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Octopus tariffs - a quick comparison

Tim441 · 2025-08-31T10:38:04Z

I've drawn up a comparison list for friends & family. Please suggest corrections/additions. I know its possible to go on and on with so many variables! So just focused on initial guide. Octopus Energy Tariffs – Quick Guide Flexible (Standard) Variable rates with the Ofgem cap. Typically the most expensive. Most people can save with an alternative tariff. Fixed Rates fixed for 12 months. Typically ~15% cheaper than Flexible. A safe, predictable option — unless wholesale prices fall during the contract. Tracker Daily rate linked to wholesale prices. Long-running tariff, typically 20–30% cheaper than Flexible. Occasionally higher on cold/low-wind days, but capped and usually cheaper over the year. Agile Half-hourly wholesale-linked pricing. Best for homes with batteries or ability to time-shift use. Can go very low (even negative), but also spike at peak times. With smart shifting/batteries, savings of 50%+ possible. Rates are capped by Octopus. Go Like Economy 7: very cheap overnight (4 hours), higher daytime rates. Ideal for EVs, storage heaters, heat pumps + batteries. Intelligent Go Smarter version of Go with ~6 hours overnight at ~7p/kWh. Requires a compatible EV/charger. Great with batteries and/or time-shifting. Potential savings up to 75% vs Flexible if optimised. Flux For homes with solar + batteries. Cheap overnight import, premium export rates in the evening. Needs manual scheduling or automation for best results. Intelligent Flux Same as Flux but fully automated for GivEnergy battery users. Cosy For heat pump households. 3 cheap periods daily to align heating. Best with a battery. Around 20% cheaper than Flexible. Power Pack For V2G (vehicle-to-grid) setups. Lets you charge your EV for free by exporting back to the grid. Still early-stage; requires V2G-compatible EV + charger.

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nickmorgan

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07/10/2025 5:03 pm

Thanks for the information in this post, very helpful and informative.

I'm having solar panels installed today and tomorrow, with batteries, plus and ASHP and EV charger. We'll have 6.79kWp of solar panel capacity and 20.72kWh of battery capacity, 5kW of inverter capacity. We're just finishing a full renovation where we've had new windows throughout with very low U values, and we're finishing the project by adding 100mm of external insulation.

I'm very much a novice in this area so would welcome advice on the best tariff to start with our new system. I don't yet have a good feel, let alone data, on what our usage is going to be but i'm hoping that we can mostly use the solar and off-peak energy that we store in the batteries to keep our peak usage to a minimum.

Look forward to hearing your suggestions, thanks Nick

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Tim441

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Topic starter 07/10/2025 5:21 pm

@nickmorgan what make/model charger & EV?

What rate can batteries be charged/discharged at?

If compatible I'd focus on Intelligent Go for imports and Flexible outgoing.

That should get most imports at 7p at night for car and fill battery.

Maximise exports at 15p. You can even force discharge batteries to add to income. There maybe a round trip loss but it czn be worthwhile.

I have ashp, solar, batteries, ev. I may be at extreme end but net cost of elec is probably nil this year!

13000kWh imports @ sub 8p

6500kWh exports @ 15p inc forced exports

Heat pump uses around 6000kWh

EV uses around 2000kwh

Solar produces around 7000kwh

This post was modified 3 months ago by Tim441

Listed Grade 2 building with large modern extension.
LG Therma V 16kw ASHP
Underfloor heating + Rads
8kw pv solar
3 x 8.2kw GivEnergy batteries
1 x GivEnergy Gen1 hybrid 5.0kw inverter
Manual changeover EPS
MG4 EV

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Majordennisbloodnok

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Posts: 1301

07/10/2025 5:39 pm

One other question, @nickmorgan. Do you have, or are you intending to have, some form of central automation system?

If yes, which do you have or are you considering?

If no, probably best not to concern yourself too much with Agile.

105 m2 bungalow in South East England
Mitsubishi Ecodan 8.5 kW air source heat pump
18 x 360W solar panels
1 x 6 kW GroWatt battery and SPH5000 inverter
1 x Myenergi Zappi
1 x VW ID3
Raised beds for home-grown veg and chickens for eggs

"Semper in excretia; sumus solum profundum variat"

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nickmorgan

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07/10/2025 5:58 pm

@tim441 Hi Tim, we've got a Kia EV9 and installing an Andersen A3 charger

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nickmorgan

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07/10/2025 5:59 pm

@majordennisbloodnok I haven't got to that yet, but am very open to suggestions for best options here too.

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Tim441

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Topic starter 07/10/2025 6:01 pm

@nickmorgan hopefully that's compatible with Intelligent Go. Should be easy to check. Come back if not.

What rate can batteries be charged/discharged at?

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Majordennisbloodnok

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07/10/2025 6:15 pm

Posted by: @nickmorgan

↑

@majordennisbloodnok I haven't got to that yet, but am very open to suggestions for best options here too.

I think at this point all that’s really important is whether you’re open to putting a bit of effort into pulling everything together into a cohesive system, and it sounds as if you are. Not everyone is comfortable with the familiarisation necessary, so I wouldn’t want to assume.

In which case, it’s more about deciding what you want to achieve and that means letting your plans bed in a bit. Better you choose your automation based on requirements than choose an automation system and try to find uses for it.

"Semper in excretia; sumus solum profundum variat"

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Tim441

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Topic starter 07/10/2025 6:23 pm

@majordennisbloodnok automation may partly be dictated by the infrastructure?

Make/model of ashp & inverter for starters?

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Majordennisbloodnok

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07/10/2025 7:23 pm

Posted by: @tim441

↑

@majordennisbloodnok automation may partly be dictated by the infrastructure?

Make/model of ashp & inverter for starters?

Absolutely. That’s one of the reasons I wouldn’t want to make any suggestions yet.

"Semper in excretia; sumus solum profundum variat"

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nickmorgan

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08/10/2025 12:33 pm

@tim441 and @majordennisbloodnok We're installing Fox batteries and inverter. The 5kW inverter can output upto 5.5kW but only for 60s, typically it will be operating at a maximum of 5kW. The batteries have a recommend charge/discharge current of 30A of a nominal voltage of 179.2V, giving 5.37kW. And we've got a Grant Aerona 290 9KW ASHP (HPR2909 product code). Thanks again for your interest.

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Tim441

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Topic starter 08/10/2025 2:53 pm

@nickmorgan I don't know best options for your scenario. But you could try ChatGPT. It's usually a good starting point but does not always get things right!

Try this and add more questions

https://chatgpt.com/s/t_68e67a78ab308191a858e17da27ebd6d

This post was modified 3 months ago by Tim441