Octopus Tracker tariff

Post Reply
dan_b
Posts: 2302
Joined: Tue Jun 15, 2021 10:16 am
Location: SW London

Octopus Tracker tariff

#1

Post by dan_b »

As well as Agile, Octopus has another variable rate tariff called Tracker - which as far as I can tell changes the rate daily rather than half-hourly.

As I don't have solar or battery at the flat, and can't charge my EV there either, there's very little I can do to lower my bills any further than they already are with a regular fixed-rate tariff, so was thinking of giving Tracker a go and gambling on the wholesale rates being lower in 2024 as more and more renewables come on stream. I barely use gas except for hot water heating as the flat is so well insulated, and I've become a complete nause when it comes to switching stuff off.

Any thoughts?

How would one calculate if the new tariff would cost me more than my current bills? Although it looks like the standing charges are the same as all the other Octopus tariffs, which is a significant portion of what my bill is these days...

https://octopus.energy/tracker-faqs/
Tesla Model 3 Performance
Oversees an 11kWp solar array at work
User avatar
nowty
Posts: 5828
Joined: Mon May 31, 2021 2:36 pm
Location: South Coast

Re: Octopus Tracker tariff

#2

Post by nowty »

My brother and mother are on this tariff for both leccy and gas. They have no PV, batteries or EV.
I'm also on it for gas.

Its a no brainer whilst wholesale prices are steadily falling as the standard capped rate is based on a moving average of the year ahead price which has a risk premium over the day ahead wholesale price.

Even on the days of no / little wind its been cheaper than the standard rate.

Example today on my mum's account,
Image
Last edited by nowty on Tue Jan 02, 2024 6:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
18.7kW PV > 109MWh generated
Ripple 6.6kW Wind + 4.5kW PV > 26MWh generated
5 Other RE Coop's
105kWh EV storage
60kWh Home battery storage
40kWh Thermal storage
GSHP + A2A HP's
Rain water use > 510 m3
User avatar
Krill
Posts: 395
Joined: Fri Sep 02, 2022 4:38 pm

Re: Octopus Tracker tariff

#3

Post by Krill »

Is there a history anywhere which shows what they have charged on a day by day basis?
Solar PV: 6.4kW solar PV (Eurener MEPV 400W*16)
PV Inverter: Solis 6kW inverter
Batteries: 14.4kWh LiFePO4 batteries (Pylontech US5000*3)
Battery Inverter: LuxPowertek 3600 ACS*2
EV: Hyundai Kona 65kWh
WBS: 8kW Hunter Avalon 6 Multifuel burner (wood only)
User avatar
nowty
Posts: 5828
Joined: Mon May 31, 2021 2:36 pm
Location: South Coast

Re: Octopus Tracker tariff

#4

Post by nowty »

Krill wrote: Tue Jan 02, 2024 6:46 pm Is there a history anywhere which shows what they have charged on a day by day basis?
Look on Zarch's website.
https://energy-stats.uk/octopus-tracker ... n-england/
18.7kW PV > 109MWh generated
Ripple 6.6kW Wind + 4.5kW PV > 26MWh generated
5 Other RE Coop's
105kWh EV storage
60kWh Home battery storage
40kWh Thermal storage
GSHP + A2A HP's
Rain water use > 510 m3
dan_b
Posts: 2302
Joined: Tue Jun 15, 2021 10:16 am
Location: SW London

Re: Octopus Tracker tariff

#5

Post by dan_b »

Thanks.
I'm gonna give it a go - on electricity only as my gas meter is too far away from the electricity meter for the smart meter signals to connect - will see how it goes.


nowty wrote: Tue Jan 02, 2024 6:44 pm My brother and mother are on this tariff for both leccy and gas. They have no PV, batteries or EV.
I'm also on it for gas.

Its a no brainer whilst wholesale prices are steadily falling as the standard capped rate is based on a moving average of the year ahead price which has a risk premium over the day ahead wholesale price.

Even on the days of no / little wind its been cheaper than the standard rate.

Example today on my mum's account,
Image
Tesla Model 3 Performance
Oversees an 11kWp solar array at work
User avatar
Stinsy
Posts: 2885
Joined: Wed Jun 02, 2021 1:09 pm

Re: Octopus Tracker tariff

#6

Post by Stinsy »

dan_b wrote: Tue Jan 02, 2024 7:23 pm Thanks.
I'm gonna give it a go - on electricity only as my gas meter is too far away from the electricity meter for the smart meter signals to connect - will see how it goes.


nowty wrote: Tue Jan 02, 2024 6:44 pm My brother and mother are on this tariff for both leccy and gas. They have no PV, batteries or EV.
I'm also on it for gas.

Its a no brainer whilst wholesale prices are steadily falling as the standard capped rate is based on a moving average of the year ahead price which has a risk premium over the day ahead wholesale price.

Even on the days of no / little wind its been cheaper than the standard rate.

Example today on my mum's account,
Image
You can be on tracker for gas without a smartmeter. They just spread your usage how they think you might’ve used the gas.
12x 340W JA Solar panels (4.08kWp)
3x 380W JA Solar panels (1.14kWp)
5x 2.4kWh Pylontech batteries (12kWh)
LuxPower inverter/charger

(Artist formally known as ******, well it should be obvious enough to those for whom such things are important.)
User avatar
nowty
Posts: 5828
Joined: Mon May 31, 2021 2:36 pm
Location: South Coast

Re: Octopus Tracker tariff

#7

Post by nowty »

Stinsy wrote: Tue Jan 02, 2024 9:01 pm
dan_b wrote: Tue Jan 02, 2024 7:23 pm Thanks.
I'm gonna give it a go - on electricity only as my gas meter is too far away from the electricity meter for the smart meter signals to connect - will see how it goes.
You can be on tracker for gas without a smartmeter. They just spread your usage how they think you might’ve used the gas.
Octopus changed the rules a few months back and now you need a smart meter to change to the tariff.

https://octopus.energy/smart/tracker/

”You'll need a working smart meter to switch to Tracker. If you don't have one yet, we can install one at no extra cost, but you'll need to stick with a standard tariff, such as Flexible Octopus, until your smart meter is installed and running properly (this usually takes a few weeks – but some homes can take much longer).”
18.7kW PV > 109MWh generated
Ripple 6.6kW Wind + 4.5kW PV > 26MWh generated
5 Other RE Coop's
105kWh EV storage
60kWh Home battery storage
40kWh Thermal storage
GSHP + A2A HP's
Rain water use > 510 m3
User avatar
Stinsy
Posts: 2885
Joined: Wed Jun 02, 2021 1:09 pm

Re: Octopus Tracker tariff

#8

Post by Stinsy »

nowty wrote: Tue Jan 02, 2024 9:31 pm
Stinsy wrote: Tue Jan 02, 2024 9:01 pm
dan_b wrote: Tue Jan 02, 2024 7:23 pm Thanks.
I'm gonna give it a go - on electricity only as my gas meter is too far away from the electricity meter for the smart meter signals to connect - will see how it goes.
You can be on tracker for gas without a smartmeter. They just spread your usage how they think you might’ve used the gas.
Octopus changed the rules a few months back and now you need a smart meter to change to the tariff.

https://octopus.energy/smart/tracker/

”You'll need a working smart meter to switch to Tracker. If you don't have one yet, we can install one at no extra cost, but you'll need to stick with a standard tariff, such as Flexible Octopus, until your smart meter is installed and running properly (this usually takes a few weeks – but some homes can take much longer).”
Oh well, nothing good lasts forever. I’m on tracker for gas but my gas smartmeter hasn’t worked for a few years and Octopus has no interest in fixing it.
12x 340W JA Solar panels (4.08kWp)
3x 380W JA Solar panels (1.14kWp)
5x 2.4kWh Pylontech batteries (12kWh)
LuxPower inverter/charger

(Artist formally known as ******, well it should be obvious enough to those for whom such things are important.)
Yuff
Posts: 486
Joined: Sat Dec 31, 2022 1:18 pm
Location: East Midlands

Re: Octopus Tracker tariff

#9

Post by Yuff »

Stinsy wrote: Tue Jan 02, 2024 10:08 pm
nowty wrote: Tue Jan 02, 2024 9:31 pm
Stinsy wrote: Tue Jan 02, 2024 9:01 pm

You can be on tracker for gas without a smartmeter. They just spread your usage how they think you might’ve used the gas.
Octopus changed the rules a few months back and now you need a smart meter to change to the tariff.

https://octopus.energy/smart/tracker/

”You'll need a working smart meter to switch to Tracker. If you don't have one yet, we can install one at no extra cost, but you'll need to stick with a standard tariff, such as Flexible Octopus, until your smart meter is installed and running properly (this usually takes a few weeks – but some homes can take much longer).”
Oh well, nothing good lasts forever. I’m on tracker for gas but my gas smartmeter hasn’t worked for a few years and Octopus has no interest in fixing it.
That’s probably only for new customers, as you are already on the tracker I don’t think they’ll switch you.
Mitsubishi Ecodan
ASHP 8.5kW x 2
12 x 460w Solar panels
9.5kWh GivEnergy
Batteries x 2
EVs x 4 210 kWh Batteries
Ripple 5.8 kW PV 0.547 kW Whitelaw Brae
dan_b
Posts: 2302
Joined: Tue Jun 15, 2021 10:16 am
Location: SW London

Re: Octopus Tracker tariff

#10

Post by dan_b »

Ok I've switched to the Tracker tariff for electricity - Octopus made the change yesterday! Let's see how it goes.
Tesla Model 3 Performance
Oversees an 11kWp solar array at work
Post Reply