Smart Meters and Tariffs

[SnoopZ]

Originally Posted by downquark1

https://www.octopriceuk.app/compare

That's the site I've been using the last year with my Tracker but it doesn't seem to do what I want it to do in regards to comparing with the December 2024 Tracker(it doesn't let you select which tracker) daily and yearly with my current fixed deal.

Looking for something like Octopus Compare that does daily graph comparisons between 2 tariffs but paying £2 a year for that is a joke, I would have been happy to pay a one off £2 fee though.

Originally Posted by SnoopZ

Are there any FREE Sites or Apps available that will let me compare a full 12 months of data based on my Octopus API with another tariff?.

Yes, Agile Buddy.
https://agilebuddy.uk/tools/comparison

[SnoopZ]

Originally Posted by Paul

Yes, Agile Buddy.
https://agilebuddy.uk/tools/comparison

I signed up to this this morning, I maybe using it wrong but I couldn't seem to tell it I wanted to compare my Fixed with the December 2024 Tracker.

It compares your actually cost (based on the tariff you were on at the time) with the current version(s) of tariffs, or it can compare two (current) tariffs based on your actual usage. You cannot compare any two tariffs that have ever existed, if that's what your are trying to do. Octopus Compare is they only thing I know that can do that, I dont know why you think £2 a year "is a joke" (or where you get that from, its 0.49p per month, or £5 per year). The subscription gives you more views (like year, or custom).

[SnoopZ]

Originally Posted by Paul

It compares your actually cost (based on the tariff you were on at the time) with the current version(s) of tariffs, or it can compare two (current) tariffs based on your actual usage. You cannot compare any two tariffs that have ever existed, if that's what your are trying to do. Octopus Compare is they only thing I know that can do that, I dont know why you think £2 a year "is a joke" (or where you get that from, its 0.49p per month, or £5 per year). The subscription gives you more views (like year, or custom).

Yes Octopus Compare will do what I need if I pay, I just feel you should be able to pay a one off fee to get the premium parts of the app.

I was just trying to find out whether I did the right thing moving from the old Tracker to this limited edition Fixed rate, but I guess I can check the app weekly or monthly to compare and make a note until I get bored.

Originally Posted by SnoopZ

I just feel you should be able to pay a one off fee to get the premium parts of the app.

The developer feels otherwise, and he is the one doing all the work to write & support it.
I'm quite happy to pay them 49p a month for their work while I'm using it.
If I feel I dont need it for a few months, I just suspend the subscription until I want the extra features again.

[SnoopZ]

Octopus have already replaced their April V1 Tracker with V2 and Electricity is more expensive.

In my area and using the Octotracker app it gives me this.

December 2024 21.02p/kWh
April 2025 V1 20.39p/kWh
April 2025 V2 21.56p/kWh

I'm happy that I am on the Fixed V4 even though the December Tracker comes out 0.04 pence cheaper currently for the last week but I should have stayed on the Gas Tracker.

I loaded the Dec v1 & Apr v1 into Octopus Compare and Apr v1 was slightly cheaper.

I cannot compare Apr v2 yet as it hasnt existed for long enough.

---------- Post added at 19:52 ---------- Previous post was at 19:16 ----------

Update: I managed to pull the information from their API.

Today, for region B (East Mids).

Dec v1 : 19.04p
Apr v1 : 18.54p
Apr v2 : 19.63p

Just for interest … this is why I’m saving money bigly on Octopus’ intelligent GO tariff. This is last Friday when we were away on holiday and the weather in the west of Scotland was very sunny. So the consumption graph shows the true base-load for our house, and the export graph shows almost our entire solar generation (less the tiny amount the base-load consumes during the day).

The first screenshot shows kWh used (top graph) and exported from our solar panels (bottom graph). The second screenshot shows the same in estimated cost. You can see that the base load in our house is pretty much consistent, 24 hours a day. The graph bars are per 30 minutes and vary only from about 0.05 to 0.08 kWh consumption. But while the GO tariff increases the daytime kWh cost by around a penny over their flexible tariff, it reduces it by about 17p overnight. And if the sun is shining, then during the day we’re generating about as much as we’re using. We’re quids in.

If you have solar panels, then yes, lots of sunshine is great.

Its the same with storage batteries - charge them up overnight at the cheap rate, and use them during the daytime (4pm - 7pm is best) or export if not needed.

However, there is (of course) one big issue here, which is why everyone isnt doing this.

It costs a lot of money to install solar panels, or storage batteries, or both (even with grants).
You may be saving on your actual energy bill, but it takes years of those savings to get back what you paid out.

Its the same with wanting everyone to use heat pumps.
Out of interest, I got a quote from Octopus last year for replacing my boiler with one.
For comparison, I also got a couple of quotes to replace my boiler with a similar model.
I have no intention of actually doing this as its only 3 years old, I just wanted to see the cost.

Even with grants, the heat pump was almost triple the cost of the gas boiler.

[SnoopZ]

A very useful page on current and historical tariffs, just put in your post code and select Domestic in the filter.

https://octopus.energy/tariffs/

Originally Posted by SnoopZ

A very useful page on current and historical tariffs, just put in your post code and select Domestic in the filter.

https://octopus.energy/tariffs/

Except for some reason it doesnt display the historic Tracker tariffs, it was the first place I looked.

Originally Posted by Paul

If you have solar panels, then yes, lots of sunshine is great.

Its the same with storage batteries - charge them up overnight at the cheap rate, and use them during the daytime (4pm - 7pm is best) or export if not needed.

However, there is (of course) one big issue here, which is why everyone isnt doing this.

It costs a lot of money to install solar panels, or storage batteries, or both (even with grants).
You may be saving on your actual energy bill, but it takes years of those savings to get back what you paid out.

Its the same with wanting everyone to use heat pumps.
Out of interest, I got a quote from Octopus last year for replacing my boiler with one.
For comparison, I also got a couple of quotes to replace my boiler with a similar model.
I have no intention of actually doing this as its only 3 years old, I just wanted to see the cost.

Even with grants, the heat pump was almost triple the cost of the gas boiler.

Yes, it is expensive. Fortunately building regulations mandate solar panels on new build houses now - which is why we have them. Sadly the regulations don’t force the builder to put nearly enough of them on the roof for it to be worth getting a battery. We would have to more than double the capacity of the panels for that to be a feasible option.

[SnoopZ]

Originally Posted by Paul

Except for some reason it doesnt display the historic Tracker tariffs, it was the first place I looked.

It also doesn't show Agile unfortunately.

Originally Posted by Chris

Yes, it is expensive. Fortunately building regulations mandate solar panels on new build houses now - which is why we have them. Sadly the regulations don’t force the builder to put nearly enough of them on the roof for it to be worth getting a battery. We would have to more than double the capacity of the panels for that to be a feasible option.

Another thing they dont tell you is not all roofs are suitable, even if they face the right way. I asked for a quote a few years ago, and was told that becasue my roof is slate tiles, it wasnt suitable for their discount project. While its not impossible to fit them on slate roofs, it is more difficult (i.e. even more expensive).

My roof is also a "three way" roof, meaning to have more than a few panels would mean splitting them across two (facing in different directions). This is again apparently more complex due to the differering amounts of electricity they would generate.