Octopus Loyalty 12m

[Deleted User]

I'm with Octopus and have always valued their good customer service.  The only realistic way I can see to reduce my Gas and Electricity bills are: 

Gas Central heating off completely and very rarely ever use gas hob.  If chilly in the evenings I use extra clothing layers, a blanket and hot water bottle until it is time for bed.  I now go to bed much earlier than before.

Reduce Electricity use as much as possible and restrict electric shower/hair wash to once a week - not ideal but saves on electricity and a hand wash at the sink has 'to do' for the other six days.

Despite my very best efforts the unavoidable and crippling daily standing changes for both gas and electricity still make the bills seem just too much.  No way round it and, sadly, will only get worse if all the predictions come to fruition.

I'm always hopeful for useful energy saving tips, and open to any new ones, but I really think I have cut back as much as I possibly can.   It seems that nothing can be done about the daily gas and electricity standing charges.

Crimson

silverwhistle

pochase said:

Alnat1 said:

I moved onto Tracker v3 recently. In the "my account" section it says Fixed Term ends 17/06/2023.

Does the same thing happen when you move onto Agile, so the "guarantee" only lasts a year?

That is answer that I can live with, even so it is strange they have it nowhere in tariff information.

Also does it mean that every user has different end date for the tariff? I know that is the case for their Go tariff.

You're right about Go, and I'm on 15p/5p until September so obviously pondring what to do then.  I was thinking it wouldn't make sense for Octopus to retain the 35p cap for Agile (in practice I haven't seen over 33p in my region) when the fixed cap is higher and there is an upside occasionally with Agile when it is very windy, but on consideration it may be that there is a benefit to them of a segment of their customers who _do_ adjust their usage? I'm just going to wait and see..

bristolleedsfan

Alnat1 said:

So what does it say for those on v1 who have been on it for more than a year?

Agile and Tracker customers have been getting renewal invitations prior to fixed term expiring

QrizB

Deleted_User said:

It seems that nothing can be done about the daily gas and electricity standing charges.

The highest national combined gas & electricity standing charges for a capped SVT paid by DD are £288 a year, and the government will shortly be giving you £400.

[Deleted User]

Thanks, QrizB.  I am truly grateful for every bit of help being given and definitely not looking a gift horse in the mouth.

Even living modestly, with gas, electricity, rent, Council tax and food all increasing rapidly, and worse to come, it is so upsetting.  Sad to see modest (I am many miles away from being rich) hard earned savings being eroded as prices (even with much appreciated help from Government) escalate way beyond fixed (modest) retirement income.

Not pleadng poverty - just sad that my modest  safety net (financially) is just slowly disappearing. Having worked hard, full time, all my working life I long not to have t rely on means tested benefits.   As time passes, the way things are, that dread could becme a sad reality. Much to be thankful for but still a disappointing prospect.

Many of us will be in the same boat.

SuperHans1

Mstty said:

You didn't fancy agile (electricity only capped at 35p kWh for one year) then gas tracker v3 capped at 11p kWh for one year as well (check with Octopus on this one)

Cheaper standing charges as well

Might be a better option?

So is this the current thinking for the cheapest option rather than the Loyal Octopus 12m fix? Is there an option to delay the switch to Agile and Tracker like others have done with Loyal Octopus?

SuperHans1

I've just caught up on the tracker thread and see that the same conversation is going on there  

Mstty

SuperHans1 said:

Mstty said:

You didn't fancy agile (electricity only capped at 35p kWh for one year) then gas tracker v3 capped at 11p kWh for one year as well (check with Octopus on this one)

Cheaper standing charges as well

Might be a better option?

So is this the current thinking for the cheapest option rather than the Loyal Octopus 12m fix? Is there an option to delay the switch to Agile and Tracker like others have done with Loyal Octopus?

If I was with Octopus right now I would be on Agile for Electricity and tracker v3 for gas (if we had gas) that would be my thinking as both those will work out cheaper than the loyal octopus 12m fix deal.

Luckily I was with another supplier who offered monthly fix deals far better than anything Octopus have offered since Jan/Feb 2022. But if you like helpful customer services and far heavier bills it's the choice you take.

Of course one thing to consider is if you have an electric vehicle or are getting on is too move to Octopus go as that will be cheaper still for electricity.

One thing, once you have checked all the information yourself don't hesitate. Lots of deals being pulled from the market quickly never to return.

Spoonie_Turtle

Well, I'm back considering this, but only if we can defer it otherwise we may not save overall.  (Tracker customers will have smart meters rolled out over the summer so it turns out that's not an option for us.)  But I don't have time to do more calculations until Sunday at the earliest

SuperHans1

So I signed up for Agile today and received an email a couple of hours later. This email gives me 28 days to sign up which will allow me to stay another month on the better standard variable tariff (I already have smets2 meters).

I then called up and asked about switching to gas tracker to be told that they have not been offering the tracker tariff to anyone for the last month. So I then asked about the loyalty tariff for gas only and whether I could defer the switch. I've been signed up with a start date of 30th September which is great! Strangely the rates for the gas were slightly cheaper than those quoted online as well.