Octopus Tracker

Qyburn

Telegraph_Sam said:

Technical query regarding the conversion formulas: Most of the wholesale market to retail conversion formulas contain a variable and a fixed element (depending on location). Is this fixed charge quite separate from and in addition to the Standing Charges

Yes. For example my current formula .. "(W * 1.1990) + 10.5180p per kWh"

Both the multiplier (1.1990) and the fixed increment (10.5180p) affect the unit rate only, the price per kWh.

The standing charge is a separate and additional charge per day irrespective of the number of kWh used, or even if it was zero.

masonic

Telegraph_Sam said:

It is always a good idea to have some facts like your stats (from gastracker?) to draw on.
If there is some evidence that Jan-March (2024) is more expensive than July-Sept (2024) then there is a point of view that 2025 could follow a similar pattern - with all the usual caveats. Which was the point I (and Tracker Q & A)  was making
The other underlying influence re the end of Dec 2023 v 1 is separate and needs to be mentally considered separately. Like rejoining Tracker in the summer months after an interim spell on the 14 months fixed tariff for example.

My post above was missing an important "no" (now corrected). I don't think last year broadly saw a decrease in price between winter and summer, if anything prices were more expensive in summer than at the beginning of the year. Prices slowly increased through the year. So I wouldn't bet on prices coming down over the next 6 months. Especially given the price cap is predicted to rise over the same period.

There seems to be some commentary, from Octopus themselves, MSE, and other places, that prices can be significantly higher in winter, but in practice this seems to be related to the extremes, not the average. If you look at monthly averages, prices do not follow a predictable seasonal pattern.

debitcardmayhem

I noticed that leccy is 30% up tomorrow dec23 33.36 Eastern, 35.47 dec24

Slinky

debitcardmayhem said:

I noticed that leccy is 30% up tomorrow dec23 33.36 Eastern, 35.47 dec24

Deep joy. That'll be huge rates for Agile also.

bristolleedsfan

Reply someone has had from Octopus.

Telegraph_Sam

Tks for that vital info tit bit.

I might have been the someone

la531983

22nd Jan pricing in my region on the Dec 2023 tariff is in, and it's a shade above 42p tomorrow. Ouch.

Podseas

Hardly any wind tomorrow and gas prices are high. Wind due to pick up from Thursday though.
Dont need many days where tracker prices are double the norm to make it more expensive than SVT on an aggregate basis. Need 2 days of half price days to equal out every doubler. And the price rarely gets that low even on the windiest sunniest days.

Worth noting that these expensive days are feeding through into the next price cap as well which means more consumer inflation on the way. Oh joy!

Doc_N

Podseas said:

Hardly any wind tomorrow and gas prices are high. Wind due to pick up from Thursday though.
Dont need many days where tracker prices are double the norm to make it more expensive than SVT on an aggregate basis. Need 2 days of half price days to equal out every doubler. And the price rarely gets that low even on the windiest sunniest days.

Worth noting that these expensive days are feeding through into the next price cap as well which means more consumer inflation on the way. Oh joy!

Exactly that - I agree.  Tracker was good while it lasted but I've just shifted onto a fix.  Impossible to predict, and there are some cheap days coming shortly, but the cheap days aren't sufficiently frequent or cheap to balance out the peaks.

Qyburn

Podseas said:

..
Dont need many days where tracker prices are double the norm to make it more expensive than SVT on an aggregate basis. Need 2 days of half price days to equal out every doubler. And the price rarely gets that low even on the windiest sunniest days.

It depends what you call "the norm", we've certainly not had any days at double SVT. I suppose we've all been lulled into thinking we're entitled to low prices.