Is Octopus the best?

David28

not for me they are £143 a year more expensive than what I am paying with Scottish Gas

[Deleted User]

Talldave said:

Octopus are probably the best at innovation.  They actually seem to be doing interesting things with smart metering that other suppliers aren't bothering with. Personally, I think this sort of disruption is just what the market needs.

When reports came in that some meters were recording reactive loads when connected to a Powerwall 2 battery, many consumers got nowhere with their suppliers. Octopus, which already has a white label arrangement with Tesla Power, took the bull by the horns and tested a variety of smart meters with a Powerwall 2. Octopus concluded that all smart meters were within specification as was the Powerwall 2 but the combination of one particular L & G SMETS2 meter model and a Powerwall 2 was recording reactive loads in SOME situations. As a result of this research, Octopus has initiated a programme of replacing problematic meters with either a different L & G model or a meter built by another manufacturer that they have tested. Unlike most suppliers, Octopus also has a dedicated smart meter team to deal with all smart meter issues.

brewerdave

Talldave said:

Octopus are probably the best at innovation.  They actually seem to be doing interesting things with smart metering that other suppliers aren't bothering with. Personally, I think this sort of disruption is just what the market needs.

In theory yes - but when you read the horrendous stories on here re meter readings being invented (sorry ,estimated) and customer readings being ignored by many of the suppliers plus customers WITH Smart meters having to give manual readings ,we are a LONG way away from true smart metering being a practical reality.

neilmcl

David28 said:

not for me they are £143 a year more expensive than what I am paying with Scottish Gas

There's more to being the "best" than just the cost. Although, at an increased cost of £143 there's not much of an argument to change.

[Deleted User]

brewerdave said:

Talldave said:

Octopus are probably the best at innovation.  They actually seem to be doing interesting things with smart metering that other suppliers aren't bothering with. Personally, I think this sort of disruption is just what the market needs.

In theory yes - but when you read the horrendous stories on here re meter readings being invented (sorry ,estimated) and customer readings being ignored by many of the suppliers plus customers WITH Smart meters having to give manual readings ,we are a LONG way away from true smart metering being a practical reality.

These are supplier-related issues. Octopus does not bill on estimated readings for smart meter users on its ToU tariffs. Yes, a loss of data will result in a stalled monthly bill but it is easily resolved with an email or phone call. I can also see my electricity usage data on the Bright App or via N3rgy.com if I so wish.

[Deleted User]

neilmcl said:

David28 said:

not for me they are £143 a year more expensive than what I am paying with Scottish Gas

There's more to being the "best" than just the cost. Although, at an increased cost of £143 there's not much of an argument to change.

A lot of consumers who are now on Octopus' Agile; Go and Go Faster tariffs have a contrarian view. For example, my average unit prices in May, June and July were 6.98; 8.04 and 8.6p/kWh. Yes, Agile prices have increased slightly. For my region and consumption, I would have paid 11.2p/kWh last month. My situation has changed and I am now on Go with an average cost per kWh of 5p with minimal peak use at 14.62p/kWh

MWT

It is certainly true that Octopus has better offerings for engaged smart meter customers, but there will always be reasons to go somewhere else if you just want a simple flat rate.

MikeE67

brewerdave said:

plus customers WITH Smart meters having to give manual readings ,we are a LONG way away from true smart metering being a practical reality.

Agreed. I have had smart meters for 18 months and around 13 months of that time it has gone 'dumb' and every month I have to give manual meter readings so, in my experience, smart meters aren't all that smart !

MikeE67

Dolor said:

As a result of this research, Octopus has initiated a programme of replacing problematic meters with either a different L & G model or a meter built by another manufacturer that they have tested. Unlike most suppliers, Octopus also has a dedicated smart meter team to deal with all smart meter issues.

I would like it if Octopus Energy would sort out my problematic meter although I doubt if it would be replaced.

OVO and E.ON did nothing to help.

EDIT: I have a £25 reward for joining !

UnclaimedEnergy

It all depends on what you look for in a supplier. If all you want is the cheapest price available and don't worry about anything else. Then unless you're on a fancy Time of use tariff then no, they aren't the best.

If you're talking about consistently top performing customer care then they have proven to be one of, if not the best at that. Winning Uswitch and Which? awards in multiple years along with being constantly near the top of the citizens advice ratings.

If you're talking about the most innovative and forward thinking supplier then this is also Octopus. Octopus Agile was the first domestic tariff which offered a different rate for every HH. From listening to their podcasts they're always looking and open to explore new ideas and aren't afraid to take risks.

Overall, I would say they're the best supplier currently in the market by a long way and have done more in improving the domestic market than any over supplier in the last few years than any other supplier (Social Energy has done a lot as well with their firm-frequency-response).

As I said before though, they aren't the cheapest and if you're main focuses are on price and customer care then there are a few others out there which are more favored currently (Green, Avro)