How It Works
Data Source
All price data is sourced directly from the official Octopus Energy public API. We fetch half-hourly unit rates (including VAT) for the Agile Octopus tariff across all 14 regions in Great Britain.
The API endpoint we use is: https://api.octopus.energy/v1/products/[PRODUCT_CODE]/electricity-tariffs/[TARIFF_CODE]/standard-unit-rates/
Publication Timing
Octopus Energy typically publishes the next day's Agile prices around 4:00 PM (16:00) UK time each day. The exact timing can vary slightly depending on when wholesale market data becomes available.
Our system automatically refreshes data more frequently during the 4:00-4:30 PM window to ensure you get the latest prices as soon as they're available. Outside this window, data is cached for 15 minutes to improve performance.
Region Mapping
Great Britain is divided into 14 electricity distribution regions, each identified by a letter (A-P, excluding I and O). Your postcode determines which region you're in through the Grid Supply Point (GSP) system.
Prices can vary significantly between regions due to differences in local distribution costs, network constraints, and wholesale market conditions.
Note: Northern Ireland is not covered by the Agile tariff as it operates under a different electricity market structure.
Understanding Negative Prices
Occasionally, wholesale electricity prices can go negative during periods of very high renewable generation and low demand. When this happens, Agile customers are actually paid to use electricity during those periods.
Negative prices are most common during:
- Sunny, windy days with high renewable generation
- Low-demand periods (overnight, weekends, holidays)
- Spring and autumn when heating and cooling demand is lower
This is a great time to charge electric vehicles, run dishwashers, or use other energy-intensive appliances.
Time Zones and UTC
The Octopus Energy API returns all timestamps in UTC. We automatically convert these to UK local time (Europe/London timezone) for display, properly accounting for British Summer Time (BST) transitions.
All times shown on this site are in UK local time unless explicitly stated otherwise.
VAT and Pricing
All prices displayed on this site include VAT at the current rate (typically 5% for domestic electricity). Unit rates are shown in pence per kilowatt-hour (p/kWh).
In addition to unit rates, the Agile tariff includes a daily standing charge. This is a fixed daily fee that applies regardless of how much electricity you use. Standing charges are shown on individual region pages.
Important Caveats
- This is not an official Octopus Energy service. It's an independent tracker using their public API.
- Prices are subject to change and should be verified with Octopus Energy before making any financial decisions.
- Historical data is provided for informational purposes only and does not guarantee future pricing patterns.
- We make no guarantees about data accuracy or availability. The service depends on the Octopus Energy API.
- To actually benefit from Agile prices, you must be an Octopus Energy customer on the Agile tariff with a compatible smart meter.
Questions?
For questions about the Agile tariff, eligibility, or signing up, please visit Octopus Energy's official Agile page.