Octopus Go Intelligent Tariff - recent changes

mikrt

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81874853#Comment_81874853

I don't think that's correct. A lot of people are using granny chargers with the car integrated with IO, using chargers in dumb mode. I'm not saying they should be, but it's happening.

My charger isn't compatible with IO, but my car is.

MWT

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81874853#Comment_81874853

There shouldn't be anyone on IOG using a granny charger, since they're not generally compatible with IOG. Those folk will be on regular Go.

Anyone with an EV integration can use a granny charger, and sadly a good number of them are doing just that to exploit the tariff and get cheap rate power for many hours a day, hence the need to enforce the 6 hour rule…

QrizB

Thanks both. Yes, I checked and it seems Octopus will let you join Go with a 10A plugin charger so long as you have suitable vehicle.

I guess this group are another that's been seen to be misusing benefitting unreasonably the tariff.

MattMattMattUK

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81875182#Comment_81875182

It depends, I charge on a granny charger and can connect to IOG because my car is a Tesla and they directly integrate. Unfortunately I cannot install a 7kW charger as I live in a flat. Monday to Friday my commute uses around 10.5kWh and on IOG I could charge 12kWh a night, as weekends I usually use less. Occasionally I drive longer distances and it extends the charging window. Octopus can see the state of charge of my car and how much I use so easy to see how I am using it. It is those using chargers that have no visibility of the state of charge that seem to be the issue.

MWT

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81875472#Comment_81875472

Octopus can see the state of charge of my car and how much I use so easy to see how I am using it. It is those using chargers that have no visibility of the state of charge that seem to be the issue.

There are problems on both sides, with the granny charger and EV integration, some have been using it to extend the low rate to cover the whole day by setting the car and the 'charger' to its lowest charge rate. …or even if they have a 7kW EVSE available, still using the granny charger to get more hours at the low rate. Even without that sort of 'gaming' the 6 hours limit is very easy to exceed with a granny charger which is in itself an issue.

On the EVSE integrations some have been asking for more than they actually need to force IOG to assign early slots at the low rate during peak periods and then of course the EV does not actually charge over night as it is full by then. Ironically IOG will often choose not to charge overnight when used properly…

For both EV and EVSE integrations there is also the problem of people plugging in early in the morning after 05:30 which then forces IOG to deliver slots up to 11:00 even if they are not actually optimal for Octopus. This is something else that is likely to be changed as Octopus do regard this as an overnight tariff so there is the expectation that people will be plugging in during the evening before the selected departure time.

Both of these are problems, but a lot of the initial reaction from Octopus was based on a misunderstanding of how Kraken was working with Hypervolt/Ohme etc. and what they were seeing as artificial low-rate charging was in fact just the EVSE suppliers spreading the load across a whole HH period. This has been mostly fixed now and may also be a reason why they have not get implemented the planned enforcement change as it will have noticeably reduced the level of what they believed to be abuse of the system…

born_again

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81873343#Comment_81873343

Not just here, facebook groups are full of people who do not.

To the point of complaining when they are given a charge out of the off peak hours…

Why you would use a granny charger on IOG?

This is missing the point of IOG & one of the reasons for the change as it is creating longer charging sessions which stretch into daytime.

MattMattMattUK

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81875891#Comment_81875891

I use a granny charger because I have no alternative, I can use one at my flat but I am unable to install a 7kW charger. Others will use one to avoid the cost of installation which in many cases is hugely excessive, others because they rent and so cannot install one.

MWT

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81875913#Comment_81875913

I know it is not helpful for people in your circumstances, but the mistake was probably allowing a granny charger on the tariff in the first place, as it is difficult to use one effectively and stay within the 6 hours allowed under the T&Cs.

Same goes for night-shift workers who are plugging in after 05:30 and getting guaranteed slots up to 11:00, it is going to be very frustrating for them, but IOG is an overnight tariff and not designed to be used in those circumstances.

I guess we all just have to wait and see what Octopus decide to do…

born_again

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81875998#Comment_81875998

https://octopus.energy/blog/intelligent-go-faqs/#carcharging

Don’t worry, your first 6 hours of smart charging will be always be billed at off-peak rates regardless of when it happens.

Energy’s usually greenest (and cheapest) overnight. That’s why we ask for a ‘ready by’ time between 4-11am, as it helps us make the most of those off-peak hours.

Magnitio

I used a granny charger on IOG for a year with Octopus controlling the charging via the car as I didn't have an alternative. This became unreliable when Octopus kept splitting the charging sessions into large numbers of small charging slots; after 10 communications with the car it would go into a deep sleep and refuse to charge. I therefore decided to pay £1000 for a charger which is now controlled by IOG.

It's not just people with granny chargers who need more than 6 hours, for exampe if you need more than 42kWh overnight due to long back-to-back journeys.