Octopus Saving Sessions

MouldyOldDough

I have signed up for this but am unsure how it will work
It compares your current use with what?
The average of everyone or my past usage? From when ?

[Deleted User]

Your usage during peak demand times.

Details here:

https://octopus.energy/saving-sessions/

jessmist

I'm wondering when the first session  

[Deleted User]

jessmist said:

I'm wondering when the first session  

When Winter hits; electricity demand is very high, and renewable energy outputs (wind and solar) are low. An extremely cold and foggy day would be a good guess.

The aim of the scheme is to keep the lights on by matching demand with available supply.

Alnat1

1. We will calculate your Baseline using the BSC P376 ‘Utilising a Baseline Methodology to set Physical Notifications’ with an in-day adjustment for domestic customers, and without an in-day adjustment for business customers. This methodology looks at up to 10 days of your recent smart meter history, excluding days where a Session has taken place, to calculate your average consumption.

Alnat1

Not sure I totally understand what the above from the T&C means but definitely compared to very recent use at a similar time of day.

[Deleted User]

Alnat1 said:

Not sure I totally understand what the above from the T&C means but definitely compared to very recent use at a similar time of day.

The important point is that Octopus will not be advising customers of sessions in advance. It follows that to accrue a benefit, usage in the preceding 10 days must be high and usage during the actual session low. 

The ‘unfairness’ in the scheme is that those who have invested in solar and a battery which reduces Grid demand at peak periods get no benefit.

Alnat1

I guess we're already saving Dolor but I'm living in hope that some session might cover breakfast time peak, as my battery has run out a few times recently by then.   

MouldyOldDough

They say that up to £100 is available but no idea how this is decided? 

k_man

[Deleted User] said:

Alnat1 said:

Not sure I totally understand what the above from the T&C means but definitely compared to very recent use at a similar time of day.

The important point is that Octopus will not be advising customers of sessions in advance. It follows that to accrue a benefit, usage in the preceding 10 days must be high and usage during the actual session low. 

The ‘unfairness’ in the scheme is that those who have invested in solar and a battery which reduces Grid demand at peak periods get no benefit.

There will be notice of the upcoming session, just not long (from the link above):

We'll always try to tell you with plenty of notice before a Saving Session (usually the day before) so you can plan ahead. When the time comes, cut down what you can - we'll share some tips and ideas to help.



I think the aim of the scheme is less about reducing the usage on specific high risk days, or to reward uses already doing their bit (who, as stated above are probably already doing this to save money, rather than just for the greater good).
 Instead it is more about a big carrot to encourage users to think seriously about load shifting.

 We often see comments from forum users posters that they can't shift usage outside of peak due to x, y and z. Now there is (albeit not literally) hard cash available, they may start to consider what they could do.

Hopefully this sets the ball rolling for habit changes

[Deleted User]

Of course, Octopus will inform consumers just prior to the session as it wants consumers to reduce electricity demand the following day. My comment was to indicate that consumers are not going to get 10 days or more notice to enable them to build up 10 days of increased usage in the hope of getting a larger payment when they go off Grid during the session.

Clearly, if we have a mild Winter and lots of wind, then there will be very few sessions.