Octopus 3 hour Free Electricity Session tomorrow

MattMattMattUK

chrisw said:

Does anyone know how it works with an EV on IOG? It's clear if I could leave it plugged in for the three hours, but I need to go out at 2.45.

Would I get 2 hours credit, 2 3/4 hours credit or does it need the whole 3 hours to get anything?

It does but in a slightly different way, your car might not charge in that window but you do get the equivalent of those hours as free energy. 

Billing on IOG is in 30 minutes blocks so I am guessing you would get two and a half hours credit. 

MattMattMattUK

Chrysalis said:

I think they need to change their headline, misleading in my opinion, remember many people dont read everything.

Free Electricity Session 9-10pm, Friday 24th October

I read that and interpret that as free for all usage.

Further down in the effective small print it states above normal usage, this is a bit dangerous as well, as that is a vague term, it should instead be a figure put in there they have calculated so basically every email is personalised and accurate.  

Millions of people dont even know what KwH is.  What is determined to be your normal usage, if your load varies day to day?  Not mentioned in the email.
I request to the OP to also edit the thread title, its misleading as well.

How is it dangerous? Anyone who uses more will not pay, those who do not will not pay any more than normal. 

Normal usage is not a vague term, it is explained in full in the terms and conditions as the average used during the same period for the last eight weeks (so the last eight Friday's from 21:00-22:00), excluding any periods of free electricity.

It is far from rocket science and if people refuse to read the email then that is on them. Businesses already have to put a huge amount of extra info into communication to account for people being unwilling to read things properly or apply common sense. Even having to say on every communication "terms and conditions apply" is a pointless waste of everyone's time. 

QrizB

chrisw said:

Does anyone know how it works with an EV on IOG? It's clear if I could leave it plugged in for the three hours, but I need to go out at 2.45.
Would I get 2 hours credit, 2 3/4 hours credit or does it need the whole 3 hours to get anything?

If it's calculated by the 30-minute slot, I'd expect you to get at least 2.5 hrs of credit.
You'll also get any other domestic electricity use (above your baseline) for free.

Oscarmax

I have given up on these free electric slots, we are on Octopus GO we end up paying peak rate and only end up being credit 1 pence.

Qyburn

Oscarmax said:

I have given up on these free electric slots, we are on Octopus GO we end up paying peak rate and only end up being credit 1 pence.

Why's that? You're saying you use electricity at 29p/kWh (or whatever your rate is) but the credit applies some different rate, is that correct?

Lorian

The concept of the baseline has been in this scheme since the start.

Oscarmax

Qyburn said:

Oscarmax said:

I have given up on these free electric slots, we are on Octopus GO we end up paying peak rate and only end up being credit 1 pence.

Why's that? You're saying you use electricity at 29p/kWh (or whatever your rate is) but the credit applies some different rate, is that correct?

That's correct

tim_p

Oscarmax said:

I have given up on these free electric slots, we are on Octopus GO we end up paying peak rate and only end up being credit 1 pence.

You and me both. Simply not worth the faff, particularly today tying up 3 hours on a beautiful sunny autumn day. Batteries and a healthy amount of solar don’t seem to mix well with the free electrons. 

chrisw

chrisw said:

Does anyone know how it works with an EV on IOG? It's clear if I could leave it plugged in for the three hours, but I need to go out at 2.45.

Would I get 2 hours credit, 2 3/4 hours credit or does it need the whole 3 hours to get anything?

Aha. It was in the FAQ had I actually read them!

More info about the free charging credit:

You earn free charging credit for every half-hour you’re plugged in during a session.

Example: A 3-hour session (12pm-3pm)

• Plugged in the full 3 hours (12pm-3pm) = 3 hours free credit
• Unplugged at 2:45pm = 2.5 hours free credit
• Only plugged in 1pm-2pm = 1 hour free credit

The key thing: Stay plugged in for the entire session to get the full credit. But if you need to end it earlier, you’ll still earn credit for however long you were connected

Qyburn

Oscarmax said:

Qyburn said:

Oscarmax said:

I have given up on these free electric slots, we are on Octopus GO we end up paying peak rate and only end up being credit 1 pence.

Why's that? You're saying you use electricity at 29p/kWh (or whatever your rate is) but the credit applies some different rate, is that correct?

That's correct

Concerning. What rate did they use for the credit? I've not really participated before, but my last dabble looked like they were crediting at the correct rate. I can't see anything in the small print to exclude Go (as opposed to Intelligent Go) customers ..