Posted by: @toodles

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What I think is elegant about this particular promotion is that those on higher charged tariffs are likely to be those who can afford it least and could benefit the most. It is a very neat way of making a scheme effective - which is more than can be said for many admin-heavy government schemes aimed at assisting the less well off.

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Even more than that, depending on the wholesale price during these sessions, the scheme will at worst cost Octopus very little and at best make them some money. Either way their characteristic flexible and proactive approach contrasts dramatically with the other energy suppliers, meaning the net result is a brilliant piece of marketing which, as you say, provides the greatest benefit to those who could do with it most.

@majordennisbloodnok 😊

Definitely a lot of excess electricity about as Octopus Agile tariff is paying me tomorrow between 10.30am and 3pm for anything I use.

Posted by: @njt

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Definitely a lot of excess electricity about as Octopus Agile tariff is paying me tomorrow between 10.30am and 3pm for anything I use.

Now there's a question I hadn't thought to ask.

I'm in the same boat and so for every kWh I use between 13:00 and 15:00 I will be "charged" -0.46p (i.e. they will pay me). If I opt into their "free electricity" scheme, does that mean they will waive the "charge" (i.e. they won't pay me)?

Hmm. It'll be interesting to see.

@majordennisbloodnok 

I haven't opted in to any of the free days yet.

I didn't like the wording "above normal use". Or something similar.

@majordennisbloodnok

Is the offer actually benefiting those who need it the most?

I was invited to participate in the first event last week, but have heard nothing about the ones this week. While I don't need the free electricity, the fact that it would appear that some customers are getting the invitation and others are not seems rather discriminatory.

Posted by: @derek-m

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@majordennisbloodnok

Is the offer actually benefiting those who need it the most?

I was invited to participate in the first event last week, but have heard nothing about the ones this week. While I don't need the free electricity, the fact that it would appear that some customers are getting the invitation and others are not seems rather discriminatory.

The practice remains to be seen but the wording would suggest so. You have to be an Octopus customer (obviously) and be signed up to their Octoplus rewards scheme. In order to be eligible for Octoplus you need a smart meter, but both direct debit customers and smart prepay customers are accommodated. Certainly the requirement of a smart meter does sideline quite a few people but since it's a scheme requiring the measurement of usage over a limited time period I can understand the need. However, aside from that I can't see any theoretical obstacles for any types of customer.

That said, in practice their sign-up process is simple to follow but does still dump you back at your account page with a button still asking you to join in. As a result, I've no idea if my signing up worked or not. That's not discriminatory but it certainly ain't user-friendly.

@majordennisbloodnok

The point that I was making was that I received and accepted the invitation last week, and did my best to use more than our normal almost zero kWh's during that period of the day. This week I did not receive any e-mails from Octopus, which would appear that it may be a selective offer.

Posted by: @majordennisbloodnok

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Posted by: @njt

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Definitely a lot of excess electricity about as Octopus Agile tariff is paying me tomorrow between 10.30am and 3pm for anything I use.

Now there's a question I hadn't thought to ask.

I'm in the same boat and so for every kWh I use between 13:00 and 15:00 I will be "charged" -0.46p (i.e. they will pay me). If I opt into their "free electricity" scheme, does that mean they will waive the "charge" (i.e. they won't pay me)?

Hmm. It'll be interesting to see.

 

But like having your cake and eating it!

@majordennisbloodnok 😵‍💫

@njt I looked up their definition of ‘normal use; they will take the average readings for your consumption on the weekdays for the previous couple of weeks and pay for anything above that average reading. In the case of the weekend, they base it on the previous month I think it is. Rewards, Toodles.

@derek-m I think the idea is that anyuser who replied in the affirmative to the first invitation would then receive notification of subsequent events. Toodles.