Tomato Energy Experience

[johnb80]

Today I signed up for Tomato Energy Lifestyle. It looks as if I will be saving a decent amount of money over my current Intelligent Octopus Go, I have been a loyal customer of Octopus for many years but recent events on here have given me reason to look around and I was amazed to find this company with such low prices.
Watch this space to see how it develops warts and all.

 

[Gadget Geek]

Also signed up today. Took 5 minutes to do. Added EV, solar, batteries, and storage heating options to tailor the quote. Starts on September 1st, so will also report back on my experience.

 

[johnb80]

I went live on Tomato Energy yesterday, all went smoothly, just the expected confirmation meter readings to do.

Octopus were very quick to disconnect the electricity meter from my account and it did make the login to Octopus full of errors, the other thing to watch out for if you used Intelligent Octopus GO and in my a Zappi wallbox, last night when I plugged my car in Octopus sent me a schedule. I've delinked my Zappi myself now from Octopus to prevent any future errors. I'm also suspicious that they've disconnected my export too, I need to check further.

 

[Rolfe]

John, am I correct in thinking that you also export the residue of your battery at the end of the day? Has Octopus ever had any problem with this? Have they indicated that they're fine with you continuing to do that even after you switch to Tomato for your import?

 

[johnb80]

John, am I correct in thinking that you also export the residue of your battery at the end of the day? Has Octopus ever had any problem with this? Have they indicated that they're fine with you continuing to do that even after you switch to Tomato for your import?

Nothing said or done yet and my export tariff still appears on my tariffs page, IOG has gone.

 

[Rolfe]

Sounds promising.

 

[Gadget Geek]

My FIT is independent of my provider, so I'm presume this is the same for export tariffs.

 

[Gadget Geek]

I'll repost here that I'm still waiting for a response from Tomato about whether daylight saving affects the off peak start times. 4 days and counting. I'll try phoning them and see how their call centres are.

 

[Rolfe]

I was mainly interested in Octopus's attitude to customers exporting from their batteries at the end of the day. Are they OK about that when the customer is importing from a different provider?

 

[johnb80]

I was mainly interested in Octopus's attitude to customers exporting from their batteries at the end of the day. Are they OK about that when the customer is importing from a different provider?

I dont see why it would matter where the energy came from, theyre buying it at 15p and presumably selling it at more, why does the source matter?

 

[tsedge]

I dont see why it would matter where the energy came from, theyre buying it at 15p and presumably selling it at more, why does the source matter?

Plus they can't know, presumably, if you are an export tariff customer only.

 

[Rolfe]

Both good points. I have just been a bit concerned since someone came into my thread about my system insisting that my brand-new idea of exporting whatever was left in my battery at the end of the evening and said it wasn't allowed. I've heard many people mention that they're doing that, and nobody saying there was any prohibition.

 

[johnb80]

Both good points. I have just been a bit concerned since someone came into my thread about my system insisting that my brand-new idea of exporting whatever was left in my battery at the end of the evening and said it wasn't allowed. I've heard many people mention that they're doing that, and nobody saying there was any prohibition.

You maybe need to watch what youre saying, there are some people here who report back to Octopus

 

[tsedge]

As with all of this stuff, I don't think anyone knows what is going to happen with these tariffs in the long term, whether they are viable with a large number of people on them. The Octopus IOG is still experimental, I believe.

It is possible that battery storage/shifting will be penalised in some way, or export tariffs drop, or off peak hours reduce, disappear or dramatically rise in price.

But right now, this is a great solution and long may it continue!

 

[tsedge]

You maybe need to watch what youre saying, there are some people here who report back to Octopus

My advice would be not to advocate for people doing it, that's what seems to upset them.

 

[Gadget Geek]

Returning to off peak hours, I'm hedging my bets for now and charging things between 01:00 and 06:00.

 

[Gadget Geek]

As a matter of interest John, are you seeing any usage data on MyWatts? Because I'm not.

 

[Gadget Geek]

After receiving an email from Eon about my new tariff, and still having no reply from Tomato Energy, I thought I would give them a call.

(Option 6 for enquiries, answered very promptly)

A very helpful young chap checked on their system and confirmed my supply started with them on 1st September.

The off peak tariff starts at midnight by the clock in your house, regardless of British Summer Time or Greenwich Mean Time. Their equipment adjusts for BST automatically so you don't have to change the timers twice a year.

 

[johnb80]

This morning I checked and MyWatts is now live and displaying data. On first site I was concerned because it showed energy use from 23:30 to midnight which used to be part of the Octopus IOG off peak time. I double checked all of the schedules in Zappi, Gowatt, EDDI etc, I had changed all of them. I checked again on MyWatts and it confirms that the data recorded is charged at 5p so all good. 28.57% less per kWh than the already brilliant Octopus price 33.59% less on standing charge, these numbers really cant be ignored.

 

[Gadget Geek]

Thanks John. After reading your post I checkd mine, and yes, mine is populated too.

Alan.