Octopus or EDF if they cost the same?

BobTheApple

I'm currently with EDF, but am thinking of switching to Octopus.  Both suppliers work out to be the same monthly amount if we fix, but we have two EVs and I'm wondering if we might be better off moving to Octopus flexible they'll move us to a smart tarrif.  However Flexible tarrif is about £50 a month more so is it worth the risk?

QrizB

Welcome to the forum.

Do you have a smart meter? Is it communicating properly, so that EDF can get your meter readings and 30-minute data regularly?

Have you considered EON Next's "Next Drive" tariff, which is by all accounts cheaper for some people than Intelligent Octopus Go?

BobTheApple

Yes we have a smart meter, I'm only looking at 100% green energy, but have googled and see EON fit the bill, so will do a comparison - thank you

debitcardmayhem

BobTheApple said:

Yes we have a smart meter, I'm only looking at 100% green energy, but have googled and see EON fit the bill, so will do a comparison - thank you

Just a word about 100% green energy, the suppliers who only buy green energy cannot guarantee the electricity you use comes from them, it could come from Drax e.g.

QrizB

BobTheApple said:

Yes we have a smart meter, I'm only looking at 100% green energy,

As you've got a fully functional smart meter, you should have to spend more than a few days on a flexible tariff before Octopus (or EON) can switch you to their smart EV tariff.

BobTheApple said:

... see EON fit the bill, so will do a comparison - thank you

The intangible bit with Intelligent Octopus Go is that you'll sometimes be given cheap slots during the daytime, not just the overnight period. It's hard to work out exactly how much additional saving this offers, so just think of it as a potential bonus if you choose Octopus.

Qyburn

BobTheApple said:

 .. I'm only looking at 100% green energy ..

Objectively I think that's meaningless. The mix of green and non-green energy at any moment of time is what it is, and that's what everyone receives. At time of writing it's 46% renewable.

To put it another way if a whole bunch of us moved to Octopus there won't suddenly be a load of windmills brought online. Equally if we all switched away there won't be a load shutdown and replaced by gas.

mmmmikey

BobTheApple said:

Yes we have a smart meter, I'm only looking at 100% green energy, but have googled and see EON fit the bill, so will do a comparison - thank you

As others have said the "100% green" is really a bit of a marketing thing. What you can do if you switch to Octopus (and possibly others) is to use an app like Octopus Watch which will tell you how green you're being by reporting on the CO2 emissions you're (sort of) responsible for. Generally, using electricity overnight or at none peak times is better because it makes best use of the energy from renewable resources like wind or solar. This doen's have an immediate impact but (a) helps when there's an excess of energy from these sources, and (b) makes these sources of energy more economically viable by increasing demand.

MeteredOut

QrizB said:

BobTheApple said:

Yes we have a smart meter, I'm only looking at 100% green energy,

As you've got a fully functional smart meter, you should have to spend more than a few days on a flexible tariff before Octopus (or EON) can switch you to their smart EV tariff.

BobTheApple said:

... see EON fit the bill, so will do a comparison - thank you

The intangible bit with Intelligent Octopus Go is that you'll sometimes be given cheap slots during the daytime, not just the overnight period. It's hard to work out exactly how much additional saving this offers, so just think of it as a potential bonus if you choose Octopus.

In my experience "sometimes be given" typically ends up "usually be given", apart from core 9-12 and 4-6pm hours.

My average all-of-house cost for electricity for the past year is around 15p//kWh as I shift-load heavy use items (tumble, washing machine, dishwasher, power washer) to times when our EV is charging.

NorthEastLight

Of the 3 suggestions EDF only offers 5  hours cheap rate so if you only charge 1 car overnight you'll get more  kwh added with IOG or Eon.

sheenas

I had a really bad time recently with Edf and smart meter issues. I moved to E.On and they solved the problem fairly quickly without telling me a pack lies. A breath of fresh air. So my thoughts would be E.on or octopus.