Smart Meters and Tariffs

[SnoopZ]

Just had an Octopus Power up email giving me FREE Electricity between 6am- 8.30am Tuesday 31st, hopefully it's completely free and not just above what I'd normally use as it comes at a good time for me.

What do I need to do during a Power-up?


During the Power-up, there’ll be plenty of green electrons in your local wires. We want you to make the most of that lovely sun and wind power while it’s abundant.

Plan to use as much electricity as you need during that time: it’s a perfect time to do the hoovering, run the dishwasher or washing machine, run your heat pump or immersion heater, charge up, make dinner, you name it.

[downquark1]

Originally Posted by nashville

I keep getting phone calls to try and get me install a Smart Meter, But I hear a lot of complaints about them. Are they worth bothering about ?

As long as they are setup correctly they are fine, but it may take a few attempts to get there.

There are certain risks but they are going to be forced on us one way or another.

Originally Posted by SnoopZ

Just had an Octopus Power up email giving me FREE Electricity between 6am- 8.30am Tuesday 31st, hopefully it's completely free and not just above what I'd normally use as it comes at a good time for me.

From the website

The electricity you’d normally use will cost the same, any extra power you use will be free.

Originally Posted by SnoopZ

Just had an Octopus Power up email giving me FREE Electricity between 6am- 8.30am Tuesday 31st, hopefully it's completely free and not just above what I'd normally use.

Its not, these sessions are always the same, only anything above your normal usage is free.
If you're on Agile its normally very cheap (or actually free) in that time period, in fact its sometimes negative.

Tomorrows rates are not due for another 30 minutes, to see.

---------- Post added at 15:59 ---------- Previous post was at 15:24 ----------

The rates are now in :

06:00 = 3.8p
06:30 = 8.4p
07:00 = 6.7p
07:30 = 12.1p
08:00 = 8.9p

[SnoopZ]

Originally Posted by Hugh

From the website

I'm having trouble finding this, isn't power ups completely new in the last month and different to the other free electricity thing they had which I knew only gave it as free over normal use, before they called that a saving session but this is called power ups?

https://octopus.energy/power-ups/#:~...ll%20be%20free.

Edit..

Google seams to think Saving sessions are not the same as power ups with power ups ALL Electricity is Free and only partly Free with a Saving Session, I'm happy to be proved wrong though but it looks to be region specific.

In Power-ups, your electricity is free at specific, super-green times.
Power-ups is only open to customers with connected smart meters in certain areas in South East & East England for now, because we're launching this cutting-edge project directly with the local network operator there, UK Power Networks.

When it’s time to Power up, use as much electricity as you like and it'll all be free – it’s a perfect time to do the hoovering, run your heat pump or immersion heater, run the dishwasher or washing machine, make dinner, you name it.

Well you didnt say it was something new called "Power Ups".
That only seems to apply to some areas in the "South East & East England".

In fact, they have a map of the areas, its not many.




That page makes it pretty clear its actually [completely] free.

When it's time to Power up, use as much electricity as you like and it'll all be free

[SnoopZ]

Yes just found more info on it, I actually thought it was national so that's why I didn't think it was new to just my area.

It comes at a good time with no working boiler and while I'm home so I'll be switching everything on I can for 2.5hrs then going back to bed.

---------- Post added at 17:53 ---------- Previous post was at 17:42 ----------

People on Agile can fire up outdoor heaters at 11pm on New Year's! With negative rates.

[SnoopZ]

Got another 2.5hr power up in my area on New Year's day between 9-11.30, perfect timing again but atleast I won't have to wake up early again!

---------- Post added at 11:15 ---------- Previous post was at 11:06 ----------

There seems to be a new Tracker version December 2024 v1 which has appeared on the Gas Tracker website that is a fraction cheaper than the October 2024 tracker, the fact that it is cheaper is promising so I'm hoping the April 2025 tracker will also be cheaper.

Can you actually move to new Tracker versions ?

[SnoopZ]

Originally Posted by Paul

Can you actually move to new Tracker versions ?

I think it is only at the end of my 12 month contract, which I think then get a choice to go back onto a new Tracker or go on Flexible, so near the end of March I'll get an email asking what I wish to do.

[SnoopZ]

Got another 2hr power up tomorrow between 12-2pm.

Normally I'd be at work but I've been bed ridden with food since December 30th evening with a possible Sinus infection so should be able to take advantage again.

[SnoopZ]

Electric is expensive tomorrow in my region, 32.39 on Tracker, it's nothing I'm going to worry about though.

[Mr K]

Originally Posted by SnoopZ

Electric is expensive tomorrow in my region, 32.39 on Tracker, it's nothing I'm going to worry about though.

Wouldn't you be better on a fixed tariff, if you're concerned by daily changes?

[SnoopZ]

Originally Posted by Mr K

Wouldn't you be better on a fixed tariff, if you're concerned by daily changes?

I would be if it was 32p every week and could end up on fixed in April when this Tracker ends.

For now it's still better for me to be on Tracker as my average unit rate is 22p for December, flexible unit rates would be 25.57p and Fixed would be 24.61p.

How does that compare to your unit rates out of interest?

[Mr K]

Originally Posted by SnoopZ

I would be if it was 32p every week and could end up on fixed in April when this Tracker ends.

For now it's still better for me to be on Tracker as my average unit rate is 22p for December, flexible unit rates would be 25.57p and Fixed would be 24.61p.

How does that compare to your unit rates out of interest?

Electricity 19.6p and gas 5.8p. Plus about about a £1 a day combined standing charge.

Is Agile a fixed tariff? Bear in mind as well as prices going up this month, they'll go up again in April.