So will Octopus keep to their word and start communicating with customers today?

MWT

SJMALBA said:

If EPG wasn't going to be applied to Tracker, then they would 'simply' require to email people to inform them of this, although I imagine they would also have to include the relevant info. for Flexible, so that people would know what they were switching to if the decide to 'ditch' Tracker?

If they were certain, perhaps, but if still seeking clarification, perhaps not...

The information outflow is also being managed to limit the phone calls coming in and to allow time to brief staff accordingly. The CS staff have a limited understanding of the Tracker products at the best of times, I don't imagine they want to add to the confusion by triggering any influx of calls from that cohort right now...

fryedslyce

MWT said:

SJMALBA said:

If EPG wasn't going to be applied to Tracker, then they would 'simply' require to email people to inform them of this, although I imagine they would also have to include the relevant info. for Flexible, so that people would know what they were switching to if the decide to 'ditch' Tracker?

If they were certain, perhaps, but if still seeking clarification, perhaps not...

The information outflow is also being managed to limit the phone calls coming in and to allow time to brief staff accordingly. The CS staff have a limited understanding of the Tracker products at the best of times, I don't imagine they want to add to the confusion by triggering any influx of calls from that cohort right now...

So you're saying the excuse for delay is because Octopus customer service agents are poorly trained?

How dare the customer expect otherwise, we must be content to wait indefinitely.

Xbigman

For Tracker and Agile I think people on here are being highly unrealistic. These are niche tariff's which I'd be surprized if the government considered in their deliberations. How many accounts are we talking about with Tracker and Agile? A few thousand or at most a few tens of thousands I suspect. Small fry in the scheme of things with near 30 million accounts in total. 
Then there is the actual question of how they'll work. Is it 17p off on a daily basis (Tracker) or half hourly basis (Agile) or is it an average. If averaged, over what timescale. It could be at point of billing or the government may have some other timescale to reconcile their support to the energy company's. Maybe the government will just tell Octopus to reduce the Octopus caps. 
Its possible these decisions have not been taken yet. 
I'd like to think we'd know next week but I suspect we might not know until after the 1st of Oct. I don't personally think that is unreasonable in the circumstances. Frustrating yes, but not unreasonable.


Darren

gt94sss2

fryedslyce said:

niktheguru said:

fryedslyce said:

SJMALBA said:

Still in the dark here (Tracker)... In fact, we still don't know if, never mind how, Tracker might/will be affected by EPG?

For four days now the Octopus Twitter account has replied that those on fixed tariffs will find out soon how the EPG will effect them. Octopus have a very different definition of soon than I do, at this rate I doubt we'll hear until past October 1st.

well, coming "soon" can often mean a long time!!

I think everyone just needs to relax and wait to be informed. It will come when the announcement is ready.
If people just "cannot wait" the option to go to flexible/SVT is always there. Otherwise just hang fire, we'll all know soon.

They must already know what they are doing with these tariffs, but for whatever reason are choosing to hold back this information.

Patience is a virtue, but at a certain point, enough is enough.

Octopus have a lot of traditional fixed rate tariffs they need to update after the variable ones 

The tracker type tariffs are probably being left until last as they affect the smallest number of customers.

Octopus will also want to stagger informing customers so they can manage call volumes etc 

BeerSavesMoney

I think that Octopus might just keep it simple and either say they can move over to the standard tariff or remain on their current tracker or agile tariff.

fryedslyce

BeerSavesMoney said:

I think that Octopus might just keep it simple and either say they can move over to the standard tariff or remain on their current tracker or agile tariff.

Then they should say so now, so customers can decide what to do. This ongoing delay is entirely unreasonable and bordering on incompetence.

Alnat1

Then there's another simple answer, everyone on Agile/Tracker gets the 11p/35p caps for 2 years.

Those who've got the lower Tracker rates now keep them until their 12 months are up then offered 11p/35p.

gt94sss2

Alnat1 said:

Then there's another simple answer, everyone on Agile/Tracker gets the 11p/35p caps for 2 years.

Those who've got the lower Tracker rates now keep them until their 12 months are up then offered 11p/35p.

Reading some of the comments here, l suspect some at Octopus may think it may just be an idea to scrap these tariffs.

Its not like there is going to be much competition for the next few years..

Chrysalis

Ultrasonic said:

fryedslyce said:

SJMALBA said:

Still in the dark here (Tracker)... In fact, we still don't know if, never mind how, Tracker might/will be affected by EPG?

For four days now the Octopus Twitter account has replied that those on fixed tariffs will find out soon how the EPG will effect them. Octopus have a very different definition of soon than I do, at this rate I doubt we'll hear until past October 1st.

Surely a tracker is by definition not a fixed tariff?

My non fixed tariff's are 'fixed until summer 2023', Octopus seem to think they fixes.;)  I have the opinion they hybrid tariffs, they have fixed contract length and fixed caps.

SJMALBA

As far as I can see, the obvious way to apply EPG to Tracker is to reduce the unit rate caps:

v1 would have no change because its UR caps are below EPG.

v2/v3 UR caps would be reduced to EPG, which means that you wouldn't pay more than EPG, but if you pay less, then that is because it is an inherent feature of the tariff, and not because of the application of EPG.

With later Tracker versions, the maximum EPG reduction to their UR caps would still leave customers (potentially) paying more than EPG, in which case, these customers can choose whether to stay on Tracker, or switch to SVT.

In other words, similar to the application of EPG to Fixed tariffs?

(Yes, Tracker is a variable tariff, but so is SVT, and while EPG is primarily for SVT, they have chosen to apply it to Fixed tariffs too, so why not another variable tariff, such as Tracker?)