Octopus Agile

Slinky

Qyburn said:

Did I just dream it up, or is there a web site that can look at your smart meter data and compare what you would have paid on Agile vs other tariffs?

There's the OctopusCompare app

NedS

My usage data hasn't updated since 1st July. Anyone else's data not updating?

Regarding comparisons with other tariffs, I'm currently evaluating if Cosy would be cheaper for us, and have a spreadsheet template that allows me to import my daily half-hour Agile usage data, and then calculates how much that would have cost on Cosy. I've not tried the Octopus Compare app - it's probably a lot easier than what I'm doing, but I can't resist a good spreadsheet

MP1995

NedS said:

My usage data hasn't updated since 1st July. Anyone else's data not updating?

Regarding comparisons with other tariffs, I'm currently evaluating if Cosy would be cheaper for us, and have a spreadsheet template that allows me to import my daily half-hour Agile usage data, and then calculates how much that would have cost on Cosy. I've not tried the Octopus Compare app - it's probably a lot easier than what I'm doing, but I can't resist a good spreadsheet

Did you notice the normal hours are above the price cap rate by a little bit now on cosy with the addition of the two extra hours 22:00-00:00.

Quietly knows as Octoous economy 8 lol

MP1995

Negative 4p tomorrow afternoon? (Corrected)

NedS

MP1995 said:

NedS said:

My usage data hasn't updated since 1st July. Anyone else's data not updating?

Regarding comparisons with other tariffs, I'm currently evaluating if Cosy would be cheaper for us, and have a spreadsheet template that allows me to import my daily half-hour Agile usage data, and then calculates how much that would have cost on Cosy. I've not tried the Octopus Compare app - it's probably a lot easier than what I'm doing, but I can't resist a good spreadsheet

Did you notice the normal hours are above the price cap rate by a little bit now on cosy with the addition of the two extra hours 22:00-00:00.

Quietly knows as Octoous economy 8 lol

Yes, I noticed the day rate is slightly above the ofgem cap for my region, but the dips are bigger (and the additional two hours) and the peak rate lower so overall it's significantly better than it's predecessor, and something we are considering.

Other than in the very coldest days of winter, I think we could achieve the vast majority of our heating and all our DHW needs 11.1p, and the peak rate is no higher than the levels we currently see on Agile with the guarantee that it's fixed. 

Whilst Agile certainly provides some slots below 11p, I cannot see us being able to average 11p across all our ASHP usage, so locking in that rate over the winter months looks attractive.

The OH would also appreciate knowing exactly what times are cheap/expensive, rather than checking constantly on the app. I'd still miss those negative Agile days though!

MP1995

NedS said:

MP1995 said:

NedS said:

My usage data hasn't updated since 1st July. Anyone else's data not updating?

Regarding comparisons with other tariffs, I'm currently evaluating if Cosy would be cheaper for us, and have a spreadsheet template that allows me to import my daily half-hour Agile usage data, and then calculates how much that would have cost on Cosy. I've not tried the Octopus Compare app - it's probably a lot easier than what I'm doing, but I can't resist a good spreadsheet

Did you notice the normal hours are above the price cap rate by a little bit now on cosy with the addition of the two extra hours 22:00-00:00.

Quietly knows as Octoous economy 8 lol

Yes, I noticed the day rate is slightly above the ofgem cap for my region, but the dips are bigger (and the additional two hours) and the peak rate lower so overall it's significantly better than it's predecessor, and something we are considering.

Other than in the very coldest days of winter, I think we could achieve the vast majority of our heating and all our DHW needs 11.1p, and the peak rate is no higher than the levels we currently see on Agile with the guarantee that it's fixed. 

Whilst Agile certainly provides some slots below 11p, I cannot see us being able to average 11p across all our ASHP usage, so locking in that rate over the winter months looks attractive.

The OH would also appreciate knowing exactly what times are cheap/expensive, rather than checking constantly on the app. I'd still miss those negative Agile days though!

We useoour heatpump low and slow 24/7 in winter rather than big bursts which are what is needed on cosy. Just not sure it will work for us home 24/7 but like you I have an old cosy spreadsheet somewhere and just need to add the new figures and the extra 2 hour slot.

MP1995

@NedS

So I ran the calculations and we can average 15.4p on Cosy at the current July rates but it's not a fix is it? Changes with price cap?

That's winter usage BTW

NedS

MP1995 said:

We useoour heatpump low and slow 24/7 in winter rather than big bursts which are what is needed on cosy. Just not sure it will work for us home 24/7 but like you I have an old cosy spreadsheet somewhere and just need to add the new figures and the extra 2 hour slot.

I wish we could run low and slow, 24/7 but our heat pump is very oversized for our property, so running 24/7 low and slow is not an option as it outputs too much heat other than on the very coldest of days. So for the vast majority of the time we are forced to cycle - therefore using Cosy's 3 cheap periods may work well for us.

The 4-7am slot is excellent - it will allow us the heat the property ready for when we get up, and prices are cheaper than Agile which tends to be cheaper between 1-5am, which is not really when we want the heating coming on. 4-7am is also ideal for heating DHW, ready for morning showers.

The 1-4pm slot is probably comparable with Agile, which also tends to have it's cheapest day time slots during the same period. Again, great for heating the house up before the peak period switch off, and reheating the DHW ready for evening usage.

As we are unable to run the ASHP 24/7, turning off for the peak period makes perfect financial sense. In milder heating months, hopefully we can last until 10pm before topping up before bed although realistically I wonder how much heat we will realistically be able to deliver in a 2h window. I suspect we will need some heating in the 7-10pm at the standard daily rate. This first winter will be a learning curve for us.

MP1995 said:

@NedS

So I ran the calculations and we can average 15.4p on Cosy at the current July rates but it's not a fix is it? Changes with price cap?

Yes, Cosy is a "variable" tariff, so I believe rates could increase in October if the ofgem cap increases. Easy for them to do as it's based on a percentage increase/decrease from the day rate which is similar to the ofgem cap.

That said, if rates are increasing then Agile pricing will also be increasing, and as the ofgem cap is backward looking, we should expect to start seeing those rises now in wholesale (and Agile) pricing.

For my spreadsheet, I import my actual daily half hour usage (from Agile), and then calculate the daily cost based on Cosy pricing for each period. It's not technically that accurate as my current usage is driven by Agile pricing which does not necessarily align with Cosy pricing slots. I also have a 9p/day difference in standing charge until next March to factor in should I switch away from Agile now.

MP1995

NedS said:

MP1995 said:

We useoour heatpump low and slow 24/7 in winter rather than big bursts which are what is needed on cosy. Just not sure it will work for us home 24/7 but like you I have an old cosy spreadsheet somewhere and just need to add the new figures and the extra 2 hour slot.

I wish we could run low and slow, 24/7 but our heat pump is very oversized for our property, so running 24/7 low and slow is not an option as it outputs too much heat other than on the very coldest of days. So for the vast majority of the time we are forced to cycle - therefore using Cosy's 3 cheap periods may work well for us.

The 4-7am slot is excellent - it will allow us the heat the property ready for when we get up, and prices are cheaper than Agile which tends to be cheaper between 1-5am, which is not really when we want the heating coming on. 4-7am is also ideal for heating DHW, ready for morning showers.

The 1-4pm slot is probably comparable with Agile, which also tends to have it's cheapest day time slots during the same period. Again, great for heating the house up before the peak period switch off, and reheating the DHW ready for evening usage.

As we are unable to run the ASHP 24/7, turning off for the peak period makes perfect financial sense. In milder heating months, hopefully we can last until 10pm before topping up before bed although realistically I wonder how much heat we will realistically be able to deliver in a 2h window. I suspect we will need some heating in the 7-10pm at the standard daily rate. This first winter will be a learning curve for us.

MP1995 said:

@NedS

So I ran the calculations and we can average 15.4p on Cosy at the current July rates but it's not a fix is it? Changes with price cap?

Yes, Cosy is a "variable" tariff, so I believe rates could increase in October if the ofgem cap increases. Easy for them to do as it's based on a percentage increase/decrease from the day rate which is similar to the ofgem cap.

That said, if rates are increasing then Agile pricing will also be increasing, and as the ofgem cap is backward looking, we should expect to start seeing those rises now in wholesale (and Agile) pricing.

For my spreadsheet, I import my actual daily half hour usage (from Agile), and then calculate the daily cost based on Cosy pricing for each period. It's not technically that accurate as my current usage is driven by Agile pricing which does not necessarily align with Cosy pricing slots. I also have a 9p/day difference in standing charge until next March to factor in should I switch away from Agile now.

Don't forget you can't heat the house and hot water at the same time so factor that in for the morning 4-7am slot.

Just an aside Octopus already have our heatpump details on record, picture and serial Humber etc so the switch should be quick if we decide to jump from Agile this winter. Might be worth you doing the same?

PHoppers

@pfpf
On Agile, any missing data days are charged at the ofgen price cap price both p/kwh and p/day. All days with full transmitted data are charged at Agile rates, so that's the key difference, your transmitted days aren't affected, no averaging out. 

I was on Tracker v1 for 4 years and like you i almost always got an averaged bill so eventually didn't bother making use of cheap days. 
I swapped to Agile on 9 March and up to 31 May I've had one missed day (well, actually 2 because the next day data started at 1am so i lost that day as well). So far in June I've lost data for quite a number of days, I'm still waiting to see if some of the gaps might yet be filled in. 

If you're not already using one, you can use an app to see lost data days. octopus watch app (I'm on android) seems to be the clearest for that info.