Octopus Cosy Tarif

Scaffman60

I am using Octopus cosy tarif and my electric bill has risen, we only run the ASHP in the cheaper rate for hot water, less than hour a day. I do work from home and wonder if this tarif is not suitable?

Scot_39

Given Octopus Cosy was targeted initially at Heat Pump and then Electric Boiler users seems strange.

Isnt there a free app that allows you to compare against other Octopus deals (and a paid version that compares against competitors ?)

Have you checked you usage 1/2 hourly on the portal or app - especially to check your not using a lot against the peak rate from 4-7pm.

Which could include some WFH - but also say cooking your tea if you clock off before 7pm etc.

What deal were you on before ?

When looked at Cosy its off peak 8 hours plit 3 times a day - Its off peak rate was a bit cheaper than E7 - marginal - It's peak rate for the 3 hours is c6p more expensive than e7 peak / day rate - its normal rate though is c6p cheaper than e7 peak rate for instance - and not much different from single rate here in EM - when got a recent quote.

There are probably other cheaper rates out their off peak - but these might be overnight only - and other TOU tariffs at competitors. That might suit your profile better.

QrizB

Scaffman60 said:

I am using Octopus cosy tarif and my electric bill has risen, we only run the ASHP in the cheaper rate for hot water, less than hour a day. I do work from home and wonder if this tarif is not suitable?

As above, look in the app / on your web account / at your bills. How effective are you being at using more electricity in the cheaper periods and less in the evening peak?

Also, consider that you're not currently running your heating. When we get into colder weather your usage profile could change considerably and make Cosy more effective.

Scot_39

Excellent point about the heating being off

My off peak split goes to lows c50% in summer - largely just hot water - but peaks over 90% in a really cold snap - and averages 75-80% per annum.

My E10 is at times even marginally more expensive some weeks in summer than even single rate - but for winter heating - and over the year - it's a no brainer.  

[My options are sadly limited by old smets1 meter and even older lossy NSH - that would costs £1000s to upgrade.  I'd love Cosy's cheaper a-aprt from the 3 hours peak rates - and I am used to avoidng those anyway as I have an E10 peak slot from 4-8pm GMT anyway - but I'd need my ALCS times to match.]

Spoonie_Turtle

The app is Octopus Compare.

(There is also a web page for a different option https://www.octopriceuk.app/ but I personally find the Octopus Compare app easier to parse. 
However Octoprice shows annual usage and comparisons as standard, which Compare doesn't, it's a premium / free trial feature.)

For us, Cosy is consistently cheaper than the SVT (and Agile since March has been even cheaper still) but we are high users and our usage is somewhat weighted outside of the peak period.  (We do cook in it, don't completely avoid it, but we use more outside in the cheaper periods.)

wrf12345

May be the wrong type of heat pump, the low temp ones are supposed to run continuously to get the best efficiency out of them rather than stop/go as per gas boiler, the high temp heat pumps are less efficient but work better for limited time slots. 

QrizB

wrf12345 said:

May be the wrong type of heat pump, the low temp ones are supposed to run continuously to get the best efficiency out of them rather than stop/go as per gas boiler, the high temp heat pumps are less efficient but work better for limited time slots. 

That's less of an issue when (like the OP currently) you're only heating water, since even the low temperature ones have to get the water hot.

Bendo

Scot_39 said:

[My options are sadly limited by old smets1 meter 

Has your meter been adopted, if so to all intents and purposes, there is nothing it can't do that a SMETS 2 meter can.

If it hasn't been adopted then as suppliers are obliged to taken all reasonable steps to get SMETS 1 meters enrolled by September,  make a complaint. 

Scot_39

I meant for instance Smets 2 is a requirement for Snug.

And even then their having trouble with some types of meters.

Bendo

Ahh. I hadn't spotted SMETS2 was a requirement for Cosy. My bad.

Scot_39

Bendo said:

Ahh. I hadn't spotted SMETS2 was a requirement for Cosy. My bad.

Well not quite, from the Cosy FAQ 

Have a SMETS2, or Secure SMETS1 smart meter we can take half hourly readings from.

Which I guess they might have supported even pre DCC, as did EOn who fitted secure liberty series e7 and in my cae e10 meters and a couple of other suplliers supported.