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Energy Prices - To ...
 

Energy Prices - To fix or not to fix, that is the question

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@B A Nana, why do you want to switch off Tracker pls? I assume because you feel the rates are going to rise and want to lock in a fixed deal?


 
Posted : 22/09/2023 4:54 am
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I want to switch back onto Octopus Agile because I think prices are going down, and more to the point, in the near future I'm thinking of changing my electric car to another deal which means I'll start charging it at home during the night. It's a gamble especially as Tracker v1 is 18p standing charge, switching means I'll be paying something like 50p standing charge, but when you become a big user (charging a car on top of house use), standing charge becomes less of an issue than it would for a low user. Other options are octopus Go and intelligent octopus, but I'm a fan of Agile and have previously been on it. I'm not sure what to do TBH, fag packet maths seem to suggest it's worth moving tariff if/when I become a big consumer of electric.


 
Posted : 22/09/2023 5:35 am
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Assume standing charge increase/decrease difference is based on region you’re in?

Yes
And the irony is that many of the places which have the highest standing charge and unit rates are where much of the renewable energy is created...north of central belt and islands.


 
Posted : 22/09/2023 9:28 am
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Was going to say the same, just our broken market at work.


 
Posted : 22/09/2023 9:38 am
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Yeah, I got a 300odd quid refund the other day.

British Gas decided to up our direct debit from £250 to £420 the other month...and then drop it back down to £270 or something two days later. **** you very much?


 
Posted : 22/09/2023 10:24 am
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And I’m £1k in credit as we were fearful of a huge rise…

i pull any credit back if it builds up, I’d rather earn the interest myself than give another bonus to the energy companies. At least octopus make it relatively easy to get it back.


 
Posted : 22/09/2023 10:27 am
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Yeah they seem to be using this as an excuse to plump up cash reserves. The most idiotic thing was our direct debit was increased despite being on a 2 year fix!

I'm sure it's already been legally challenged but it seems rather unfair that they can unilaterally and arbitrarily change contract terms (direct debit amounts) for no reason.


 
Posted : 22/09/2023 11:33 am
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Anymore thoughts on fixing ,what with what's going on where we can't mention?
If my sums are correct ,I could get a 3 year fixed for £5 a month more than what I'm currently paying.
I really can't see prices dropping much with the way things are going.
Your thoughts?


 
Posted : 07/11/2023 11:35 pm
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I have fixed my business contract for 3 years from December at 29.2p/kwh (which is half waht I have been paying for the past 11 months!). No idea if it will prove to be the right choice but at least I know where I stand now. 


 
Posted : 07/11/2023 11:48 pm
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I locked in with Octopus a few weeks back for a year.


 
Posted : 08/11/2023 12:48 am
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I locked in

Thats interesting, like a drug I'm hooked on the ~30% discount off svr that tracker offers on elec (~20% on gas).

Am I being naive and should be anticipating a high risk of both svr and tracker shooting up this winter? I guess nobody can say


 
Posted : 08/11/2023 10:26 am
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Has anyone got a link to the Octopus fixed?
I can't find it on their site.


 
Posted : 08/11/2023 10:45 am
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Zippy, I couldn't find it in my app but logged on via website and it gives an option to change tariff.

Says something about a loyalty tariff and it's not presented if I'm not logged on so looks like you need to be on Octopus already


 
Posted : 08/11/2023 2:18 pm
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.... Not sure if it helps as didn't clock the fix period but it was 31p/elec and 7.5p/gas, with higher standing charges too that represents around a 30%/50% uplift on what tracker is currently averaging out elec/gas respectively so I'll stick with tracker and hope I don't regret it


 
Posted : 08/11/2023 2:22 pm
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Our contract is up in the shop soon. Our current supplier can do a fixed for 3 years for cheaper than what we pay now.

Crystal balls out!


 
Posted : 25/04/2024 2:56 pm
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@villgeidiotdan

I presume you're happy that you stuck with Octopus Tracker?

Octopus have now ended all their old legacy smart tariff rates (I was on the original Tracker v1) and are migrating customers onto the latest versions, which I think lasts 12 months until they do the same again. So, my hand was forced a couple of months ago and I'm now on Agile Octopus Dec23 v1.  If I didn't have an electric car I would have probably stuck with Tracker, for the convenience. If you have a big battery to charge then Agile can definitely make a big difference.


 
Posted : 26/04/2024 9:15 am
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