Octopus Energy Go

[Rich88]

I've ordered my ZS last month and I'm thinking which is the best tariff to move to for the cheapest running cost.

I've been doing some calcs... didn't have enough space to do it on the back of a envelope packet so did it on my favourite app - notepad!

My conclusion is that these EV friendly energy tariffs could provide a decent saving to you if you do very high volumes of charging at home and stick to the short 'off-peak' times for EV charging. If you're EV charging requirements at home are very low and your household energy usage is high, in some cases you may actually be better off with a non-EV friendly tariff. See a couple of worked example below using Ocotopus Go and Avro Energy as an example.

Assuming medium household electricity usage per year: 3200kWh

Octopus Go
Off-peak unit rate (00:30-04:30): 5p/kWh
Peak-rate unit rate: 14.29p/kWh
Daily standing charge: 25p

Avro Energy - Simple and SuperSave
Unit rate 13.808p/kWh
Daily standing charge: 18.9p

Example 1: Assuming high volume of charging at home: 10,000 miles per year

30 miles added per hour @7kWh charging rate
= 333 hours of charging (10,000 / 30)
= 2,331kWh of electricty usage (7kWh x 333 hours)

Annual electricty costs using Octopus Go:

Assuming all car charging performed using off-peak rate: 0.05 x 2,331 = £116.55
+
Household electricty usage: 0.1429 * 3200 = £457.28
+
Standing charge: 0.25 * 365 = £91.25

Total = 116.55 + 457.28 + 91.25 = £665.08

Annual electricty costs using Avro Energy:

Car charging: 0.13808 x 2,331 = £321.86
+
Household electricty usage: 0.13808 * 3200 = £441.86
+
Standing charge: 0.189 * 365 = £68.99

Total = 321.86 + 441.86 + 68.99 = £832.71

Savings using Octopus Go = £167.63

Example 2: Assuming medium-lower volume of charging at home: 5,000 miles = 1,165kWh

Annual electricty costs using Octopus Go:

Assuming all car charging performed using off-peak rate: 0.05 x 1,165 = £58.25
+
Household electricty usage: 0.1429 * 3200 = £457.28
+
Standing charge: 0.25 * 365 = £91.25

Total = 58.25 + 457.28 + 91.25 = £606.78

Annual electricty costs using Avro Energy:

Car charging: 0.13808 x 1,165 = £160.86
+
Household electricty usage: 0.13808 * 3200 = £441.86
+
Standing charge: 0.189 * 365 = £68.99

Total = 160.86 + 441.86 + 68.99 = £671.71

Savings using Octopus Go = £64.93

I'm already with Octopus Energy and they have been pretty good customer service, I'll be switching tariff once the car arrives (3 month wait ? )

To get £50 credit you can use my referral link

Octopus Energy

Octopus customers pay less: Cheaper than price-cap prices, rewards for using less when the grid is stressed, and smart tariff savings for your home, car or battery

share.octopus.energy

 

[Damdog]

Have you looked at bulb they have an overnight rate at 7.59 which runs from 11pm to 7am the down side is a very high peak rate from 4pm to 7pm

 

[Stuart Wright]

Someone in a supermarket selling Bulb told me that they supplied 100% renewable electricity whereas Octopus is 70%.
I don't know about the truth of this statement, though.
If using green electricity is important to you, then that's something else to consider when choosing a supplier.

 

[Rich88]

Ok I ran the numbers. This is using Bulbs Economy 7 tarrif, which may not be available if you dont have the meter, they do mention something similar to Octopus Go on the website but with no tariffs

Annual electricty costs using Bulb Economy 7:

Assuming all car charging performed using off-peak rate: 0.0759 x 2,331 = £176.92
+
Household electricty usage: 0.1429 * 3200 = £510.08
+
Standing charge: 0.25 * 365 = £74.89


Total = 176.92+ 510.08+ 74.89 = £761.89


So still a bit more expensive than Octopus.

Regarding the green credentials of Octopus, they claim all tariffs are 100% renewable electricity, some gas tariffs are offset

Green Energy | Green Power For All | Octopus Energy

Octopus Energy is on a mission to make green energy the UK's main power source. Discover major steps we're taking to get greener energy to our customers.

octopus.energy

 

[Damdog]

Ok I ran the numbers. This is using Bulbs Economy 7 tarrif, which may not be available if you dont have the meter, they do mention something similar to Octopus Go on the website but with no tariffs

Annual electricty costs using Bulb Economy 7:

Assuming all car charging performed using off-peak rate: 0.0759 x 2,331 = £176.92
+
Household electricty usage: 0.1429 * 3200 = £510.08
+
Standing charge: 0.25 * 365 = £74.89


Total = 176.92+ 510.08+ 74.89 = £761.89


So still a bit more expensive than Octopus.

Regarding the green credentials of Octopus, they claim all tariffs are 100% renewable electricity, some gas tariffs are offset

Green Energy | Green Power For All | Octopus Energy

Octopus Energy is on a mission to make green energy the UK's main power source. Discover major steps we're taking to get greener energy to our customers.

octopus.energy

you haven’t taken in to account the peak rate has it is a three tier tariff

 

[stumgev56]

Octopus go is a good tariff but way behind at present with smart meter installs, waiting time is around 6 weeks. Install is the simple part but some having a hard job connecting to the 2 g service for sending information back to computers

 

[TracyCK]

I’m going to go for the EDF EV tariff.

I am already with them and I have a standard rate of 15.2p a unit and 21.8p standing charge.

their EV tariff for my area (South East) is 28.8pm daily standing charge 17.18 day rate and 8p evening and weekend rate. The evenings are Monday to Friday from 9pm to 7am and all weekend from 9pm Friday to 7am Monday.

9pm is early enough that I can manually charge if I need to, until the timed charging issue is worked out and I can also shift a lot of my usage to evenings and weekends to save more.

Plus I am taking advantage of their home charger install with an additional discount.

 

[stumgev56]

my smart meter is being fitted next week which is at least 6 weeks after joining, and collecting the car on the saturday. So Octopus have said they are doing the fittings by area, so having 5 installs in the same location saves them time i bet.
Im using a ohme cable so will see how we get on.

 

[Rich88]

Let us know how it goes, interested to see if there are any hiccups with the billing!

 

[Darkriver]

I'm assuming everyone on this thread is aware of Smartgate? i.e the inability of the ZS EV to wake for smart / timed charging.

 

[stumgev56]

Let us know how it goes, interested to see if there are any hiccups with the billing!

will do, should not be any problems if done right

 

[stumgev56]

I'm assuming everyone on this thread is aware of Smartgate? i.e the inability of the ZS EV to wake for smart / timed charging.

I'm planning to do a manual charge at 11.30pm and then hoping the smart meter will kick in with cheaper rates at 12.30am, till charged or cut it off on home when at so many miles needed.

 

[Rich88]

I'm still looking at options but would a smart EV home charger not enable charging at the off-peak times?

 

[Darkriver]

I'm still looking at options but would a smart EV home charger not enable charging at the off-peak times?

It will when MG release the fix they have been working which could be a soon as next week

 

[Katana]

Let us know how it goes, interested to see if there are any hiccups with the billing!

Massive hiccup here
Changed to them in June and they were able to take over our existing SMET 1 meters.
Since then we haven't paid a penny in Electricity

Being a good person I pointed this out and they are catching up. It was quite fun seeing our account nearly £900 in credit though.