We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.
This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
Octopus Agile
Comments
-
That is completely fine, if this becomes a chore rather than an incentivised challenge then it is time to change.
I have not been on Agile for quite a while now, but I'd only do it with all the technology lined up to handle the reactions to the price movements and a good sized battery to smooth the process.
I have much respect for those doing it without that, but I need at least some time for normal life, and I'm pretty sure my marriage would not survive otherwise :)
0 -
What are you paying per kWh ? all day ?.I think it suits retired frugal types who don't have to use the peak periods and who can save lots of washing and drying till the wind blows..like today .and overnight . Tomorrow getting paid to use electricity and probably Sunday .
Think I need to buy an.E.V. as well after paying out so much on emission sensor faults on my car and the exhaust ,new clutch ,drive belt replacement and lots of other engine problems all costing thousands ..none of them on an EV .
0 -
it’s not heresy, but it is coming from a place of lack of personal knowledge of how the tariff can work - I seem to recall it was established a long while ago that you weren’t the right candidate for Agile, Sam!
We make a solid saving every month - no guts are busted, and no nights are sleepless in any way shape or form. If things need to happen overnight there are inbuilt timers/smart plugs etc that are perfectly happy to deal with the work involved while we sleep. If I can use tech to save at least £10, and often more than double that, in a month, without life becoming difficult (for us, the biggest challenge is the occasional days when we find ourselves drumming our fingers while waiting for the rates to drop off the peak at 1900 ready to cook an evening meal - usually that time is taken up with prepping for the meal in any event) then I can’t see the sense inNOT doing so, to be honest!
As people who spent 20 years on an economy 7 tariff through necessity rather than choice, what would to you be “24/7 sweat and toil” is just normal life, to us!
🎉 MORTGAGE FREE (First time!) 30/09/2016 🎉 And now we go again…New mortgage taken 01/09/23 🏡
Balance as at 01/09/23 = £115,000.00 Balance as at 31/12/23 = £112,000.00
Balance as at 31/08/24 = £105,400.00 Balance as at 31/12/24 = £102,500.00
£100k barrier broken 1/4/25
Balance as at 31/08/25 = £ 95,450.00. Balance as at 31/12/25 = £ 91,100.00
SOA CALCULATOR (for DFW newbies): SOA Calculatorshe/her0 -
I think you have hit the nail. If you have - and are clued up in - the "tech", then you should be able to avoid the tail wagging the dog syndrome in daily life. I have solar panels but no battery. If you shell out for a battery the life balance should be manageable, but I don't think that the investment sums add up (for me) even if I was able to take full advantage of Agile's quirks, and stay sane. Your situation may be more favourable.
Telegraph Sam
There are also unknown unknowns - the one's we don't know we don't know1 -
No battery here - although there are plans in that direction. It just works for us though. If it stops doing so, we’ll take a decision to move - indeed, we have done so previously.
Honestly - I suspect that your best approach right now is to chalk up the fact that you have considered Agile, and at this stage in your life it isn’t for you. You may wish to make a note to revisit that in a few years if your lifestyle changes. Not everything has to suit everyone- and not all things that save one household money will be a good fit for another!
🎉 MORTGAGE FREE (First time!) 30/09/2016 🎉 And now we go again…New mortgage taken 01/09/23 🏡
Balance as at 01/09/23 = £115,000.00 Balance as at 31/12/23 = £112,000.00
Balance as at 31/08/24 = £105,400.00 Balance as at 31/12/24 = £102,500.00
£100k barrier broken 1/4/25
Balance as at 31/08/25 = £ 95,450.00. Balance as at 31/12/25 = £ 91,100.00
SOA CALCULATOR (for DFW newbies): SOA Calculatorshe/her0 -
What are you paying per kWh ? all day ?
3.5p/kWh and with the battery we have that has allowed us to get the low-rate for around 99% of our consumption.
That will change in future as we now have a heat-pump, so not expecting to hit 99% over the worst of winter.
0 -
I'm still paying 22.92 p on the 14 m fixed tariff unless this has been reduced in the last day or two. From the updates I get sent this looks hopelessly uncompetitive compared with Tracker and I suspect Agile. I would have expected the opposite considering the Hormuz situation.
Do you include amortisation in your calculations for example for your heat pump and battery? From what I have read on the former I would run a mile to avoid one.
Telegraph Sam
There are also unknown unknowns - the one's we don't know we don't know0 -
@Telegraph_Sam wrote:
Do you include amortisation in your calculations for example for your heat pump and battery? From what I have read on the former I would run a mile to avoid one.
There are a lot of negative things written about heat pumps by those with agendas. You already probably have couple of heat pumps in your house that have worked just fine for many years, in your fridge and your freezer.
I am absolutely delighted with my own heat pump. It cost me £43 for heating and hot water in March. If I had a gas boiler, it would have cost £93 to deliver the same amount of heat. The oil boiler it replaced would have cost £225 due to the recent increases in kerosene prices. So am I happy with my heat pump - you bet!
Or you can read what is written in the Telegraph. Your money, your choice.
Our green credentials: 12kW Samsung ASHP for heating, 7.2kWp Solar (South facing), Tesla Powerwall 3 (13.5kWh), Net exporter1 -
Do you include amortisation in your calculations for example for your heat pump and battery? From what I have read on the former I would run a mile to avoid one.
No, just like any other home improvement they are sunk costs. Even if I was going to include them it would be based on the lost interest on the capital, not the capital itself as this is just available funds being redeployed.
But don't try to emulate what I have done, figure out what is best for you with your resources.
We have 2xEV, 27kWh of battery and a heat-pump, and that enables the very low energy cost over a very high percentage of our use on an EV tariff (IOG).
If I was on Agile I'd certainly want a reasonable sized battery to avoid having to load-shift too frequently and to reduce the amount of daily management of loads.
1 -
Incredible rates tomorrow, constant negative from 11pm to 4pm down to -11p, certainly the best day for Agile I’ve seen so far
Moo…3
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 354.1K Banking & Borrowing
- 254.3K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 455.3K Spending & Discounts
- 247.1K Work, Benefits & Business
- 603.8K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 178.4K Life & Family
- 261.3K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.7K Read-Only Boards