Free Octopus Electricity

[Griffian]

1-2 Saturday again this weekend.

 

[DaevM]

So, what I want to know is at what point will the freebie usage contribute to our normal usage and we'll be charged for everything we're filling our boots with as it's become our 'normal usage' ? ?

 

[Bam Bam]

So, what I want to know is at what point will the freebie usage contribute to our normal usage and we'll be charged for everything we're filling our boots with as it's become our 'normal usage' ? ?

I'm pretty sure it works in the same way as the winter demand reduction service.

They compare to other previous dates on which there was no incentive.

 

[DaevM]

I'm pretty sure it works in the same way as the winter demand reduction service.

They compare to other previous dates on which there was no incentive.

I understand that, but at some point down the line, in the dim and distant future, fingers crossed the incentives periods we've used will outweigh the non-incentive periods and their algorithm will eventually show our average usage for say 13-1400 to be 9.5kWh rather than the 0.03 that it currently is.
Sorry, it's what my mind does when unoccupied ?

 

[Gomev]

I understand that, but at some point down the line, in the dim and distant future, fingers crossed the incentives periods we've used will outweigh the non-incentive periods and their algorithm will eventually show our average usage for say 13-1400 to be 9.5kwh rather than the 0.03 that it currently is.
Sorry, it's what my mind does when unoccupied ?

I agree, when I did my calcs on a previous 'free hour' their idea of my average usage was 3 times what I calculated.

 

[DaevM]

I agree, when I did my calcs on a previous 'free hour' their idea of my average usage was 3 times what I calculated.

Something to keep any eye on I guess. One could wipe out all of the financial benefits so far in one well used session. I know in the grand scheme of things it's still a pittance but...

 

[Bam Bam]

I've postponed laundry and dishwashing slightly so that it will still be going during the free hour.

Needed to charge the car and make some bread during that hour anyway, so it's all gravy.

I haven't switched to an EV (cheap overnight) tariff yet, so it is more valuable for me than others.

 

[Rolfe]

It would actually be worth my while doing it today, because the panels are generating less than 1 kW and it's so overcast that seems likely to continue. But the car is sitting there at 97% and I don't really have any big-ticket things I need to turn on, so I may as well pass.

 

[Gomev]

I can't be bothered after my first free hour. The most extra I can use is approx 7kWh to add to the car at 8.5p/kWh saving. 60p.
If it was a couple of hours would be worth it but all this calculation of above your normal usage makes it harder than it need be, why not just make it all free in that hour or a token low low rate of say 1p or 2p or 3p etc per kWh for everything.

 

[GaryMG4]

It would actually be worth my while doing it today, because the panels are generating less than 1 kw and it's so overcast that seems likely to continue. But the car is sitting there at 97% and I don't really have any big-ticket things I need to turn on, so I may as well pass.

Here on the sunny side despite having car on granny, washing and dishwasher running I'm still pushing 100W to the grid so no gain for me!

 

[Rolfe]

I can't be bothered after my first free hour. The most extra I can use is approx 7kWh to add to the car at 8.5p/kWh saving. 60p.
If it was a couple of hours would be worth it but all this calculation of above your normal usage makes it harder than it need be, why not just make it all free in that hour or a token low low rate of say 1p or 2p or 3p etc per kWh for everything.

The issue for me is that if I turn anything on during the hour, the first thing the appliance will use is the solar generation - for which I would be getting paid 15p. Only once that's gone does the house start to draw from the grid. So essentially, if it's sunny, I'm losing 8p/kwh until the solar is all used up, before I start to see some benefit. I'm only generating 1.6 kW at the moment so it's possible to get into the black, but realistically I'd have to put the car on charge. The car is almost full, so it's not worth it.

 

[Rolfe]

Here on the sunny side despite having car on granny, washing and dishwasher running I'm still pushing 100w to the grid so no gain for me!

Yeah, it's not really worth it if you have much solar generation. (I went for it on the 10th to a large extent because a big black cloud seemed to have settled over the house and it had started to rain. At ten to one the cloud blew away and the panels proceeded to generate their maximum until after two.)

 

[Chrisjk]

Hi, I’m on octopus Agile. Rate changes every half hour. Following day’s prices published 4pm. Today had 2 slots at minus and all slots from 11.30 - 1500 all less than 1p/ kWh.

 

[rjhfandclf]

Yeah, it's not really worth it if you have much solar generation.

Fully agreed - as they do in fact freely admit on their FAQs. I've signed-up and if it works it works - if not ... then so be it! It does work a bit on bad solar days, but I've never made more than about 50p max as I already balance usage via battery in favour of export! Presently I'm in France for six weeks - so totally no use at all!!!

 

[mikgle]

We had a 100A label on the fuse. We acquired our battery ( sonnen) from Centrica who ran a local energy project down here for a couple of years. They came in and bought the feed upto spec, new cables throughout and put isolation switches in, bless 'em. Since then we've had a parallel feed put into a Wallbox Pulsar Max charger.
The fuse still has a 100A label on it but I'm not convinced following subsequent conversations I've had. More likely as you say, 80.
If only I understood more ( qualified 17th edition regs , 12 years ago- ahem ) .
This is one of the bigger problems I can see with trying to roll out electrical everything to the general populace. At least 90% has not a Scooby.
Verrrry potentially dangerous situation. ??


Had a quick look around, can't find anything. Any idea how I can subscribe to their green day emails please ? I'm on IOG

You can't really go off the fuse label, bizarrely.. the best way is enquire to your DNO, they will have records or if not they will come and pull it out to check.
The Greener says notification.. there usually a link when Octo Pete sends an email but can't find it anywhere else. Best ask them..

 

[mikgle]

My issue is that the appliances grab the solar first, so first I lose the solar export before I even start to use grid power. By my calculations it's extremely difficult to get into the black when you're exporting 4.8 kw. But the day I tried it in August I got a credit that was quite a lot more than the value of the export I lost, so I'm actually confused about how they're calculating it.

It does take the solar first, nothing you can do about that but if its a lot then you're getting free leccy anyway. That's why you need lots of battery load to soak it up.. I have 2x EVs and 2 x home batteries as well as hot water washing mc etc.. that's around 25kW of load, so it dies need managing!

 

[mikgle]

I went for it, although I still don't know how they work it out given that whatever you switch on swallows the solar generation first before taking any grid power. But the last time I tried it they credited me with more than the few pence I thought I might get, and it suited me to do it.

I returned from my three-night experiment in sleeping in the MG4 last night, and charged overnight, but I had a dentist's appointment in the morning (60-mile round trip) so there was room for more juice in the car. I also had dirty washing brought back from the trip, and the cat's automatic feeders need to go in the dishwasher.

Eariler in the morning I has set the Zappi to charge 1-2, and the Eddi to heat the water at the same time. (I don't think it got up to temperature during its 4.30 to 5.30 am boost, due to having been off for four days.) Then I remembered I had to set the home battery to charge too, or everything would take that preferentially to mains electricity!

I got back from the dentist at ten to one, really sore mouth and minus a back tooth, but a black cloud had just settled over the house and it was coming on rain so I thought, should be worth it whatever. I plugged the car in, chucked the dirty clothes in the washing machine, got the cat feeders into the dishwasher and started these at one.

Of course, at about five to one the sun came out and I had virtually maximum solar generation for the full hour before the rain came on again.

Checked MyEnergi, which said the car was charging but the water wasn't heating. Don't know what that was all about, but managed to get it to heat. Went to the hairdressers, mouth feeling better due to the Co-codamol the dentist said to take. Bloody miraculous.

Got back from my haircut at ten to two, turned on the kettle and made some cup-a-soup and a cup of coffee, about all I can ingest right now.

It will be interesting to see what I get back from this and whether it's worth the loss of about 4.8 kWh export.

They measure what's being imported or exported net at your grid connection not your consumer unit., if you are using your own generation they can't measure that, just what's going into/out of the grid, after your gen and load..

 

[mikgle]

This is the link for the octopus Greener Days forecast..

Greener Days

Find out when's the greenest time to charge your EV, or do a full load of laundry, with our green energy forecast.

click.octopus.energy

 

[mikgle]

AH.. it won't print out the Greener Days link because it's associated with my account number, however if you request it from Octopus they will send you one..

 

[Rolfe]

They measure what's being imported or exported net at your grid connection not your consumer unit., if you are using your own generation they can't measure that, just what's going into/out of the grid, after your gen and load..

That's the issue, isn't it. On the 10th it started to rain just before the magic hour and I thought I wouldn't be losing much if I went for it. Then at ten to one the sun came out and I lost a whole hour of maximum solar generation, and the usage they'll have registered for me will only start once the solar generation was exceeded.

It was a lot duller on the most recent day, but it's only worth it to me if I can charge the car during the hour, and the car was already on 97% at that point.