Octopus 3 hour Free Electricity Session tomorrow

NedS

Hi All,

Octopus have a 3 hour free electricity session tomorrow from 12-3pm, for extra electricity used above normal usage.

I'm specifically wondering how they calculate this over longer sessions such as this 3h session.

We are on Octopus Cosy, so normally our usage is zero between 12-1pm (as we're on battery) but would then be quite high as we switch to grid at 1-3pm.

Do they look at average usage for each hour (or even 30min) period, or only over the session as a whole, and then how do they calculate the amount to rebate when pricing varies for different periods within the session?

I don't know whether to hammer the 12-1pm period in the hope the whole amount gets refunded. If it doesn't, we've just consumed a large amount at double our normal rate, so it becomes anything but free.

Is anyone able to advise or offer any clarify how they calculate the period(s)?

debitcardmayhem

Neds https://octopus.energy/free-electricity/?utm_medium=app&utm_source=dynamic&utm_campaign=free_electricity_2025&utm_content=2410_session

debitcardmayhem

If you were still on IOF the rules are different though 

debitcardmayhem

I am now on Cosy so will be filling the DW/WM and battery , ditto for tonights 1hr session.

NedS

That doesn't answer the question though.

The FAQ here: https://octopus.energy/free-electricity/ says:

How do you work out my normal use

We'll look at your historical smart meter readings to work out your typical energy use at that time of day.
If the Session is on a weekday, we'll look at your half-hourly usage over the last 10 weekdays. If the Session is at the weekend, we'll look at your half-hourly usage at that time within the last 4 weekend days. We'll not include days where a Session took place in these calculations.

For Intelligent Octopus Go and Intelligent Octopus Flux customers, we'll exclude your device's power from your baseline (so any EV charging or battery import/export won't be included).

Once we've calculated this ‘normal’ figure, we can use it as a baseline - any power you use above that baseline will be free.

For example, if you normally use 100kWh between 1-2pm, anything over 100kWh will be free.

which refers to the 'session'. Tomorrow the 'session' is from 12-3pm, so if my normal usage is 4kWh during that period (0kWh between 12-1pm, 2kWh between 1-2pm and 2kWh between 2-3pm), and I shift my usage to 12-1pm (normally 0kWh) and use 5kWh between 12-1pm (now charged at ~30p/kWh), is that all free because I normally use 0kWh between 12-1pm, or is only 1kWh free because I normally use 4kWh in the session, so now I've just ended up paying for 4kWh at 30p (and got 1kWh for free) whereas I'd normally only be buying at ~15p/kWh

Does that make sense?

Alnat1

NedS said:

That doesn't answer the question though.

The FAQ here: https://octopus.energy/free-electricity/ says:

How do you work out my normal use

We'll look at your historical smart meter readings to work out your typical energy use at that time of day.
If the Session is on a weekday, we'll look at your half-hourly usage over the last 10 weekdays. If the Session is at the weekend, we'll look at your half-hourly usage at that time within the last 4 weekend days. We'll not include days where a Session took place in these calculations.

For Intelligent Octopus Go and Intelligent Octopus Flux customers, we'll exclude your device's power from your baseline (so any EV charging or battery import/export won't be included).

Once we've calculated this ‘normal’ figure, we can use it as a baseline - any power you use above that baseline will be free.

For example, if you normally use 100kWh between 1-2pm, anything over 100kWh will be free.

which refers to the 'session'. Tomorrow the 'session' is from 12-3pm, so if my normal usage is 4kWh during that period (0kWh between 12-1pm, 2kWh between 1-2pm and 2kWh between 2-3pm), and I shift my usage to 12-1pm (normally 0kWh) and use 5kWh between 12-1pm (now charged at ~30p/kWh), is that all free because I normally use 0kWh between 12-1pm, or is only 1kWh free because I normally use 4kWh in the session, so now I've just ended up paying for 4kWh at 30p whereas I'd normally only be buying at ~15p/kWh

Does that make sense?

I'm another Cosy user and have no clue either. Tonight's 9-10pm is much easier to understand.

NedS

Alnat1 said:

NedS said:

That doesn't answer the question though.

The FAQ here: https://octopus.energy/free-electricity/ says:

How do you work out my normal use

We'll look at your historical smart meter readings to work out your typical energy use at that time of day.
If the Session is on a weekday, we'll look at your half-hourly usage over the last 10 weekdays. If the Session is at the weekend, we'll look at your half-hourly usage at that time within the last 4 weekend days. We'll not include days where a Session took place in these calculations.

For Intelligent Octopus Go and Intelligent Octopus Flux customers, we'll exclude your device's power from your baseline (so any EV charging or battery import/export won't be included).

Once we've calculated this ‘normal’ figure, we can use it as a baseline - any power you use above that baseline will be free.

For example, if you normally use 100kWh between 1-2pm, anything over 100kWh will be free.

which refers to the 'session'. Tomorrow the 'session' is from 12-3pm, so if my normal usage is 4kWh during that period (0kWh between 12-1pm, 2kWh between 1-2pm and 2kWh between 2-3pm), and I shift my usage to 12-1pm (normally 0kWh) and use 5kWh between 12-1pm (now charged at ~30p/kWh), is that all free because I normally use 0kWh between 12-1pm, or is only 1kWh free because I normally use 4kWh in the session, so now I've just ended up paying for 4kWh at 30p whereas I'd normally only be buying at ~15p/kWh

Does that make sense?

I'm another Cosy user and have no clue either. Tonight's 9-10pm is much easier to understand.

Yes, tonight's session is easy - I'd normally use 0kWh (as running on battery), so anything used is free.

Tomorrow is very different, and I'm seeking some clarification before using large amounts at 30p/kWh not knowing whether I may or may not get reimbursed. 

Any ideas where we could ask for clarification?

debitcardmayhem

@NedS you have quoted the savings session bits , look at my quote and my http

jak22

As they love regularly changing the app, not always for the better, they could easily add to the £s earnt their idea of 'normal' KWh per half hour slot, and the actual consumption.

They already have plenty of graphs if you have the mini, so it is possible so see half hourly consumption but it's not clear whether a bar represents consumption up to the time shown or the half hour after, even assuming the meter clock is correct. The muti-hour sessions seem better all round.

For the opt-in use less sessions the results link has disappeared from the app - now an amount of points just appears. As with when £s are added to the balance there's not the date of the session, just the date of addition.

debitcardmayhem

jak22 said:

As they love regularly changing the app, not always for the better, they could easily add to the £s earnt their idea of 'normal' KWh per half hour slot, and the actual consumption.

They already have plenty of graphs if you have the mini, so it is possible so see half hourly consumption but it's not clear whether a bar represents consumption up to the time shown or the half hour after, even assuming the meter clock is correct. The muti-hour sessions seem better all round.

For the opt-in use less sessions the results link has disappeared from the app - now an amount of points just appears. As with when £s are added to the balance there's not the date of the session, just the date of addition.

We are talking about free electricity sessions, not saving sessions. You opt in once for free electricity, and every time for saving sessions 

born_again

Just had a text saying 21:00 to 22:00 tonight as well.