Octopus Tracker

Doc_N

Thanks guys. No gas readings taken by Octopus from the smart meter in almost a month with them. Electricity fine. I’ll contact them, because it’ll doubtless put a switch to Tracker at risk.

[Deleted User]

Doc_N said:

Thanks guys. No gas readings taken by Octopus from the smart meter in almost a month with them. Electricity fine. I’ll contact them, because it’ll doubtless put a switch to Tracker at risk.

What do third-party Apps like BRIGHT show? Did your final bill from BG show the correct (smart) meter serial number? 

Xbigman

tlcgrantham said:

Thanks for the explanation. The formula on my online account seems to indicate 14pkw is added.

I think the formula changed so its now 14p. My spreadsheet was set up for the old formula. This makes Agile even less attractive.


Darren

Chrysalis

Someone recently posted the formulas for Agile and Electric elsewhere, seems based on the last few posts they already out of date.

But in the event of a wholesale cost increase, the gap from Agile to Tracker goes even more in Trackers favour.

So Agile has a massive 120% margin added, 2.2x ratio, then at peak hours 4-7pm a premium of 11-14p depending on where you live.  Its not explained why they have enforced an extra margin during peak.

https://octopus.energy/blog/agile-pricing-explained/

https://www.guylipman.com/octopus/formulas.html

The second (3rd party link) shows the multiplier changes based on where you live as well.

My region is 2.0x multiplier but has the largest 14p unit premium for peak.  I prefer the lower multiplier vs a lower peak premium, so consider myself a winner of the region lottery.

Electric tracker has a much lower ratio at 1.2x, some regions a bit below, it also has a fixed unit price addition, that of course applies for the entire day as is an all day rate, that varies per region but avg around 7.4p, this has quite a large variance from cheapest to most expensive region the lowest at 6.76p and the highest at 8.22p.

What this means is in the event of a cost spike, especially a big one, Agile will be hit harder unless you are loaded on dusk energy. 

Margins go down for Octopus on tracker as wholesale rate goes up but are more protected on Agile as the fixed rate premium makes up a smaller part of the margin and only applies for 3 hours a day.

On my online account the above info matches up, however I am still on the 35p capped agile.

For my region tracker is 1.19x ratio and 7.1p margin buff premium.

I think I will apply for electric tracker waiting list.

tlcgrantham

Thanks for the excellent analysis and comparisons between Agile and Tracker. I’m already on the waiting list for Tracker and will switch as soon as I’m allowed to. 

nekr0mantik

those who been on tracker last 12 months, did you ever see a 50% or more increase in costs when wholesale prices went up?
this is for electric only.

Griffindog

nekr0mantik said:

those who been on tracker last 12 months, did you ever see a 50% or more increase in costs when wholesale prices went up?
this is for electric only.

Costs went well over the 40p cap quite a bit but we didn’t have to worry about the actual figures due to the caps. July to September last year were expensive. Increases are usually gradual and not a sudden jump so you can evaluate the costs over time and whether you can afford to stay or not.

Spoonie_Turtle

Griffindog said:

nekr0mantik said:

those who been on tracker last 12 months, did you ever see a 50% or more increase in costs when wholesale prices went up?
this is for electric only.

Costs went well over the 40p cap quite a bit but we didn’t have to worry about the actual figures due to the caps. July to September last year were expensive. Increases are usually gradual and not a sudden jump so you can evaluate the costs over time and whether you can afford to stay or not.

Some of us did, a bit - 55p cap from the July tariff onwards.

It's a shame the Guy Lipman page isn't still there for posterity, it was fab having all the prices way back to the beginning.

Scroll down and it gives you the last 365 days' prices. https://energy-stats.uk/octopus-tracker-eastern-england/ Not sure if you can zoom in or not, I'm on my phone.

nekr0mantik

thanks
need to decide if I want to move from GE UK to Octopus Flexible. 
Current Flex estimated yearly cost is slightly less then GE UK

Jonesy_40

Which GE UK tariff are you on? I'm on Sparkling 6 and the move to Octopus Flexible seems a no brainer