MSE News: Octopus and Ovo to pay customers to reduce their electricity use at peak time this winter

silverwhistle

I took part in Octopus' trial of this earlier in the year, although it was more from academic interest than the pence they were offering at the time for the savings I made. During the summer it was difficult to reduce anyway, as my solar panels were still producing, and I naturally already avoided evening peak times.

The more we can avoid burning expensive gas the more everybody benefits so I hope the scheme is a success, and consumer flexibility is definitely going to be needed to take advantage of cheaper but variable renewable power. I've no problem with anybody stamping their foot and ssaying they don't want a smart meter as long as they accept with equanimity that they will, as a result, pay more for their electricity.

70sbudgie

I also took part in the Octopus trial earlier in the year. Again, it was more for interest than financial gain. We are a heavy user between 4:30pm and 6:30pm, because we have young children that can't really be encouraged to eat outside the window. But I will enjoy the challenge of seeing if there is anything we can do to reduce our usage at that time. (I'm looking forward to using "no tv"!)

wild666

badger09 said:

@MalMonroe

What a strange reaction. You make it sound as though Octopus has singled you out and devised a scheme specifically to exclude you. They haven’t. 

FWIW we won’t benefit either. We do have Smart Meters very recently installed because I envisaged more TOU tarrifs being introduced. However, we use very little electricity during those hours. Short of turning off fridge freezer, router, etc, it isn’t possible for us cut consumption.  

But hopefully many households will be able to shift their usage a little, easing the load on the grid & saving a few £s at the same time. 

I would turn the fridge and freezer off for a few hours to save a few hundred Watts of electric if it meant I was paid more than my usage of the electric used.

Devongardener

It would be great to take part but we’re on the waiting list for Octopus to fit a Smart Meter but that might be months away.

Alnat1

@Devongardener If you follow the link to sign up for the trial, the second page asks if you have smart meters. If you don't, you ask for them to be fitted.

Could be a small chance that might move you up the waiting list?

badger09

wild666 said:

badger09 said:

@MalMonroe

What a strange reaction. You make it sound as though Octopus has singled you out and devised a scheme specifically to exclude you. They haven’t. 

FWIW we won’t benefit either. We do have Smart Meters very recently installed because I envisaged more TOU tarrifs being introduced. However, we use very little electricity during those hours. Short of turning off fridge freezer, router, etc, it isn’t possible for us cut consumption.  

But hopefully many households will be able to shift their usage a little, easing the load on the grid & saving a few £s at the same time. 

I would turn the fridge and freezer off for a few hours to save a few hundred Watts of electric if it meant I was paid more than my usage of the electric used.

I have considered that, but the savings will be tiny & I suspect there will be some sort of % target?  Anyway, I’ve registered my interest out of curiosity. 

dxpanda

I think the scheme is great but I just hope we get an update from the other big suppliers soon on whether they'll be participating. I've been checking every day for weeks now and even contacted EDF myself and they couldn't answer whether they'll be participating. I am housebound and my computer + TV combined use a fair bit of electric so I will be able to benefit from this because I'm happy to turn them off in the evening and just use my phone.
If my supplier isn't participating would it be possible to switch to Octopus/Ovo? I already have a smart meter

Devongardener

Alnat1 said:

@Devongardener If you follow the link to sign up for the trial, the second page asks if you have smart meters. If you don't, you ask for them to be fitted.

Could be a small chance that might move you up the waiting list?

Thanks,  I did sign up for one a couple of months ago and was told I would only get one when they were in my area.  I did click on the link yesterday too -  I’m going to contact them today.

GopherBroke

I'm currently on a SMETS1 meter and still waiting for migration to DDC, so even though I have a smart meter I can't benefit from the scheme at the moment. Octopus said several months ago I have to wait for migration or be charged £400 for a new one. Seems kind of unfair that I'm excluded from the scheme through no fault of my own (no, I'm not paying £400!). They haven't replied to any emails in the last couple of weeks when I asked what they were going to do about it if I'm not migrated before the start of the scheme.

Spoonie_Turtle

dxpanda said:

If my supplier isn't participating would it be possible to switch to Octopus/Ovo? I already have a smart meter

Yes.  If you go for Octopus, try to find a referral code which will give you £50 credit too.  You can't switch through the website but can tweet, phone, or e-mail them (though e-mail might be slow).