Octopus Tracker

MWT

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81948892#Comment_81948892

I think you're missing the point here. It's not about whether the wholesale price is high or low, it's about risk.

Under fixed tariffs, it is the energy company that carries the risk of increasing wholesale prices. With Tracker, it is the customer who bears that risk.

In order for Tracker to be worth that risk, the savings that can be made on cheap days need to be substantial and on average days need to be significant, otherwise you might as well just lock in a fix (not right now admittedly).

Not missing the point at all, Tracker is doing exactly what it is designed to do, it is just not the safest tariff to be on when it comes to a period of war…

If you want to de-risk your energy costs then you wouldn't be there in the first place and if your requirement is that it has to offer significant savings even on the average days then you are being more than a little hopeful I'd say.

Fixed tariffs price in the risk by including the hedging costs, tracker tariffs are a gamble that the market will turn out to have lower short term costs than anticipated and will deliver a saving over time.

I've used Tracker for gas in the past when market conditions were less volatile, but if I'd have moved straight to a fix in February if I hadn't already been on one as it was clear that things were starting to heat up. (have heat-pump now so no further need for gas at all).