Octopus Energy reviews: Give your feedback

chamelion

MWT said:

Telegraph_Sam said:

But I don't see why they can't use the data as it is now generated in real time. I have selected my preferred time-slot. Someone can enlighten us.

They can't use the real time data as they don't get the real time data, only you can see that.

The half-hour data is collected from your meter, once a day.

If you query the API you get data updates much more regularly. It's not once daily. Their website updates once daily. 

masonic

chamelion said:

MWT said:

Telegraph_Sam said:

But I don't see why they can't use the data as it is now generated in real time. I have selected my preferred time-slot. Someone can enlighten us.

They can't use the real time data as they don't get the real time data, only you can see that.

The half-hour data is collected from your meter, once a day.

If you query the API you get data updates much more regularly. It's not once daily. Their website updates once daily. 

Presumably you are referring to an API other than the one Octopus provides (the API documented here). That is only updated a maximum of once per day and never shows data more recent than midnight on the previous day.

Telegraph_Sam

I had to google API. Are you talking about somehow doing something special (query) with the existing software, or downloading something new and supplementary that could do more (queries) than what the stamdard Octopus API can do? It doesn't look simple.

MWT

chamelion said:

MWT said:

Telegraph_Sam said:

But I don't see why they can't use the data as it is now generated in real time. I have selected my preferred time-slot. Someone can enlighten us.

They can't use the real time data as they don't get the real time data, only you can see that.

The half-hour data is collected from your meter, once a day.

If you query the API you get data updates much more regularly. It's not once daily. Their website updates once daily. 

No, really you don't, the data retrieval by Octopus from the meter via the DCC will pull the 48 half-hour readings from 23:30 GMT each day, along with the daily index reading, but the index is not exposed via the API.

If you are using the Hildebrand CAD which provides your real-time data to their cloud then yes, you can get data within the current day, using their API but not otherwise.

malnik

Do the Octopus Smart meters need a mobile signal or will they report via broadband? We dont get mobile on some operators here.

Telegraph_Sam

Point of detail: The benefits of solar panels are promoted in terms of offset of generated power demand coupled with the deemed export contribution credited in FIT payments (different thread topic).
>> Are the Octopus ToU tariffs smart enough to give me credit if in any one period my net consumption, taking into account solar generated kwh's, is negative? Or would these periods be simply recorded as zero kWh's?
I believe I saw that there are some tariffs that specifically have an export facility. Here I am talking about standard Go / Go Faster tariffs.

tlcgrantham

malnik said:

Do the Octopus Smart meters need a mobile signal or will they report via broadband? We dont get mobile on some operators here.

When I had my smart meter fitted a month ago I asked the engineer doing the installation that same question as we the same problem. He said they can use any available Mobile signal regardless of the network. 

MWT

malnik said:

Do the Octopus Smart meters need a mobile signal or will they report via broadband? We dont get mobile on some operators here.

For security reasons, no smart meters can use your home broadband.

MWT

Telegraph_Sam said:

Point of detail: The benefits of solar panels are promoted in terms of offset of generated power demand coupled with the deemed export contribution credited in FIT payments (different thread topic).
>> Are the Octopus ToU tariffs smart enough to give me credit if in any one period my net consumption, taking into account solar generated kwh's, is negative? Or would these periods be simply recorded as zero kWh's?
I believe I saw that there are some tariffs that specifically have an export facility. Here I am talking about standard Go / Go Faster tariffs.

That isn't the way it works, import and export are separated.

Go and Go Faster for example are both import tariffs.

If you have FIT payments then those are unaffected by your choice of import tariff.

If you do not qualify for FIT (usually because you have only recently had solar installed) then you can choose a SEG tariff which is an export tariff.

There are limits on which SEG tariff you can use with different Octopus import tariffs.

Telegraph_Sam

I was assuming that whatever FIT arrangements I have with (in this case) Scottish Power are quite separate from and do not affect the deal I have with Octopus - who are unaware of my SV arrangements. Forget that I mentioned these.

The question is simply if I can get credit for "negative consumption" if I am on a Go or Go Faster tariff?