Is fixing the better option for me (EV)

Sunshine_and_Roses

I am currently with Octopus with the Octopus Go tariff for electricity.  I have an EV which I charge overnight with a 3 pin plug (only do around 2000 miles a year) and have cheaper rate at night.

I have asked if I can fix, they said yes but I would not get the cheaper rate at night. Currently 8.5p between 0030 and 0530, then 25.46p for the rest of the time.  I charge the car approx once a week.

Gas is on the Flexible Octopus plan at 6.3p

Is it worth me fixing both or just the gas?  

paradigital

If you can shift your heavier electricity usage to off-peak (we run the washing machine and dishwasher during the off-peak window for example) then Octopus Go (or Intelligent Octopus Go, with its longer off-peak window) can work out very cheap (throw in solar hybrid batteries as well and things get VERY cheap with off-peak rates, my Jan-Feb bill was at an average of 7.7p/kwh). Like you I have an EV (and a PHEV that charges nightly) that does around 3,000 miles a year.

I’ve just taken out the gas fix from Octopus.

If you are only charging once a week, and no other heavy off-peak usage, my gut is telling me that a dual-fuel fix is likely cheaper for you.

NorthEastLight

If you are willing to switch from Octopus then there are various EV tariffs at fixed rates that are available including: EDF (GoElectric is fixed, EDF EVolve tracks the price cap), Eon Next (Next Drive), British Gas (EV Tariff). You should be able to pair these with any of their available gas tariffs. EDF and BG are 5 hour cheap periods, Eon is 7 hours.

OVO Anytime may be available as an add to their normal fixed rates if your car is compatible - it differs to the ones above in that only car charging is at cheap unit rates.

For my region the EDF GoElectric fixed tariff day rate is currently 3.5p/kwh cheaper than the Octopus Go day rate, offset by a 0.5p/kwh higher night rate and higher daily standing charge.

Is it worth fixing? Depends why you want to fix - it gives certainty that unit rates won't go higher, but if there are exit fees then it may limit the benefit of a future change if lower tariffs become available.

Sunshine_and_Roses

NorthEastLight said:

If you are willing to switch from Octopus then there are various EV tariffs at fixed rates that are available including: EDF (GoElectric is fixed, EDF EVolve tracks the price cap), Eon Next (Next Drive), British Gas (EV Tariff). You should be able to pair these with any of their available gas tariffs. EDF and BG are 5 hour cheap periods, Eon is 7 hours.

OVO Anytime may be available as an add to their normal fixed rates if your car is compatible - it differs to the ones above in that only car charging is at cheap unit rates.

For my region the EDF GoElectric fixed tariff day rate is currently 3.5p/kwh cheaper than the Octopus Go day rate, offset by a 0.5p/kwh higher night rate and higher daily standing charge.

Is it worth fixing? Depends why you want to fix - it gives certainty that unit rates won't go higher, but if there are exit fees then it may limit the benefit of a future change if lower tariffs become available.

Thank you, checking all the t&c's now.  A lot of the EV tariffs require a charging point, rather than the granny charging method that we use.  

born_again

Sunshine_and_Roses said:

I am currently with Octopus with the Octopus Go tariff for electricity.  I have an EV which I charge overnight with a 3 pin plug (only do around 2000 miles a year) and have cheaper rate at night.

I have asked if I can fix, they said yes but I would not get the cheaper rate at night. Currently 8.5p between 0030 and 0530, then 25.46p for the rest of the time.  I charge the car approx once a week.

Gas is on the Flexible Octopus plan at 6.3p

Is it worth me fixing both or just the gas?  

How many hours charging is that?

Look at that total cost.
Work out how much extra you are paying in daytime on Go tariff.

Then work out what they would be on std fixed tariff

Newbie_John

Tomato Lifestyle? No need to even have EV for 5p rate at night.

NorthEastLight

Sunshine_and_Roses said:

Thank you, checking all the t&c's now.  A lot of the EV tariffs require a charging point, rather than the granny charging method that we use.  

When I was shopping round last month: all require a smart meter, some require you own/lease an EV (EDF and BG specify that in their eligibility criteria).

Intelligent Octopus Go and OVO Anytime require either a compatible car, or if the car is not compatible then a compatible point. Think one of the ScottishPower ones is similar.

There are some EV tariffs that are dedicated to owners of specific charge points - EDF has one for PodPoint owners, and another for those wanting a PodPoint installed, BG has a Hive dedicated tariff.

But the general EV tariffs from EDF, BG and EOn Next and others should be available regardless of what you plug your EV into.