I use under 4kWh. Does that not sound like the closer I get to 4kWh but being under it then the more they would pay me?

I think my explanation is as bad as theirs!

As I read it they will give you 5-10 target periods during the trial. The day before the 2 hour target period you will be issued with a target. If you use less electricity than the target in that period then the electricity used will be free.
Example 1

• Target issued 4kWh
• Used: 3.9kWh
• Cost of electricity used = 0

Example 2

• Target issued 4kWh
• Used: 4.9kWh
• Cost of electricity used = Your normal rate per kWh x 4.9

judgepd I've received an invite from them and have signed up. However I've written to them this morning about how it's going to actually work for me with a battery and solar. I hardly use and peak rate electricity at the moment between 00:30 - 20:30. There is the odd occasion when the long haired general puts on the tumble drier during the day but thats few and far between.

They'll give me 48 hours of notice of the time it applies too me.

I am also on FITs tariff but that should not affect this trial.

Zakalwe I like your explanation better than mine but it still seems odd that in that case you 'save' more by using more energy (up to your target amount).

My invite says this..

"How will you calculate my targets?
Using data from your smart meter, we’ll calculate your typical energy use during that time based on the last 4 weeks of consumption data we have for your home. Then we’ll use that to set you a target to reduce your energy use by."

so if I havn't used much energy over the last 4 weeks at peak time it will be using that as a basis so I didnt bother signing up.
Personally I think it misses the point again, like stopping battery users without EV signing up to Go tariffs.
I would quite happily pause the battery at peak time and restart later to help level the grid. It would make no differenrce to me but I won't if there is no benefit to me as its admin for no reward

It’s just the Octopus Winter Gas Workout but with elec isn’t it by the sound of it? Check your past usage at this time of year, try to beat it . But with extra constraints on times you can do it.

Need to find the ESO page about it but pretty sure they were hoping to load shift 150MW by everyone doing it, not the mass GWs of flexibility you’d hope for!
Edit: there we go

Seye I asked the question below and this is there response. I've not told them I'm on an export tariff so how do they know?

EDITED UPDATE: They wrote back. Amy below made a mistake. i can join if I wish but they don't really see a benefit to someone like me who has already taken steps to mitigate the peak periods.
Hi

I’m happy to sign up to this but not sure how it would work with us.

I have an GivEnergy 8.2 kwh battery installed since November 10th and I charge on go faster from 20:30-00 :30. The solar also tops it up during the day. Some days it may run out around 5-6 but it’s not a given.

That generally has lasted me through the whole day as you can probably see from my bills which have been sub £50 through the winter. I also have an EV which I charge a couple of times a week.

So My main use is off peak.

How will this work for us?

Hi Mick,
Thank you for your email. We are sorry for emailing you about the trial when you are not eligible - this was an oversight on our behalf. We’ll look at including customers on an export tariff if we continue the trial in the future, but for this round unfortunately it’s not possible.
Kind regards,

Amy
Amy from Octopus Energy

So I just got invited to the first big turn off event. I need to reduce my usage by 40% between 4:30 and 6:30pm tomorrow. I use 0.9kw during tgat time apparently lol crazy. I have my export tariff with Octopus! So if I reduce by 40% Octopus will pay the remaining 60%.... All of 0.5kw I'll be rich in no time lol

THALL I have to reduce by 0.08kWh! My average is apparently 0.2kWh...just shows how well the the battery storage is working.

judgepd Also shows how unorganised Octopus is at the moment too 😀 Not surprised as they have grown by a huge amount the last 6 - 9 months!

Woohoo, just got an email from Octopus saying I'm getting a 20p credit. Apparently they've decided to pay a minimum 20p even if your actual credit was less.

judgepd Same here. The target set was to reduce by 40% and apparently I reduced by 92% lol. The new incentive wont be much use to me so wont partake again.

I had an email this morning too. I saved 99% over the allotted time and too will be getting a 20p created.