Time to ditch Octopus Agile?

[wandle MG4 trophy]

I’ve been on Agile for about 20 months. I use about 6kwh per day in the house and use about 80kwh pcm charging my car. Until recently t’s been relatively simple to avoid heavy electricity use during Agile peak hours of 1600-1900 daily. Cheap, free or even paid for electricity is a bonus but the cheap periods rarely coincide with the need to fully charge the car and do loads of washing and dishwashing etc. Nonetheless, over the period I reckon I have saved over £300 compared to Octopus Go.

However, Agile is now much more expensive than it was. The periods when the Agile rate is higher than the GO daytime rate often span 5 -8 hours per day and once was 14 hours. And the price is higher – often 40p a unit but I’ve even seen an eye watering 81p per unit. Most days I alternate between saving or losing about 20p compared to Octopus Go but with much more faff and the need for very careful timing of energy use.

With Xmas coming and a significant increase in my consumption in December I’m wondering if it’s time to switch back to Octopus Go. Any thoughts to help with my decision would be welcome.

Foot note My car and charger are not compatible with Intelligent Octopus so that’s not an option.

Thanks

 

[mystreet]

Look at tomato energy, cheaper than Octopus GO

 

[gazza487]

I’ve been on Agile for about 20 months. I use about 6kwh per day in the house and use about 80kwh pcm charging my car. Until recently t’s been relatively simple to avoid heavy electricity use during Agile peak hours of 1600-1900 daily. Cheap, free or even paid for electricity is a bonus but the cheap periods rarely coincide with the need to fully charge the car and do loads of washing and dishwashing etc. Nonetheless, over the period I reckon I have saved over £300 compared to Octopus Go.

However, Agile is now much more expensive than it was. The periods when the Agile rate is higher than the GO daytime rate often span 5 -8 hours per day and once was 14 hours. And the price is higher – often 40p a unit but I’ve even seen an eye watering 81p per unit. Most days I alternate between saving or losing about 20p compared to Octopus Go but with much more faff and the need for very careful timing of energy use.

With Xmas coming and a significant increase in my consumption in December I’m wondering if it’s time to switch back to Octopus Go. Any thoughts to help with my decision would be welcome.

Foot note My car and charger are not compatible with Intelligent Octopus so that’s not an option.

Thanks

As you know agile is linked to the rates of the day.

We have been struggling for generation as quite a few reactors are out for refuelling and wind speeds are up and down. The reactors are all due to be back by 15th. It is anybody’s guess how the weather and therefore the price of gas will affect.

Xmas is a weird one as it’s actually a pretty stable time for demand (lots shuts down) but the generation is the question mark.

Long and short of it is… you gamble with the prices on things like agile, sometimes you win sometimes you lose. Personally I lock in for as long as possible hence I’m on a fix from BG….

 

[Gomev]

I’ve been on Agile for about 20 months. I use about 6kwh per day in the house and use about 80kwh pcm charging my car. Until recently t’s been relatively simple to avoid heavy electricity use during Agile peak hours of 1600-1900 daily. Cheap, free or even paid for electricity is a bonus but the cheap periods rarely coincide with the need to fully charge the car and do loads of washing and dishwashing etc. Nonetheless, over the period I reckon I have saved over £300 compared to Octopus Go.

However, Agile is now much more expensive than it was. The periods when the Agile rate is higher than the GO daytime rate often span 5 -8 hours per day and once was 14 hours. And the price is higher – often 40p a unit but I’ve even seen an eye watering 81p per unit. Most days I alternate between saving or losing about 20p compared to Octopus Go but with much more faff and the need for very careful timing of energy use.

With Xmas coming and a significant increase in my consumption in December I’m wondering if it’s time to switch back to Octopus Go. Any thoughts to help with my decision would be welcome.

Foot note My car and charger are not compatible with Intelligent Octopus so that’s not an option.

Thanks

Isn't that the benefit of Octopus tariffs, you can switch between them when you want. If Agile is not working for you now then switch to Go, takes a minute online, and if things change switch back later.

 

[wandle MG4 trophy]

Isn't that the benefit of Octopus tariffs, you can switch between them when you want. If Agile is not working for you now then switch to Go, takes a minute online, and if things change switch back later.

Yes. Switching is easy. I think switching from fixed tariffs incurs an exit fee. If you switch from Agile I think you have to wait a month if you decide to switch back.

 

[Gomev]

Yes. Switching is easy. I think switching from fixed tariffs incurs an exit fee. If you switch from Agile I think you have to wait a month if you decide to switch back.

No fees for leaving/switching with Octopus for current consumer tariffs as far as I'm aware, and I'm sure it will take a month to decide if the switch was wise anyway.

 

[Walks with Enzo]

We switched to E.oN drive, 7hr cheap rate (cheaper than Octopus) Although we do have solar & 10KWh home battery

 

[Ian Key]

We switched to E.oN drive, 7hr cheap rate (cheaper than Octopus) Although we do have solar & 10KWh home battery

I'm on E.On Drive and switched to v4 last month.

 

[wandle MG4 trophy]

I ditched Agile yesterday and switched to Go. Prices tomorrow (pic) are the highest I have ever seen. The yellow bars are when the unit rate is lower than Octopus Go. The red bars, when it’s more expensive, span from 0630 to 2130 and peak at the capped rate of 99.99p per unit for 2.5 hours.
I looked at Eon Drive but they said a switch could take up to 2 weeks whereas Octopus switched me over instantly. I’ll take another look at Eon after Xmas.

 

[wandle MG4 trophy]

Two days after ditching Agile the Agile rate has plummeted and stayed consistently low. Ho hum. Swings and roundabouts. I can switch back to Agile in a month if I wish.