OCTOPUS ENERGY GO TARIFF
Octopus Go is a smart electricity tariff that guarantees cheap overnight electricity at 9.5p / kWh for 4 hours every night (between 12.30 and 4.30 am) and 40.10p per kWh for the remaining 20 hours. The off-peak tariff assures EV drivers of reduced motoring.
Octopus Go is designed for customers who can charge their Electric Vehicles at home off-peak. Charging can be done very cheaply overnight keeping costs to around 2.4p per mile.
Octopus Energy is taking on new customers. You can now get an online quote and switch just by answering a few questions online.
Octopus Go & Go Faster Tariff
Charging your electric car overnight is a cheap, and easy way to reduce your energy bill. On Octopus Go you’ll get a reduced rate of 9.5p per kWh between 12.30 am and 4.30 am.
- The scheduling function within your EV.
- A smart charger or cable.
What are the benefits of Octopus Go?
- Reduce your overall energy bill.
- Reduce the cost of energy charging your electric vehicle.
- Decrease your environmental impact.
- Make your home energy work smarter for you and the planet.🌍
During your off-peak times, you have to work your side hustle in using cheap energy. So get the EV charged and preset the dishwasher and washing machine. You can also start using energy to charge phones, devices, or even home battery storage, anything that would use a lot of kWh. This is where shifting your energy use can really start to pay off financially. Plus you’ll also be helping the planet!!👏💚
How much does Octopus Go cost?
From the 2nd of June 2023, Octopus Go is 9.5p per kWh off-peak with a daytime rate of 40.10p per kWh. The daily standing charging charge is 52.18p. The Octopus Go rate is a variable tariff. The price decreased on the 21st of April 2023. It is an amazing deal if you want electric off-peak for charging!! Prices may vary slightly in different geographical locations.
| Octopus Go Tariff From 21/04/23 | Energy Price |
|---|---|
| Electricity. | 40.10p per kWh |
| Off-peak pricing. 4 hours - 00.30 to 04.30 🚘 | 9.5p per kWh |
| Standing charge. | 52.18p per day |
You can check the Octopus Go rate for your geographical area on the Octopus website.
Is there an Octopus Go Gas Tariff?
No. Octopus Go is simply for your electricity but you can pick a standard Octopus gas Tariff to sit alongside your Go electricity tariff. For example, the Octopus Flexible tariff.
Is Octopus Go any good?
Yes, it is good for EV charging but intelligent Octopus is cheaper. The off-peak rate on the intelligent tariff is 7.5p per kWh for 6 hours. The Intelligent Octopus tariff is without a doubt a better deal.
There isn’t a hidden catch in switching to Octopus Go. You’ll just need a smart meter that sends half-hourly readings to Octopus. You’re not locked into this tariff. You can switch to another tariff at any time or even leave Octopus Energy with no penalties.
🤦♀️🧑💻⚡️👊
Has the Octopus Energy Go tariff decreased in price over the last 12 months?
On the 21st of April 2023, Octopus will reduce the off-peak rate from 12p per kWh to 9.5p per kWh. The day rate will also go down from 42.17p per kWh to 40.10p per kWh.
@sarah_go_green @Octopus Energy #gotariff #intelligenttariff #intelligentoctopus #octopusgo #octopusevtariff #octopustariffs #smarttariffs ♬ Happy Ukulele – TonsTone
The Octopus Go tariff had its last off-peak price variation on the 14th of October 2022 when the off-peak rate increased from 7.5p per kWh to 12p per kWh. Now thankfully, prices have gone back down.
Is it cheaper to stay on the Octopus Flexible tariff or switch to Octopus Go?
The energy price guarantee for electricity from the 1st of April is 33p per kWh for electricity and this is fixed for 3 months on the Octopus Flexible tariff. From 1st July prices should drop when the Energy Price Cap is updated. (We will no longer need to Energy Price Guarantee)
This is a quote from the 2nd of June 2023. It shows the Flexible Octopus Eco 7 tariff (it’s available without Eco 7 at 33p per kWh) as well as the two other smart tariffs currently available.
The Flexible tariff is still listed as November 2022 v 1 on the Octopus website BUT the prices changed on 1st April 2023 and will change again on 1st July.
The Octopus Go daytime rate is 40.10p per kWh. (It may vary slightly in your geographical location.) The rate is variable, which just means it is a fixed term and you get 4 hours off-peak at 9.,5p per kWh. Even though the day rate is higher by loads shifting you can bring the price per kWh below the 33p per kWh energy price guarantee cap.
To reduce the average price per kWh I would suggest you make the most of the cheap Go rate and shift your white good use to your off-peak period wherever possible. I use around 55% of my energy off-peak and I don’t have high mileage. My average price per kWh is between 16p and 19p a kWh.
Not only will shifting your energy use reduce your monthly energy bill it’s also great for the planet!
Does the whole household need to change their energy use to benefit from Octopus Go?
No. In a recent survey by Ofgem, most EV owners stated that they hadn’t made any changes to how they use their electricity at home. The assumption seemed to be that to fully benefit from the switch to an intelligent tariff the whole household needs to modify their energy use. 🤯 With Octopus Go this isn’t the case! 👏
“But my wife and kids don’t care, if they need their clothes they’ll put on the tumble dryer.”
That’s fine! You only need to try and load shift around 40% to make. areal difference. I have 3 teenagers and it is possible.
If you take a look at your Octopus dashboard you will also see lots of third-party devices and ideas that help keep your energy consumption down!!
Comparing Octopus Flexible tariff to Octopus Go tariff for EV charging.
| Compare Energy Prices 02/06/23 | |
|---|---|
| Octopus Flexible Tariff -EPG average price (Electricity) 01/04/2023 to 30/06/2023 | Octopus Go Tariff. |
| 43.36p per kWh | 40.10p kWh (04.30 - 00.30) |
| 17.30p per kWh off-peak Eco 7. | 9.5p kWh off-peak. (00.30 - 04.30) |
| 52.28p per day standing charge. | 52.18p per day standing charge |
How does Octopus Go Faster work?
Octopus Go Faster is no longer available for renewals or new sign-ups. This ended on the 10th of October 2022.
The Octopus Go Faster tariff is ideal for EV drivers who want to pick when their energy rate is discounted. The standard Go tariff, 12.30-4.30 am is ideal for overnight charging but what if you work night shifts or can’t charge your EV during these times? This is where Octopus Go Faster fits in. You can select the start time and duration of your Octopus Go discount. You can start from 21.30 to 03.30 and the duration can be 4 or 5 hours in length.
⏰Option 1. Take a 4-hour Go period at 7.5p/kWh and select a start time of 21.30, 22.30, 23.30, 00.30, 01.30 or 02.30
⏰Option 2. Take a 5-hour Go period at 8.25p/kWh and select a start time of 21.30, 22.30, 23.30, 00.30 or 01.30
The unit price will change slightly depending on your geographical location.
Octopus Go Faster was by invitation only for existing Octopus Energy customers. Once you have switched to Octopus you can email [email protected] and ask if you can move over to one of these tariffs.
Previously there were 3 options on Octopus Go Faster but the 3 hours discounted period has been removed. The 8.30 pm start time is now also unavailable.
| COMPARE OCTOPUS GO FASTER TARIFF | This tariff is not fixed. |
|---|---|
| Option 1 🚘 4 hours discounted. | 10p per kWh |
| Option 2 🚘 5 hours discounted. | No longer available |
| Outside discounted period unit cost per kWh | 40.10p |
| Standing charge. 🚘 | 52.18p |
How does the Octopus Go Faster differ from Octopus Go Tariff?
The rate outside the discounted period stays the same for both Octopus Go and Go faster. One isn’t cheaper than the other it’s just the discounted period and price that varies.
There are altogether 21 variations on the Octopus Go Faster tariff and the standard tariff also varies per region too.
The names of the tariffs are based on the time and the during. So for example, if you wanted a 4-hour charge starting at 21.30 the tariff would be called GO-4H-21.30. If you want a 5-hour charge starting at 22.30 the tariff would be called GO-5H-22.30 and so on.
How do you switch to the Octopus Go tariff?
As a new customer, you’ll simply have to switch to Octopus Energy and go on their Flexible tariff before making your switch to Octopus Go. As a new customer, you have to sign up for a nonsmart tariff when you switch. It’s then a case of moving from your interim tariff to your chosen smart tariff, such as Octopus Go.
- Switch to Octopus Energy. (This usually takes around 17 days)
- Octopus must be satisfied that they are receiving half-hourly readings from your smart meter. (This usually happens within 14 days but could take longer.
- You can then switch to Octopus Go.
You can check on your Octopus Energy dashboard to see if half-hourly readings are being received.
If you haven’t got a smart meter it’s a case of switching, requesting a smart meter, and waiting for an installation date to become available in your area. You’ll need a Secure SMETS1 (Secure is a brand name and it’s written on the front of the meter) or a SMETS2 smart meter to switch to any of the Octopus smart tariffs.
How can I tell if I have a SMETS2 smart meter already?
Look out for ‘GUID’ or a Device ID which looks like this: AA-BB-CC-DD-EE-FF-00-GG-ZZ on the front of the meter. If you can see a number like this it is a good indication you have a SMETS2 meter.
There’s no getting around it switching to Octopus Go does take a little more time than a standard tariff.
Here’s what Octopus has to say.
“Octopus Go is a beta product. If you’re OK that some things may not work the first time, that installations and processes may take longer than we’d like, and that on occasion data issues with smart meters can take significant time to fix or prevent things from working at all, but that you’d like to work with us to make world-changing energy tariffs a reality. You will always be able to switch to one of our fairly priced standard tariffs at any time.”
Take your first step towards cheaper EV charging.↓🚘🥳
Ready to make the switch? Simply switch to your interim tariff, such as flexible Octopus ( the flexible Octopus tariff is protected by the Energy Price Guarantee) and contact Octopus Energy to get your smart meter installed or checked. Following half-hourly meter readings, you will be ready to switch to Octopus Go.
All traditional and smart tariffs are available to new customers. Yes, you can switch to Octopus Energy using the link.
Quick Tips
If you have been with another supplier and you’re not sure if your SMETS1 smart meter will work Octopus look for the word “Secure”. It should be written on the front of your smart meter. Secure is a tradename. Secure also supplied meters to Utilita, Shell, OVO, E.ON, and Bristol Energy. Any other brand of SMETS1 smart meter will not retain its smart functionality if you switch to Octopus so
Read about a new beta tariff called Octopus Intelligent.
Will I get paid for exporting my solar energy with Octopus Go?
Yes, Octopus Energy Go Outgoing tariff currently pays customers to export electricity to the grid. Octopus Go Outgoing is fixed at 4.1p per kWh. Find out more about Octopus Outgoing tariffs.
You will need your MCS Certificate and DNO response which you should find in your installers pack. Email [email protected] to find out more.
My experience getting a smart meter with Octopus Energy
There is a waiting list and I have to be honest I did wait a while for mine! Plus after the smart meter installation, I got slightly frustrated that it didn’t go online straight away. After installation, the engineer couldn’t get it to connect. It was resolved quickly by Octopus but it did take a few weeks for the meter readings to be switched over. The engineer submits the old readings and they have to in turn be updated in the central system along with my new meter number. So even after having the meter installed there is a further wait. Octopus suggests 14 days but in my experience, it was slightly longer. So you have to be prepared for a wait!
Once your meter is sending half-hourly readings you are ready to be switched over to the Octopus Go tariff! Moving across from my Octopus fixed rate was relatively pain-free.
Waiting for a smart meter and getting half-hourly readings was my main concern. I’m a few days in now and delighted I made the switch. If anything changes I can switch back but so far it’s been a great experience.
If you are a new Octopus Energy customer you can join Octopus and you will get a £50 credit. You can then request a smart meter whilst on an interim tariff before requesting the switch to the Octopus Go. Just remember there will be a wait!
I would be delighted if you used my code to switch to Octopus as I get £50 too! So a massive thank you if you use my link! Click HERE⟵ 🥳❤︎
Octopus Go review – Compare Octopus Go v Octopus Agile.
Compare Octopus tariffs for an EV.
Octopus Go doesn’t really require that much thought, it’s a plug-and-go solution. Historically in 2020, you would have saved more with Octopus Agile but at the moment if you don’t have solar export and are on Octopus Agile it is very much hit and miss. The mild weather has kept prices low but as the weather changes and demand rises so will the rates.
Octopus Agile tariff is based on wholesale energy prices which can be affected by, for example, the amount of wind or demand on the national grid. The Agile price cap has now increased to £1 per kWh. It is also a flexible tariff rather than a fixed rate.
This app also allows you to compare Octopus Energy tariffs to find out which tariff is best for you based on your own energy consumption. (find this in the app store here)
“What a great app. Many Octopus Energy customers want to compare energy tariffs, most commonly Agile against Go. This nails it, easy to set up and use. Clear outputs and summaries.”
If you are on the fence between the two tariffs just take a look at tomorrow’s average cost per kWh. You can read my full review Go v Agile.
Went back to @octopus_energy go tariff just over a month ago as couldn’t get the agile tariff to add up without battery storage! Big difference being able to seamlessly move back without any stress 🙌🏻 thanks @octopus_energy pic.twitter.com/JQkr1GALmj
— Ross Mckenzie #killakilowatt (@Ross1mckenzie) May 21, 2021
Octopus Agile tariff price on Friday 2nd June 2023
This is the November version 1 of the Agile tariff.
Min: 11.0p per kWh (14.300)
Max: 31.9 per kWh (18.30)
Average: 17.1p per kWh.
Av. Excluding Peak times: 15.2p per kWh
Peak Time 1600 – 1900: 29.6p per kWh.
The prices are based on national average prices per kWh.
Thanks to @energystatsuk for the daily figures.
Octopus Agile Tariff Pricing
I have listed the cheapest 4-hour energy slots over the last 7 days. Plus the average daily price per kWh.
| Octopus Agile Tariff. | Average price kWh | Cheapest price 30 minutes. |
|---|---|---|
| National Average Price of Energy. | Energy Price. | Energy Price. |
| Average price per kWh over 7 days. | ||
| Friday 02/06/23 | 17.1p per kWh. | 18.3p per kWh.(14.30) |
| Thursday 01/06/23 | 18.2p per kWh | 11.7p per kWh.(14.30) |
| Wednesday 31/05/23 | 17.1p per kWh | 11.2p per kWh.(15.00) |
| Tuesday 30/05/23 | 18.2p per kWh | 10.3p per kWh (02.30) |
| Monday 29/05/23 | 16.1p per kWh | 6.4p per kWh (14.30) |
| Sunday 28/05/23 | 17.0p per kWh. | 7.8p per kWh (14.30) |
| Saturday 27/05/23 | 15.3p per kWh. | 0p per kWh.(13.30) |
This is a quote for the Octopus Go tariff from 2nd June 2023. It may vary depending on your geographical location in the UK.
EV TIPS
Tip: Before opting for the Octopus GO tariff you should weigh up if you could save even more money by getting creative with the Intelligent Octopus tariff. This is the tariff I am on. You can read my experience switching to the Intelligent tariff in my recent blog.
