Octopus Tracker

BillyHorner

Am I the only one who doesn't understand the new Tracker formula (for electricity)? The December 2024 formula had a multiplier of 1.17609 in the north east, whilst the April 2025 formula on the Octopus website says the new multiplier is 0.11993 which would represent about a 90% reduction in that part of the calculation.

Clearly that can't be correct, but it doesn't seem to be that they've missed the '1' out in front of the decimals or that they've put the decimal point in the wrong place. I can't get my figures to come out to what gastracker.uk is saying today's new price is either, no matter how I try and manipulate it.

Slinky

Telegraph_Sam said:

Alternative logic: if I've got a no exit fee 14-M Loyalty Fix today, I'm disinclined to leave it (for Tracker) only to find later that it's no longer available in NEF form.  I spend more on elec than gas annually. As you say - it's a gamble.

I'm sure you know you don't have to have both fuels on the same tariff.

bob2302

Staying on Loyal for gas will cost me ~£5  more than Tracker (at 4.85p/unit) over 6 months. This seems like a small price to pay to retain the option of staying on the fix over the winter.

Spoonie_Turtle

BillyHorner said:

Am I the only one who doesn't understand the new Tracker formula (for electricity)? The December 2024 formula had a multiplier of 1.17609 in the north east, whilst the April 2025 formula on the Octopus website says the new multiplier is 0.11993 which would represent about a 90% reduction in that part of the calculation.

Clearly that can't be correct, but it doesn't seem to be that they've missed the '1' out in front of the decimals or that they've put the decimal point in the wrong place. I can't get my figures to come out to what gastracker.uk is saying today's new price is either, no matter how I try and manipulate it.

Just had a look at the formulae and I can only think they have put the decimal in the wrong place - BUT does that make calculations result anywhere near to the actual price?  (I could never get my calculations to match the real-life URs so there's no point me trying it.)  Putting the decimal in the wrong place would be an increase in the multiplier, which would track with the SVT having increased too.

SJMALBA

Spoonie_Turtle said:

BillyHorner said:

Am I the only one who doesn't understand the new Tracker formula (for electricity)? The December 2024 formula had a multiplier of 1.17609 in the north east, whilst the April 2025 formula on the Octopus website says the new multiplier is 0.11993 which would represent about a 90% reduction in that part of the calculation.

Clearly that can't be correct, but it doesn't seem to be that they've missed the '1' out in front of the decimals or that they've put the decimal point in the wrong place. I can't get my figures to come out to what gastracker.uk is saying today's new price is either, no matter how I try and manipulate it.

Just had a look at the formulae and I can only think they have put the decimal in the wrong place - BUT does that make calculations result anywhere near to the actual price?  (I could never get my calculations to match the real-life URs so there's no point me trying it.)  Putting the decimal in the wrong place would be an increase in the multiplier, which would track with the SVT having increased too.

Yes, decimal point is in the wrong position e.g. (W * 0.12000) should be (W * 1.2000), the latter giving the correct price for today.

BillyHorner

Spoonie_Turtle said:

Just had a look at the formulae and I can only think they have put the decimal in the wrong place - BUT does that make calculations result anywhere near to the actual price?  (I could never get my calculations to match the real-life URs so there's no point me trying it.)  Putting the decimal in the wrong place would be an increase in the multiplier, which would track with the SVT having increased too.

SJMALBA said:

Yes, decimal point is in the wrong position e.g. (W * 0.12000) should be (W * 1.2000), the latter giving the correct price for today.

Thanks both.

Actually, I'd tried moving the decimal point already and still came out with a different figure from gastracker. However, I've just tried it again and it's worked out exactly, so I must have made a mistake when I did it first time.

Bendo

Hmmm started the switch to tracker gas yesterday just not accepted the terms yet as still in to minds whether to do it or stick to fix.

Need to see what the new version has done to gas rates in Mersey region to decide whether to go onto the one I'd started the switch to or not agree and look at the new one.

bristolleedsfan

Bendo said:

Need to see what the new version has done to gas rates in Mersey region to decide whether to go onto the one I'd started the switch to or not agree and look at the new one.

SC is the same, April 2025 is very marginally more expensive for Gas.

Bendo

bristolleedsfan said:

Bendo said:

Need to see what the new version has done to gas rates in Mersey region to decide whether to go onto the one I'd started the switch to or not agree and look at the new one.

SC is the same, April 2025 is very marginally more expensive for Gas.

Thanks. Saved me checking. Surprised the SC has remained the same, its about 2p a day more expensive on the new fixes.

I'll probably accept the terms and hope gas stays reasonably stable over the next year or so.

Telegraph_Sam

To what extent have people been using Octopus Compare in coming to their various conclusions? (in the switch or not to switch debate).  It's some time since I last paid them a visit, time to re-evaluate my 50p / month's contribution.