I have just started exporting on the 15p fixed tariff with Octopus.- 'outgoing fixed'. We have a battery and 14 solar panels.
My neighbours are on 'outgoing octopus' with approx. 30p export rates at the peak time of 4-7pm. This requires some discipline, avoiding cooking the evening meal between 4-7pmin order to maximise gains on this favourable rate and this is something we would find difficult.
It also seems that during the winter months it would be difficult to avoid drawing on the grid at 40p per kWH during the peak time.
Any views on this? Should I transfer away from my current tariff to what seems to be a better tariff.
C
#2Capt_Rich
Sounds like your neighbours are on the Octopus Flux tariff which has three different import/export rates depending on the time of day. Outgoing Octopus has either the fixed rate @15p or Outgoing Agile which is a dynamic outgoing price dependent on market rates. Flux has been good for summer, but approaching winter when solar output drops, I’m switching to Outgoing fixed for the winter and Economy 7 for import so that I can fully charge battery overnight at off peak rates. Don’t yet have an EV so can’t take advantage of the intelligent tariff.
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#3Slartibartfast
I finally switched to Intelligent ten days ago. It's a Cupra Born + Zappi - finally passed the test charge after the car software was upgraded to 3.2.1.
They put me on Outgoing Octopus Fixed Lite - 8.00p/kWh. How do I get on the 15p rate?
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#4GaryS
Slartibartfast That sounds wrong. Looks like the "lite" was created for Octopus Go. With Intelligent you are eligable for the Outgoing Fixed at 15p. Suggest you send Octopus an email or speak to them.
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#5Slartibartfast
I did speak to them - their reply was:
__ Hi,
you are currently on the 8p/kWh export tariff - it is the correct one because you have a smart tariff (intelligent octopus) active on the account. It is a recent update on our system and took effect on your account from the 14th of September onwards,
Kind regards,__
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#6TX200
Slartibartfast reply back to them and ask them to read this press release on their own website 🤣
I am on Intelligent Octopus and signed up for Outgoing Fixed this week, was activated within 24hrs at 15p/kwh, fixed for 12 months.
Seems the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing there at Octo HQ?
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#8Vestas
I wonder if its the start of measures to discourage "tariff jumping" within the minimum contract term - this sort of suggests that to me "you have a smart tariff (intelligent octopus) active on the account"
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#9TX200
GaryS I think it's all the new staff they took on from each of the failed energy companies. A lot of growth in a short time period.
D
#10daviejohn
GaryS
I would definitely contact Octopus. However, I have found the email communication route takes a long time and would recommend phoning, although be prepared to hang on for up to 15-20 minutes if necessary.
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#11anglefire
My fixed tariff ended a week ago and we went onto the variable as we are getting an EV soon (Whenever it arrives!)
But I emailed Octopus last week to ask if I could go onto GO even though I don't have one yet - and they said yes.
So I switched over the weekend and I'm now charging the battery overnight (actually done in HA and using GivTCP and Predbat to schedule it all. Has meant that ever since I have either had the sun or overnight electricity powering the house.
Interestingly, it also says my export rate is 29.6p...........
J
#12justpassing
Capt_Rich Be interested to know how the E7 switch goes, I was thinking of going that route, E7 import and fixed outgoing. However I read elsewhere that the DCC needs to (remotely) update the meter to activate the 2 registers, rather than octopus just using the 30 minute slices from register 1 and adding them up for the two tariff periods. It could delay switch to and from E7, as it needs those industry hand-offs. It took 6 months to get my meter working with octopus, so paranoid about another "update" and round of " we are waiting for somebody else to do something".
:-) Hope it goes smoothly for you.
#13Jase1703
GaryS I am also on Intelligent Octopus but stuck on 4.1p export tariff despite only signing up for export after the increase to 15p was announced as I was waiting for my G99. Two emails down and still waiting for a response. Guess there’s fat chance of this new rate being back dated even though they’ve had a load of pre G99 export from me. Perhaps I should mention the Elexon argument!
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#14dragon2905
Not sure why you would feel that you are "stuck" on the low export rate? Or why Octopus would think that you can't move over....
You can switch tariffs on Octopus with ease and without penalty (except for Tracker which locks you out for 9 months?)
So absolute worst case just switch out and then back again, surely problem solved??
justpassing to get my meter working with octopus, so paranoid about another "update" and round of " we are waiting for somebody else to do something"
hear hear!
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#17Capt_Rich
justpassing you're correct that the meter needs the two registers. I was on Econ 7 last winter and it took only a few days to be set up. Despite being on flux for the summer, my meter is still showing rate 1 & 2, but the rate 2 hasn't changed and all the flux readings taken from rate 1.
I've asked to go back to Econ 7 from 1st October so expecting it should all happen very quickly.
G
#18geoffreycoan
Capt_Rich I had the reverse, I went from a 2 rate meter with Eon (actually only being billed single rate, but night and day setup). Went to Octopus and Flux. Only the Night reading is incrementing, the Day one remains on 13. I guess everything is being driven by the half hourly readings and the Night/Day switchover signal has stopped being sent
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#19Bluebeef
Slartibartfast I had the exact same problem. Got nowhere with email. Called them and they said I had to apply for the export tariff as if I was a new customer. Had to re-enter MCS and DNO info. I was switched on to Outgoing Octopus Fixed 12m @15p/kWh within a few days.
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#20Roberto
Octopus are nowhere near as goid as they would have us believe. Their email service is s l o w. Often taking 3 weeks for a reply. Their phone service is not much better, often sraffed with people with limited training.
They have a simple job to do, bill you for their tarrifs, but struggle with that.
#21nophead
I have had much better service from Octopus. They reply to emails in a day or two and helpful on the phone. Much better than most companies I have dealt with recently and the NHS.