OctoTariffs

Independent review

Octopus Energy review: what the price data shows

An independent, data-led Octopus Energy review: how Flexible Octopus has compared with the price cap in every region, how Agile has performed, and who Octopus suits.

Edited by Rob Gibbs. Published: . Guidance reviewed: .

Methodology · Corrections

Flexible Octopus against the price cap, by region

For each region: how many of the last complete months Flexible Octopus came in under the Ofgem cap for a typical household, and the average monthly saving against the cap. The cap is the most any supplier can charge on a standard variable tariff.

RegionMonths under the capAverage monthly saving
Eastern England12 of 12£0.88
East Midlands12 of 12£0.79
London12 of 12£0.47
Merseyside and North Wales12 of 12£0.51
West Midlands12 of 12£0.96
North East England12 of 12£0.79
North West England12 of 12£0.47
Southern England12 of 12£0.84
South East England12 of 12£0.97
South Wales12 of 12£0.91
South West England12 of 12£0.74
Yorkshire12 of 12£0.89
Southern Scotland12 of 12£1.03
Northern Scotland12 of 12£0.47

A negative saving means Flexible cost more than the cap level would have. Monthly costs use Ofgem’s typical consumption on a Direct Debit basis.

How Agile has performed

Agile’s half-hourly prices follow the wholesale market, so its value depends on when you use electricity. Our Agile price report measures how it has compared with the cap across seasons and regions, and the plunge tracker records every negative-price half hour.

Strengths

  • The widest choice of tariff structures we track: standard, fixed, half-hourly, daily wholesale, EV, heat-pump, storage-heater and several export options.
  • Flexible Octopus, its standard variable tariff, cannot go above the price cap and has no exit fee. The table below shows how far under the cap it has priced in each region.
  • Every tariff’s prices are published openly for every region, which is what lets this site measure them.

Weaknesses

  • The biggest savings depend on equipment and a working smart meter. Intelligent tariffs need a supported car, charger, battery or heating system.
  • Agile and Tracker pass wholesale swings straight through to you, which can hurt in a price spike.
  • Some add-ons have limited availability, and product versions change often, so a deal you read about may have closed or changed.

Octopus suits

  • Homes with an EV, heat pump, battery or solar that can move use into cheaper periods.
  • Anyone who wants a standard variable tariff with no exit fee while comparing options.
  • Households comfortable checking prices, or letting automation do it, on Agile or Tracker.

Think twice if

  • Anyone who wants a fixed price but cannot find an Octopus fix that beats other suppliers’ quotes.
  • Homes without a working smart meter hoping for smart-tariff savings.
  • Anyone who would find variable daily or half-hourly prices stressful.

Primary sources