Octopus Agile

MikeyPGT

As a low user the cheaper standing charge alone amost makes it worth it - since joining in December my bills have averaged a third less than SVT.

NedS

Newbie_John said:

Telegraph_Sam said:

Does this reduce the attractiveness of Agile (vs Tracker)?
I'm tempted to cancel my sub to Compare. Most (but not all) of my log-in attempts have failed due lack of data. Is this just me?

I think it reduces the savings difference between SVR and Agile/Tracker. Every new version of Tracker is getting worse, by either formula or higher standing charge, as well as Agile is getting indirectly more expensive - 30p at peak time used to be SVR but now it's 25% above it.

So I think the only way forward is to keep comparing all three and make a switch to the one that's cheapest for you.

When prices are falling sharply from previous highs, Agile (and Tracker) benefit as they are giving you today's lower pricing whereas the SVR has a 3 month lag for those lower falling prices to make it into the ofgem cap. As prices stabilise and the SVR becomes more stable, the difference between the two will reduce to the point where Tracker and SVR/Ofgem cap price should presumably be comparable.

Presumably the opposite will happen if prices were to start suddenly increasing - we'd see those increased prices first in Agile and Tracker 3 months before the SVR ofgem cap price would reflect those increases.

So for the last 12 months plus, Agile/Tracker has benefited from falling prices versus SVR/Ofgem cap, and now we are starting to see that benefit reduce as prices stabilise.

MP1995

wrf12345 said:

It is logical that if enough people load shift then the peak price will fall and the cheaper periods will rise, which seems to be happening with Agile to a small extent. Of course if the incentives become less attractive then the reverse will happen and the cycle will start again. You also have periods when peak wind and solar radically reduce the price, though whether there is enough of them is up to the gods. There is another tariff on Octopus. supposed to be for heat pumps but not sure if you have to prove you have one, that has two half priced periods (based on the std tariff) and one very expensive peak period, which might be worth a look, though you will be hit with the full April s/c.

Looking back at historical rates I cannot see the rise yet in off peak on Agile.

For the heatpump tariff (which is not good imo for heat pumps) if it is not fitted by Octopus a picture of the unit and serial number is good enough. 

bob2302

NedS said:

When prices are falling sharply from previous highs, Agile (and Tracker) benefit as they are giving you today's lower pricing whereas the SVR has a 3 month lag for those lower falling prices to make it into the ofgem cap. As prices stabilise and the SVR becomes more stable, the difference between the two will reduce to the point where Tracker and SVR/Ofgem cap price should presumably be comparable.

Presumably, in the long-term, the point of Tracker will be Octopus passing-on savings from the reduced cost of hedging.

Newbie_John

Finally a price drop tonight 

MikeyPGT

Low prices today balanced out by some horrible prices tomorrow - may be the highest average price since I joined in December.  I'll be sitting in the dark boiling the kettle over a candle in protest.

wrf12345

not that bad, early afternoon is fine, the peak is zero use for me so don't care and then use about 70w per hour later in the evening

MP1995

MikeyPGT said:

Low prices today balanced out by some horrible prices tomorrow - may be the highest average price since I joined in December.  I'll be sitting in the dark boiling the kettle over a candle in protest.

Bit over the top do you write for the daily mail?

Newbie_John

It's about 50W to boil a cup of water - so at 38p per kWh you pay about 2p (1.5p on SVR).

Probably similar with light (multiple bulbs), although at 6pm is still bright outside..

But do what you like 😊

MikeyPGT

I think Octopus must have read my last post - my IHD is now refusing to connect with my smart meter (and yes I have tried switching it off and switching it back on again!)

BTW - it was actually a joke ...