Octopus ignoring existing customers: No deals unless SMART meters installed!

Gerry1

You don't need a smart meter to monitor your electricity usage.  Perhaps a bit inconvenient in your case but you can learn a lot from the flashing red metrology light marked 1000 imp(ulses)/kWh or similar.  Count the number of flashes per minute and do the sums.  For example, with nothing running apart from standby items plus the fridge and freezer you might see three flashes / min which would work out at 180W.  Adjust accordingly if the light says 800 imp/kWh or whatever.

You can buy an energy monitor to do the same thing more easily and track down what's causing high usage.  One type clips around one of the fat meter cables.  It's independent so it will be reasonably accurate and can detect a faulty meter. The other type counts the flashes optically and is very accurate but it relies on the meter being accurate hence it can't detect a rogue meter.

ASDA_PAYG_block_DEC

29-July-2023 POSITIVE UPDATE:

Summary: The helpdesk (Octopus person) was incorrect BUT the Octopus "my account" website & automated email system corrected things:

• Octopus ignoring existing customers: No deals unless SMART meters installed!

• Nice for Octopus NOT to let customers know in ADVANCE that, when their current fixed deals expires, there are NO new fixed tariffs available (only the so-called FLEXIBLE) unless they have SMART meters installed.

• So their loyal customers don't get any benefits (certainty of bills) and are treated the same as new customers who cannot get anything else but "Flexible Octopus" variable rate based on the wholesale prices. 

On 19 July, an Octopus email arrived "Your fixed tariff is coming to an end ... While it's still a little way off, we thought you'd like to know more about what happens next."
showing 2 available tariffs: "Flexible" & "Loyal" (fixed rates for 12M)

So "Loyal" is available despite the helpdesk inferring it was not.

• So, as their customers will NOT have time to get dual fuel smart meters installed on time, they will have only one option: "Flexible Octopus" which is currently set to the current OFGEM Price Cap (approx.)

On 22 July, the option to request a smart-meters installation became available again, so we have applied and got the new meters installed on 29 July.

After several tries, the electricity smart meter was finally commissioned and working but despite an hour of repeated attempts, the gas meter is not communicating and will remain a "dumb" meter until a "fix" can be found. 

(I offered to drill the double wall from the top of the cellar wall to the outside to fit an antenna outside, but the installer was not aware of any antenna longer than 1 meter (approx.). So we'll wait and see..)

So the positives:

1) Late on 29 July, the Octopus account webpage offered "Flexible" as well as "Loyal" (fixed) tariffs so, for peace of mind, we could renew with a 12-month fixed tariff in advance/before it is withdrawn (As things change very fast)

DESPITE the 12-July Octopus helpdesk email insinuating "Any other tariffs require a smart meter, therefore you would not be able to use tracker and Loyal …"

2) The automated-tariff-change system correctly set the start date at the end of our current contract (September) 
and NOT immediately as the 12-July Octopus helpdesk email insinuated "You can leave your current tariff, however it is much cheaper than the new fixed tariff so it is up to you!"

And some negatives:

3) So, a fast response for the installation, but we now have a new but "dumb" gas smart meter, despite adding a clear comment "no mobile signal around the existing meters" on the 22-July online request for a smart-meters installation.

4) Late on 29 July, no change regarding the availability of other tariffs (e.g. Tracker) on our account despite a week had passed since booking a smart-meters installation & installation completed 29 July and visible on the account.

Mobtr

beckstar1975 said:

I have been with Octopus for at over 3 years and have had my name down for a smart meter for over a year and my fixed rate tariff is coming to an end in October.

I am a tad annoyed that I'm going to be restricted in what I can take from them going forward given that the hold up in installing a smart meter is not for wont of me trying.

I've just registered my interest again in the hope I might get to the top of the list at some point

When you say you have registered your interest how have you done this? Have you called or emailed them? 

bristolleedsfan

ASDA_PAYG_block_DEC said:

4) Late on 29 July, no change regarding the availability of other tariffs (e.g. Tracker) on our account despite a week had passed since booking a smart-meters installation & installation completed 29 July and visible on the account.

Tracker Tariff is available to request to switch to via link near bottom of product page.  https://octopus.energy/smart/tracker/

Alnat1

Give them a ring and then they'll know you're really really interested in a smart meter.

Spoonie_Turtle

Alnat1 said:

Give them a ring and then they'll know you're really really interested in a smart meter.

They've already had one fitted

ASDA_PAYG_block_DEC said:

On 22 July, the option to request a smart-meters installation became available again, so we have applied and got the new meters installed on 29 July.

After several tries, the electricity smart meter was finally commissioned and working but despite an hour of repeated attempts, the gas meter is not communicating and will remain a "dumb" meter until a "fix" can be found.

SAC2334

ASDA_PAYG_block_DEC said:

Nice for Octopus NOT to let customers know in ADVANCE that, when their current fixed deals expires, there are NO new fixed tariffs available (only the so-called FLEXIBLE) unless they have SMART meters installed.

So, as their customers will NOT have time to get dual fuel smart meters installed on time, they will have only one option: "Flexible Octopus" which is currently set to the current OFGEM Price Cap (approx.)

So their loyal customers don't get any benefits (certainty of bills) and are treated the same as new customers who cannot get anything else but "Flexible Octopus" variable rate based on the wholesale prices. 

Ofgem "Energy unit price for price cap from 1 July 2023"

Electricity  per KWh £0.30

Daily standing chge: £0.53

Gas / per KWh £0.08 

Daily std charge £0.29

I started with Octopus in January on dumb meters and on my tariff it does not show any end date like others who have been with them longer .
Just says "Octopus Tracker Nov 2022 v1 "  followed by the days tariff . No end date which I think just means I can be moved over at will to flexible .
If Octopus do boot me onto Flexible , that will be roughly the same tariff as  what all other suppliers are charging  , so its bye bye Tracker and Hello BG for their £150 referral fee if its still current.
I know I will not be able to get my smart meters installed in time with a long waiting list for all suppliers even though I have expressed an interest in them 

Spoonie_Turtle

SAC2334 said:

ASDA_PAYG_block_DEC said:

Nice for Octopus NOT to let customers know in ADVANCE that, when their current fixed deals expires, there are NO new fixed tariffs available (only the so-called FLEXIBLE) unless they have SMART meters installed.

So, as their customers will NOT have time to get dual fuel smart meters installed on time, they will have only one option: "Flexible Octopus" which is currently set to the current OFGEM Price Cap (approx.)

So their loyal customers don't get any benefits (certainty of bills) and are treated the same as new customers who cannot get anything else but "Flexible Octopus" variable rate based on the wholesale prices. 

Ofgem "Energy unit price for price cap from 1 July 2023"

Electricity  per KWh £0.30

Daily standing chge: £0.53

Gas / per KWh £0.08 

Daily std charge £0.29

I started with Octopus in January on dumb meters and on my tariff it does not show any end date like others who have been with them longer .
Just says "Octopus Tracker Nov 2022 v1 "  followed by the days tariff . No end date which I think just means I can be moved over at will to flexible .
If Octopus do boot me onto Flexible , that will be roughly the same tariff as  what all other suppliers are charging  , so its bye bye Tracker and Hello BG for their £150 referral fee if its still current.
I know I will not be able to get my smart meters installed in time with a long waiting list for all suppliers even though I have expressed an interest in them 

They could anyway even with the fixed term versions, if they decided to enforce the smart meter condition already in the T&Cs.

Gerry1

SAC2334 said:

ASDA_PAYG_block_DEC said:

Nice for Octopus NOT to let customers know in ADVANCE that, when their current fixed deals expires, there are NO new fixed tariffs available (only the so-called FLEXIBLE) unless they have SMART meters installed.

So, as their customers will NOT have time to get dual fuel smart meters installed on time, they will have only one option: "Flexible Octopus" which is currently set to the current OFGEM Price Cap (approx.)

So their loyal customers don't get any benefits (certainty of bills) and are treated the same as new customers who cannot get anything else but "Flexible Octopus" variable rate based on the wholesale prices. 

Ofgem "Energy unit price for price cap from 1 July 2023"

Electricity  per KWh £0.30

Daily standing chge: £0.53

Gas / per KWh £0.08 

Daily std charge £0.29

If Octopus do boot me onto Flexible , that will be roughly the same tariff as  what all other suppliers are charging  , so its bye bye Tracker and Hello BG for their £150 referral fee if its still current.

Seems very unlikely.  They're offering £100 to be shared for a dual fuel referral and £50 for single, so you'd get only £50 or £25.  But when I try to get a referral link it just says 'Oops !  Something went wrong'.

Even with £50 or £25, would  you really want to join a company with poor customer service?

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/british-gas-hounded-dad-thousands-30586041

Chrysalis

To be honest their legacy standard fixed deals have never been competitive in my view.  If thats what you want then consider choosing a different supplier.

Octopus is the smart tariff go to, and for those with EV etc.  For the legacy stuff go with someone else in my opinion unless you happy enough with staying on SVR and their loyalty discount.

Also not all customers get offered available tariffs, seems to be a thing at the moment.