Best tariff for heat pump (no ev or batteries)

barker77

Looking to shortly get an octopus heat pump (daikin) installed. Wonder if anyone has done similar and what tariff would recommend ? 

NedS

We are on the Octopus Cosy tariff, and over winter our average import price has been ~19p per kWh. We do try to time shift usage into the cheap slots where possible though, rather than just running the heat pump constantly which would probably result in a higher overall import rate.

Do you know what your property's heat loss is / what size heat pump you will be getting? That should allow you to estimate what your electricity usage may be (e.g, 1kW per hour) which will allow you to model different tariffs in a spreadsheet to see how they may compare (or is it only me that does things like that!)

Alnat1

Octopus Cosy might work work for you, will depend on your usage times, if you can boost your heating in the cheaper slots 4-7am and 1-4pm and avoid too much other use in the expensive 4-7pm slot. You'd need to try and run appliances like washer/dryer/dishwasher at the cheaper times too. Hot water could be heated in the 10-12pm slot when you're less likely to want to heat the house more (heat pumps can't do both at once) and could be boosted in the afternoon if needed.

barker77

Interesting thanks - does the time shift work by simply making the heat pump turn off for the expensive periods ? 

NedS

Yes, I use my programmable room thermostat to turn on/off at set times in accordance with the tariff. We normally turn off at midnight and back on at 4am (cheap slot) to reheat the house ready for morning. We then bump up the heat in the cheap afternoon slot ready to turn off during the 4-7pm peak rate, and back on again in the evening.

We also schedule the hot water to run in any of the three cheap rate slots, so as much use is shifted to cheap periods where electricity is half the standard day rate. By doing this, our average import price is working out at around 19p over this last winter (Dec-Feb).

My starting point for any tariff comparison is if it is cheaper than the standard variable rate (ofgem cap) price. If you can reduce the price you are paying for electricity, this will go a long way to ensuring the running costs are less than gas (or oil) that the heat pump has replaced.

Reed_Richards

It makes quite a bid difference what your heat pump is actually heating.  If you have UFH embedded in a thick concrete slab then you can turn the heat pump off for a few hours, the slab will continue to radiate heat and everything will be fine.  On the other had if you have radiators in an inadequately insulated house then after an hour with the heat pump off you'll be putting on a thick sweater and then a coat.  If your prime focus is maximising the economy of operation you may be okay with that, but if you just want to be comfortable perhaps not. 

stripling

barker77 said:

Looking to shortly get an octopus heat pump (daikin) installed. Wonder if anyone has done similar and what tariff would recommend ? 

I was on Tracker for many years but jumped ship recently. My heat pump is a 6kw Daikin. I don't use a room thermostat - I use pure weather compensation (Leaving Water Temperature Control Daikin call it) and I have it programmed to reduce the flow temp by -2º at night, increase it  to +1º  at 6am and increase to +2º at 16.00.  I didn't want to start reducing temperatures just as it was getting cold at 4pm so I can't be bothered with the Cosy tariff. I like a warm - 21/22º minimum house

I'm on a fix with Fuse Energy at 21p kwh and it suits me fine. It has a good simple but clear app for monitoring energy use, which I back up with the Bright app for more detail. The fixed tariff means I know exactly where I am with it all. If I had solar and/or batteries it would be different. 

My 🐙 installation was very good, I can run my heat pump at 39º design temp and be super warm and so far its not costing me too much.   One tip - get as much radiator acreage as possible. The more water volume the more efficient & cheaper your system. 

barker77

Found the following tariffs but not sure which would be most useful so still keen on thoughts from anyone who’s seen these already and picked one!

https://www.edfenergy.com/heating/electric/air-source-heat-pump-tariff/trial

https://www.eonnext.com/tariffs/next-pumped?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_account=E.ON-Next&utm_campaign=EV-Tariff-Acquisition-Search&utm_Adgroup=%7BAdgroup%7D&utm_keyword=heat%20pump%20tariff&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAABtBTxdepVrys6iNF8lJ3yiCnVZlO&gclid=Cj0KCQjwv_m-BhC4ARIsAIqNeBvrz3NHN-JN2z09qZgSy61dqnmhAyWGyO7nmeZvOOq0p-AVnSMGn_gaAjE0EALw_wcB

https://www.scottishpower.co.uk/heat-pump-tariff

There may be others too so please let me know if better options!

barker77

@victor2 would this thread be better in the energy section? 

victor2

barker77 said:

@victor2 would this thread be better in the energy section? 

It's a bit of both really. Could get the reverse question if it was in the Energy board. I've asked the forum team what they think!

MSE_James

I think this thread can stay on this board for now - as victor2 indicates, it could belong in either place really, but here is likely to be more easily found by those with heat pump experience