Switching to EV tariff

King001

I have just bought electric car. Is it worth switching to EV tariff with my energy supplier. Currently, on standard variable its 30.8pKW any time. If we switch to EV tariff it is going to 38.5p all day except between 12 and 5am at night when the tariff is 9.4p KW.  According to our current usage the calculation shows we will save £100 over a year by switching. 

QrizB

King001 said:

I have just bought electric car.

Congratulations.

Is it worth switching to EV tariff with my energy supplier.

Generally speaking, yes.

According to our current usage the calculation shows we will save £100 over a year by switching. 

That sounds like a saving worth having.

[Deleted User]

King001 said:

I have just bought electric car. Is it worth switching to EV tariff with my energy supplier. Currently, on standard variable its 30.8pKW any time. If we switch to EV tariff it is going to 38.5p all day except between 12 and 5am at night when the tariff is 9.4p KW.  According to our current usage the calculation shows we will save £100 over a year by switching. 

What EV and what tariff?

berksgolfboy

MSE lists 4 or 5 providers with an EV tariff.   I am happy to switch some if my electricity usage from peak to off peak and take some load off the grid, but you can only get these cheaper overnight rates (typically between midnight and 06.00) if you can prove you have an electric vehicle you can charge at home.
I don’t have one, but resent not being able to get one of these tariffs.   If Eon can give a cheap rate to EV users, why should they care what we use it for?.  Not impressed, and will switch from Eon on principle.

[Deleted User]

Not impressed, and will switch from Eon on principle.

You could switch to Octopus but like E.oN Next their EV tariffs require an EV. The Flux tariff requires a home battery and so on. This is how the market is now moving: suppliers are offering tariffs based on particular usage patterns. That said, all suppliers have a universal service obligation which I suspect is met by offering standard tariffs to all.

CSI_Yorkshire

berksgolfboy said:

MSE lists 4 or 5 providers with an EV tariff.   I am happy to switch some if my electricity usage from peak to off peak and take some load off the grid, but you can only get these cheaper overnight rates (typically between midnight and 06.00) if you can prove you have an electric vehicle you can charge at home.
I don’t have one, but resent not being able to get one of these tariffs.   If Eon can give a cheap rate to EV users, why should they care what we use it for?.  Not impressed, and will switch from Eon on principle.

I resent not being able to get student discounts when I'm not a student, and not being able to park in blue-badge spaces when I don't have a blue-badge.

If the shops can give special parking spaces and discounts to those people, why should they care who uses it?

Not impressed, and I will never shop again on principle.

**Note, I don't resent any of those things, because that would be a ridiculous idea**

lohr500

berksgolfboy said:

MSE lists 4 or 5 providers with an EV tariff.   I am happy to switch some if my electricity usage from peak to off peak and take some load off the grid, but you can only get these cheaper overnight rates (typically between midnight and 06.00) if you can prove you have an electric vehicle you can charge at home.
I don’t have one, but resent not being able to get one of these tariffs.   If Eon can give a cheap rate to EV users, why should they care what we use it for?.  Not impressed, and will switch from Eon on principle.

Related to this,@[Deleted User] did point out in a related forum topic that whilst the Eon Next website states you need to own or lease an EV to sign up to their Eon Next Drive tariff, the T&Cs for the Drive tariff don't mention EV ownership.

I have contacted Eon Next for clarification as the Next Drive tariff is on my shortlist once we exit from our current EDF GoElectric 98 2 year fix. 

cm4ever

[Deleted User] said:

The Flux tariff requires a home battery and so on.

Point of order/clarification - the Octopus Flux tariff does not require a battery for acceptance to join that tariff, many people are on Flux with purely solar panels. 

....just because it can be 'read that way' in the T&Cs doesn't mean it's a hard rule or a mandated requirement

Scot_39

EV tariffs costs are different for various reasons.

But one is likely to be a high off peak usage all year round.

[Deleted User]

cm4ever said:

Dolor said:

The Flux tariff requires a home battery and so on.

Point of order/clarification - the Octopus Flux tariff does not require a battery for acceptance to join that tariff, many people are on Flux with purely solar panels. 

....just because it can be 'read that way' in the T&Cs doesn't mean it's a hard rule or a mandated requirement

I would put that down to a lack of knowledge and appropriate checks within the CS team. With respect, I think that you will find that contract terms and conditions are legally binding on both parties to a contract. I would remind people what they signed up to:

1. Octopus Flux is designed for customers who have a photovoltaic (PV) solar system and a home battery installed and operational at the property which we supply. We will ask you to provide your G98 / G99 certification from your distributor and the MSC certificate for your PV installation. If you sign up to our Octopus Flux tariff but do not meet this eligibility criteria, we can place you on an alternative tariff that we consider is more appropriate for your circumstances. We will let you know if we do this and advise you of the rates and terms that apply to the alternative tariff.

What defence would you offer if Octopus was to implement their contractual right to change the tariff (in bold)?

cm4ever

Dolor said:

I would put that down to a lack of knowledge and appropriate checks within the CS team. With respect, I think that you will find that contract terms and conditions are legally binding on both parties to a contract. I would remind people what they signed up to:

1. Octopus Flux is designed for customers who have a photovoltaic (PV) solar system and a home battery installed and operational at the property which we supply. We will ask you to provide your G98 / G99 certification from your distributor and the MSC certificate for your PV installation. If you sign up to our Octopus Flux tariff but do not meet this eligibility criteria, we can place you on an alternative tariff that we consider is more appropriate for your circumstances. We will let you know if we do this and advise you of the rates and terms that apply to the alternative tariff.

What defence would you offer if Octopus was to implement their contractual right to change the tariff (in bold)?

Well yes what you have outlined is a very true black and white state of the T&Cs my friend, but in reality there are two current flaws that are causing policy to not match reality: -

1. Octopus themselves are a quite unique 'customer friendly' energy supplier - they often operate some of their tariffs in that middle ground or 'grey' area - instead of a letter of the law 'black and white' 100% T&Cs requirements way..... 
2. It's very curious indeed that many of the home battery naysayers who only have solar installed (as they have a militant attitude against battery storage based on mainly a questionable return of investment basis) who frequent the 'Green & ethical MoneySaving' forum have eagerly switched to Octopus Flux and sing it's praises as if it's better than 'garlic bread', I mean really ..... 

Only time will tell what the future holds, but certainly the present 'selective' T&Cs requirements for specifically allowing someone to join Octopus Flux is a definite reality and is unlikely to change in the short term. 

The consequences, if Octopus change their stance, in the future, from operating Flux in the current grey area to the black and white are for others to consider. But ignoring the current reality exists is also not helpful to others