Octopus Tracker

gwapenut

I just wondered about people's experiences with this tariff and whether they feel they are winners or losers.

I got a quote from them yesterday, and I have to say I find the numbers highly misleading. The figures are very attractive, beating even the good fixed rate tariff I got from Avro, but presumably based on an average of the last year's prices. If I look at tariff rates for the last couple of months, they are extremely unattractive, and would cost me far more to switch away than implied.

Obviously we're in an era of rising prices, so tracker quotes will always look better than the reality, but I wondered how longer term users of this tariff have fared?

For completeness, I'll link to the historical data some guy has kindly put together:

https://energy.guylipman.com/sm/electracker

https://energy.guylipman.com/sm/gastracker

[Deleted User]

This time last year Tracker prices were very cheap - particularly, for gas which was c.1.7p/kWh. I wouldn’t say that I saved a fortune as very little gas was being used. I switched to a fixed deal in October last year and Tracker gas hasn’t fallen below my fixed price.

I am not convinced that a Tracker quote is anything but an informed guess. As you can switch into Tracker with a button click, then I would sit back; watch and wait, and when (or if) Tracker prices fall then switch to it. You can exit at anytime.

FWIW, high wholesale prices for electricity are showing up in the Agile tariff and many committed souls have run for safety and switched to Go or Go Faster. Under Octopus’ rules, consumers can only switch smart tariffs every 30 days. Tracker is not deemed to be a smart tariff.

bristolleedsfan

Electricity my region 7 days up until 12th - Average kwh rate 14.74 Kwh plus Vat

                                 7 days up until 19th - Average kwh rate 16.73 Kwh plus Vat

                                 7 days up until 26th - Average kwh rate  14.94 Kwh plus Vat

                                 27 April to 2 May inclusive 6 days 15.47 plus vat

                                 3 May to 9th May inclusive             15.47 plus vat

Standing Charge 16.88 per day inc vat

Gas yesterday my region Unit rate: 3.41 p/kWh Standing charge: 15.09 p/day  inc Vat

Update 26th April Gas Unit rate: 3.44 p/kWh

niktheguru

Tracker prices are pretty high at the moment compared to the cheapest elec and gas switches available. Who knows what'll happen in the next few months.
Prices were good last year, if you join now you're basically taking a speculative punt that maybe they will decrease and you'll save but maybe they'll go even higher! 
Its a bit like playing on the stockmarket, just because they were low last year doesn't mean they'll be low this year, but if you're on it long enough it'll probably even itself out.

The good thing is there is no exit fee so you can leave whenever your want and arent tied in. Personally at the moment I think go and go faster are a better bet.....thats why as dolor says, many agile and tracker customers are moving onto go, until the prices stabilise/reduce.

masonic

Octopus themselves have commented that last year's low prices were the result of an oversupply of energy due to the first lockdown and are unlikely to be repeated (speaking of Agile, but equally applicable to the Tracker). There are supply problems at the moment, which are set to be resolved over the coming weeks, so prices should fall, but probably not by very much.

bristolleedsfan

Sunday tends to be cheapest day of week for Agile/Tracker, this must be one of the most expensive Sundays that anyone can remember bar January 2021 maybe .....Average rates/averages excluding peak/ cheapest 4 hours, on the subject of Agile price plunges, someone mentioned 3 or 4 within last 9 coming up to 10 months

Gas tracker rate today my region  Unit rate: 3.73 p/kW

[Deleted User]

bristolleedsfan said:

Gas tracker rate today my region  Unit rate: 3.73 p/kW

A lot can happen in 24 hours, today’s Tracker Gas price for my region is 2.553p/kWh.

bristolleedsfan

Dolor said:

bristolleedsfan said:

Gas tracker rate today my region  Unit rate: 3.73 p/kW

A lot can happen in 24 hours, today’s Tracker Gas price for my region is 2.553p/kWh.

That is interesting as yesterday Tracker Gas price for my region was 3.73 p/kW as well, today via all tariffs listing tracker gas rate is not showing  for any region and if my memory serves me correct you are on a fixed rate tariff for gas.

niktheguru

3.83p/kWh for my gas today.....wowser!

[Deleted User]

Yes, I am on a fixed rate but I monitor Tracker prices on Guy Lipman’s website:

[Deleted User]

For those thinking about Octopus Agile, this is what wind does to electricity prices. However, betting the farm on wind energy is unlikely to give us an assured amount of energy going forward. It’s great when the wind blows but ….