Octopus - Octoplus Rewards (points/money off/free electricity)

Netexporter

It’s free, so what’s the problem

But it could be a problem if times when people get paid to use electricity are demoted to zero-cost electricity.

I'll drop Octopus an email to see if they can clarify.

Spoonie_Turtle

Netexporter said:

It’s free, so what’s the problem

But it could be a problem if times when people get paid to use electricity are demoted to zero-cost electricity.

I'll drop Octopus an email to see if they can clarify.

Being signed up to Octoplus doesn't automatically sign you up for the different sessions/initiatives.  You have to opt in for each one, each time.

"Free electricity when the grid is greenest

Yup you heard us right. We will let you know anywhere from a few hours to a day ahead when the Free Electricity Sessions will happen via email, you let us know you’re taking part by clicking the opt in button in the email and use as much energy as you can (safely) during the session, we will then credit this back to your Octopus balance."

https://octopus.energy/octoplus/

Though the T&Cs talking about Free Electricity Sessions don't specifically mention Agile, so it will be useful to know for certain for when those sessions do come about.

70sbudgie

The things I took away from the T&C's were that the reward system is access to Octopus' Savings sessions (the ESO demand flex service - sorry, totally forgotten it's proper name!) as well as other demand flexibility programmes which includes potentially free electricity and others yet to be published. It also looks like there may be retail discounts, though I imagine they'll be green energy related. 

As you have to register for each session, I guess Agile customers could always choose to skip a free electricity session if you can see that it coincides with a price plunge. But it also gives those of us not on Agile access to the price plunges. And the T&C's say that smart tariff customers can be taken out of the scheme (I think that is just to cover their backs wrt unforeseen consequences). Smart tariff customers seem to be a canny lot - I think Octopus discovered just how canny last winter. Their T&C's also mention using as much electricity as you can safely. And the free electricity sessions are done on a reimbursement premise - Octopus will refund (in Octopoints) the cost of the electricity you used during a free session. There may be alternative ways to spend Octopoints. They did suggest that last winter, but I'm not aware of it actually happening.

I also noticed that the Savings sessions are based on 60 day baseline and that there will be no in-day adjustment.

I think it may also have mentioned earning points based on your net import reduction. I read that statement a few times, but am still not sure if it was saying that an increase in export would also earn points? If so, that is potentially good news for those with batteries.

There is also a bonus for signing up for a mini, if you haven't done that already. Although I like my mini (in particular being able to see instantaneous use from my phone), I suspect Octopus gets more benefit from my more accurate consumption data than I do. They clearly feel that they could do with more data than they got from last winter's saving sessions if they are encouraging mini sign ups for this winter's.

The free electricity sessions feel to me to be the other side of the demand flexibility to the savings sessions - the latter encourages reduced usage, the former, increased usage. 

I look forward to seeing what else is added...

masonic

70sbudgie said:

I also noticed that the Savings sessions are based on 60 day baseline and that there will be no in-day adjustment.

Overall a good summary. The "up to" 60 day summary clause was discussed earlier in the thread. They state they will still use the published formula from last year's DFS, the version without the in-day adjustment, so I believe they'd still be looking at the last 10 days, but with an allowance to go back further if there was any missing half-hourly data.

Edit: Confirmed - there are new guidance documents, and Appendix 5 covers this and states the 10 most recent eligible weekdays with valid data within the last 60 should be used for weekday sessions; 4 non-weekdays for weekend sessions.

As for the minis, I was sort of hoping those of us already with OHMs would be able to claim some pennies, but it looks like it is for new signups.

EssexHebridean

I think there is a waiting list for the mini - I applied for one a while ago but no sign of it yet. 

Netexporter

EssexHebridean said:

I think there is a waiting list for the mini - I applied for one a while ago but no sign of it yet. 

Same here.

Spoonie_Turtle

I applied as soon as our meter started sending info on the day of installation, back in July.  I had an e-mail a few days ago to say it was on its way.

Qyburn

I got mine ages ago but it doesn't work. I think it's broken becausr each time Octopus try to get it working it fails in a different way, its gone from initially all set up and registered but not
talking to the meter, to live on the network but not talking to Octopus, to not connecting to wireless, finally now it isn't detected by Bluetooth which is pretty much the first step.

SuzeQStan

Qyburn said:

I got mine ages ago but it doesn't work. I think it's broken becausr each time Octopus try to get it working it fails in a different way, its gone from initially all set up and registered but not
talking to the meter, to live on the network but not talking to Octopus, to not connecting to wireless, finally now it isn't detected by Bluetooth which is pretty much the first step.

It takes them ages to sort something out like that - and generally the actual Problem is something as simple as keystone error on 🐙 part.

cannugec5

I got the email this evening inviting me to join Octoplus. 

But when I clicked on the link I was advised I need to enable my meter to send half hourly readings. If only!! As it has no communication hub attached I guess I need to climb the ladder every 30 minutes to submit a reading…
oh well. Maybe one day.