Octopus Agile

Telegraph_Sam

RavingMad said:

Telegraph_Sam said:

I hope you're right (having myself shelled out for solar installation). A case of watch this (forum) space ..

Have you posted on the green and ethical board re your journey into solar? Plenty of good advice there.

I was into a thread once that focussed on SV before I got my installation - and got trolled by one of the dyed in the wool protagonists for my efforts

KevinG

I just avoid anything high usage between 4 and 7pm (oven, toaster, air fryer, microwave, kettle, vacuum cleaner, hair dryer, washing machine, dishwasher, ...), that's pretty much all you need to do to benefit from Agile. As for switching off solar during negative pricing, when you're getting 74.37p for every kWh generated (on top of the export payment) as we early adopters are, that's not really cost-effective!

greenbee

Very envious of the 74.37p for your solar @KevinG, but I'm guessing you paid a lot more for it, and are reaping the benefits of taking a risk. It was one of the first big projects we did when we moved here, and we've just doubled our capacity 7 months after the original installation - given what we're seeing so far in terms of generation vs. usage I suspect the tariff with the lowest SC is going to be our best bet financially - at least in the summer months. Agile worked well in the winter, and with the additional solar capacity will hopefully be an even better option next winter. 

My working pattern means it's easy to avoid usage in the 4-7pm slot as I'm still working then. A bit more thought going into prepping evening meals in the slow cooker/thermal bag would improve things too (and quality of life, as finishing work late and then having to think about cooking is not ideal).  

Chrysalis

masonic said:

Chrysalis said:

The people that should stay away from Agile are who have a lifestyle that has the bulk of their usage from 4-7pm consistently.

It's been further complicated by the emergence of a standing charge premium for Agile vs other tariffs. This can be as much as 12p per day in some regions. So as well as those who use much more (than the proportional 12.5% of daily use) between 4-7pm, low users (<5 kWh/day) will probably not be suited to this tariff. The secondary peak period between ~6:30-8:30am is another detractor, though this doesn't always happen and doesn't have the added penalty in the formula of the 4-7pm period.

Agile tends to present the most risk when prices spike, and also the best opportunities when prices plunge, and it has been shown that people can quite efficiently jump on and off to avoid the worst days. Whereas Tracker looks more attractive to those not suited to Agile for the reasons above, the savings are no longer substantial due to formula changes, the ability to rejoin after leaving is restricted, and so the certainty of a fix can be had for very little additional cost - and more freedom to change if you want to.

Yes that can be done as well although I dont think I can be bothered to check things daily and keep hopping around, in my case the 12p SC (not sure exactly what my premium is, but I am in one of the lower SC regions), is made up with just 2 units of electric. At typical high teens pricing.  If I leave Agile, Tracker hasnt even been on my radar.  Its other tariffs I would be considering, and not all from Octopus.  This is because I like the TOU concept, so if leaving it will be for a TOU tariff.

So just checked a tracker site, tracker for my region is 6p cheaper on SC, and for today 2p more expensive on the per kWh price compared to todays average over the day for agile.

Assuming I use 7kWh, then I am saving about 14p over tracker on usage and losing 6p of it on SC.

I could do an exact compare on octopus compare but cant be bothered at the moment.
But yeah I did forget if things go bad it is worse for Agile with its formula. 

Netexporter

21kWh for 27p, yesterday, and I got paid £1.62 for exports.

More of this sort of thing!

RavingMad

Not negative tomorrow but still nice.  Even most of the peak time is less than SVT 

masonic

I must admit, I am tempted, especially as Sunday is shaping up to be almost as good...

grudz

Moving to Octopus Agile: My Journey and First Impressions

Why I Considered the Switch

I recently reached the end of my fixed deal with another energy provider and found myself at a crossroads—stick to a traditional tariff or explore Octopus Agile. I had heard plenty about Agile’s dynamic pricing, but I was both curious and sceptical. Could it actually work for me, someone without solar panels, batteries, or an EV?

My Process & Tools Used

Instead of jumping in blindly, I decided to gather data before committing. Octopus wasn't the absolute cheapest at the time, but it was close enough that the difference wasn’t a deal-breaker. I initially signed up for a fixed tariff in March, mainly to secure an API key that would allow me to track my energy consumption for a month. Thanks to a referral code from a friend, I also grabbed a £50 credit.

Once my switch was complete, I linked my Octopus data to two analysis tools:

• OctopusAgile.uk – This gave me a straightforward comparison of my energy use against the Agile tariff.

• AgileBuddy.uk – A more in-depth look at Agile insights, though not immediately relevant to my decision-making.

After moving onto Agile, I now use the Octo-Aid app on my iPhone to track my energy usage and costs efficiently.

There are other online tools and apps available for monitoring Agile tariffs, but these were the ones I found and work well for me.

My goal was simple: What would Agile look like if I made absolutely zero changes to my routine?

Initial Results

During the month-long data gathering phase, I was able to see how Agile pricing would compare to my fixed tariff under normal conditions. Based on that analysis, I decided Agile was worth trying.

After making the switch, I started tracking my real-time costs, and within just a week, my forecasted savings were significant—almost 50% lower than what I was paying before. While I still have a few more weeks to see if this holds up, the early results have been promising.

As luck would have it, I transitioned just in time for my first plunge pricing day—a welcomed bonus!

How My Habits Have Evolved

One of the unexpected benefits of moving to Agile has been better routine planning. By tracking energy usage more closely, I’ve naturally developed a more structured approach to household tasks, improving both efficiency and time management.

• Smarter scheduling – Instead of running appliances randomly, I now time certain tasks in a way that fits better with our daily rhythm.

• Less last-minute chaos – Knowing when things like laundry or cooking are best scheduled has reduced rushed decisions, making our routine smoother.

• More intentional energy use – Without feeling restricted, we’ve become more mindful about when and how we use power, benefiting both cost and convenience.

• Stepping away from tech – One of the biggest changes I’ve made is switching off and stepping away from my PC between 4pm & 7pm. This simple shift means I’m spending more time with my family and less time glued to a screen—an unintended but welcome lifestyle improvement.

Interestingly, while I've managed to reduce my overall costs, my actual energy consumption hasn't changed much—and on some days, I even use more than before. The key difference is that Agile allows me to shift usage in ways that work with pricing, meaning I can take advantage of lower-cost periods without needing to drastically cut consumption.

Rather than drastically changing habits, this shift has been about optimising what we already do, making life a little more streamlined.

Looking Ahead

I’m only a week into the Agile journey, and while the forecasts are promising, I’ll need more time to see whether the savings hold up. Over the next few weeks, I’ll continue to track my usage and refine my approach to maximise the benefits of the tariff.

Tips for Others Considering the Switch

If you're thinking about moving to Octopus Agile, here are a few things I’ve learned:

• Gather your own data first – Use a fixed tariff and an API key to track a month's worth of energy consumption, as long as there are no exit penalties. Alternatively, consider the flexible/price-cap tariff to keep your options open. If you have a referral code, you can also benefit from a £50 credit when signing up—and even earn additional £50 referral bonuses by referring others, making the switch even more rewarding.

• Explore comparison tools – Websites like OctopusAgile.uk and AgileBuddy.uk make it easy to analyse potential savings.

• Think beyond solar and EVs – Agile isn’t just for those with advanced tech setups. Even without additional technology, savings are possible.

• Embrace routine optimisation – Small changes can improve efficiency without drastically altering daily life.

Would I recommend Agile? So far, yes—but with the caveat that it’s essential to track and understand your own data before making the leap.

Conclusion: Smart Meters & Smart Tariffs—It’s All About How You Use Them

While Octopus Agile and similar smart tariffs offer a fresh approach to energy pricing, the real benefits come down to the user. A smart meter alone won’t create savings—it’s how you interpret the data, plan your energy use, and adapt your habits that truly matter.

For some, Agile could lead to effortless savings with minimal changes, while others may find more value in tweaking routines to maximise low-cost periods. The key takeaway from my experience is this: smart energy tools are only as effective as the person using them.

And importantly, you don’t necessarily need to invest in expensive technology like solar panels, batteries, or EVs to make Agile work for you. It’s possible to cut costs simply by being more aware and strategic with energy use, rather than relying on high-tech solutions.

So far, my move to Agile has been a positive one, and I look forward to seeing how the next few weeks unfold!

northernstar007

but you havnt mentioned the higher SC which is the killer, 70.05p for my area that puts my avg price to 22.5p kwh and its TOU, so i moved onto a fix @ 23.856p kwh but lower sc and unit price on gas brings it down to on par with agile (17.5p) and its not TOU
also as you mentioned turning your pc off between 4-7 ive got a laptop so it always gets unplugged but still in use running on the battery in them hours everyday

grudz

I totally recognise that not everyone may benefit from Agile. Standing charges, unit rates, and energy usage patterns all influence whether a time-of-use tariff actually works out cheaper. For some, a fixed tariff with lower standing charges and more predictable costs may be the better option.

That’s why I emphasised the importance of tracking your own data and making a decision based on what works best for your setup. Agile has worked well for me, but I wouldn’t recommend it blindly to everyone—real-world numbers are key!