Octopus Agile

LiquidStool

Hey all
Is anybody using/used Octopus Agile?  Seems like it could be a cracking way to cut down my electric bill, even with the daily charge.
Any feedback welcome, thanks

[Deleted User]

I have used it off and in over the past two years. If you want it to work for you, you have to be prepared to shift demand to times when Agile prices are below the fixed tariff rate. This includes reducing energy use in the period 4 to 7pm (sometimes 8pm) when unit prices can be as high as 35p/kWh. The Agile tariff requires a smart meter. Billing is based on half hour usage data not meter readings. Any loss of data (which sadly happens occasionally) will result in a bill block. Octopus can recover missing data but it takes time and, as yet, it is not an automated service. Finally, Octopus sets an equivalent/average unit price in the electricity meter so costs tend to be inaccurate, there are though a number of third-party Apps that can access Octopus data (with your approval).

LiquidStool

Dolor said:

I have used it off and in over the past two years. If you want it to work for you, you have to be prepared to shift demand to times when Agile prices are below the fixed tariff rate. This includes reducing energy use in the period 4 to 7pm (sometimes 8pm) when unit prices can be as high as 35p/kWh. The Agile tariff requires a smart meter. Billing is based on half hour usage data not meter readings. Any loss of data (which sadly happens occasionally) will result in a bill block. Octopus can recover missing data but it takes time and, as yet, it is not an automated service. Finally, Octopus sets an equivalent/average unit price in the electricity meter so costs tend to be inaccurate, there are though a number of third-party Apps that can access Octopus data (with your approval).

Thanks for your feedback.  So have you actually saved enough to make it worthwhile?  I'm concerned by the loss of data, in this event, how do Octopus charge you?

[Deleted User]

Last year was an extraordinary one for Agile prices. I was averaging 7 to 8p/kWh; however, prices rose considerably in late October and are only falling back to Agile norms now (not as low as before). If data is missing, then Octopus has to recover it manually which takes a little time. SMETS2 meters retain import data for the past 13 months so permanent data loss is not the issue. To recover daily data, Octopus uses a third-party Adaptor provided by TMA. You can switch away from Agile at anytime but you cannot return within 30 days. To get low unit prices you do require buy in from all family members. 

bristolleedsfan

National average pricing for

octopus_energy

Agile Tariff on Fri 19-03-2021

Min: 11.2p (15:00

Max: 35.0p (18:00)

Average: 16.5p

Av Excl Peak: 14.2p

Cheapest 4hrs: 11.6p

Peak Time (1600-1900): 31.8p

[Deleted User]

bristolleedsfan said:

National average pricing for

octopus_energy

Agile Tariff on Fri 19-03-2021

Min: 11.2p (15:00

Max: 35.0p (18:00)

Average: 16.5p

Av Excl Peak: 14.2p

Cheapest 4hrs: 11.6p

Peak Time (1600-1900): 31.8p

I am really not sure what average pricing means in the context of Octopus’ Agile tariff as my daily average unit price depends very much on when energy is used and how much energy is consumed. For example, if I was stupid enough to charge my EV in the peak period, then my average unit price would be closer to 31p than 11.6p.

greenguppie

Apologies for bumping this 6 month old thread, but perhaps a timely reminder of the dangers of these beta, 'flavour of the month' tariffs.

Is anyone still on this tariff?

e.g. today, 07 September 2021, the price cap of 35p/kWh has had to be applied continuously from 7am until 9.30pm.
Even then you will still be paying over 28p/kWh until 10.30pm, when you get a 30min "cheap" period at 24.26p/kWh, after which it bumps back up to over 26p/kwh

The cheapest 30 mins were 4.30am-5.00am when you would still have been paying in excess of 21p/kWh

(Prices based on Eastern supply region, but I guess very similar across the country)

[Deleted User]

greenguppie said:

Apologies for bumping this 6 month old thread, but perhaps a timely reminder of the dangers of these beta, 'flavour of the month' tariffs.

Is anyone still on this tariff?

e.g. today, 07 September 2021, the price cap of 35p/kWh has had to be applied continuously from 7am until 9.30pm.
Even then you will still be paying over 28p/kWh until 10.30pm, when you get a 30min "cheap" period at 24.26p/kWh, after which it bumps back up to over 26p/kwh

The cheapest 30 mins were 4.30am-5.00am when you would still have been paying in excess of 21p/kWh

(Prices based on Eastern supply region, but I guess very similar across the country)

With respect, consumers who have signed up to Agile Incoming are probably more invested than most. Many have developed their own software to make maximum use of any cheap energy periods. They are also consumers who watch the market very closely. I was on Agile this time last year but, like many, I could see that Octopus’ other t-o-u tariffs offered were going to be cheaper so I switched to Go in October 2020. 

Many of the consumers who stuck with Agile Incoming did so because they have a PV solar array and a battery. Octopus’ Agile Outgoing SEG has also offered some very high export prices.

niktheguru

You’ll also probably find that octopus have only very few people left on agile. The vast majority of agile users have moved to octopus go faster months ago, only the die hards and those, as dolor said, who have a PV solar array and battery are still left.

ScoobyZ

HI is this worth doing in July 2022? It seems the lower standing charge and a 35p cap could be a the best option soon.

Phlik

niktheguru said:

You’ll also probably find that octopus have only very few people left on agile. The vast majority of agile users have moved to octopus go faster months ago, only the die hards and those, as dolor said, who have a PV solar array and battery are still left.

Or some of us who have only just switched to it for the caped rate for a year and low standing charge.