Tag Archive for: energy bills

Octopus Agile Vs Octopus Flux

As the cost of electricity continues to rise, many households are looking for ways to reduce their energy bills. For those with solar panels and battery storage, the Octopus Agile Tariff and Octopus Flux are two options to consider.

The Octopus Agile Tariff is a flexible tariff that allows customers to benefit from low energy prices during off-peak periods. It works by adjusting prices every half hour based on wholesale energy prices, which means that customers can take advantage of low prices when demand is low. This is particularly beneficial for households with solar PV and battery storage as they can use their stored energy during peak times and buy additional electricity from the grid during off-peak periods when prices are lower.

The Octopus Flux is a tariff designed for electric vehicle (EV) owners, but it can also be useful for households with solar panels and battery storage. It offers a fixed price for energy that is guaranteed to be lower than the standard variable tariff. The tariff also includes four hours of off-peak electricity between 00:30 and 04:30, which can be particularly beneficial for those with battery storage as they can charge their batteries during this period and use the stored energy during peak times.

So, which tariff is better for households with solar panels and battery storage? It depends on the individual circumstances.

For those who are able to manage their energy consumption and use their stored energy during peak times, the Octopus Agile Tariff is likely to be the better option. This is because the tariff is based on wholesale energy prices, which means that customers can benefit from low prices when demand is low. Customers can also use their stored energy during peak times, which can further reduce their energy bills.

However, for those who are unable to manage their energy consumption or do not have a large enough battery storage capacity, the Octopus Flux may be the better option. This is because the tariff offers a fixed price for energy that is guaranteed to be lower than the standard variable tariff. The off-peak electricity period also provides an opportunity for households to charge their batteries at a lower cost, which can be particularly beneficial for those with a smaller battery storage capacity.

Both tariffs have their advantages and disadvantages, and it is important for households to consider their individual circumstances before deciding which tariff to choose. It is also worth noting that both tariffs are only available through Octopus Energy, which may not be available in all areas.

In addition to the Octopus Agile Tariff and Octopus Flux, there are other tariffs available for households with solar panels and battery storage. For example, the E.ON Solar PV and Battery Storage Tariff offers a fixed price for energy that is lower than the standard variable tariff, and the Solarplicity Smart Export Guarantee offers a guaranteed minimum payment for excess energy exported to the grid.

Overall, the Octopus Agile Tariff and Octopus Flux are two options that are worth considering for households with solar panels and battery storage. The best tariff for each household will depend on their individual circumstances, including their energy consumption habits and the size of their battery storage capacity. By choosing the right tariff, households can save money on their energy bills and reduce their carbon footprint.

About the Owner and Where The Solar Industry is at

Having been in business for almost 20 years I’ve worked across multiple sectors including Retail & Distribution, Healthcare and Recruitment. I fell into Solar purely by accident back in 2020 and frankly have never looked back.

The landscape back then was very different with most work tending to be from people with existing systems looking to add battery storage or deal with some sort of remedial work. The only real motivation for a full panel installation was after people had installed a hot tub and got a shock having seen their first electricity bill! Even installations for EV chargers weren’t that frequent really until 2021.

2021 saw a marked change in clientele when the utility companies started to go bust, with many people concerned by just how much their energy bills would go up. This was of course compounded in 2022 with the huge price increases that now seem almost normal and then again with the outbreak of the War in Ukraine.

Having already established great relationships with the best installers and having gained a unique and broad-based insight into all of the different brands in the market we were uniquely placed to be able to effectively serve this huge increase in demand.

Whilst 2022 was extremely busy, the industry as a whole was bursting at the seams. Massive supply chain issues along with long delays from the power networks to approve the install made for some challenging times. All the while with equipment costs rising on an almost weekly basis.

Even with all of this, the huge price of energy made the installation and uptake of Solar almost a no brainer with some systems showing complete capital repayment in 5-6 years.

Late 2022 saw some significant stabilisation in the market and a welcome decrease in the price of the equipment so whilst 2023 looks set to be yet another year of turmoil with high energy prices, at least the supply of equipment is there and the cost of an installation slightly less.

This coupled with some of the newer tariffs such Octopus Agile which enable the more premium systems such as Solax and GivEnergy to essentially trade power with the grid based on the most favourable rates make Solar PV installations an ever more attractive investment.

The key principles for every installation nonetheless still remains the same.

The system which best represents the clients needs. So this is very important. Obviously, a competitive price is something which we all want in life, and it’s certainly something which we aim to achieve. And ultimately, all of that has to fall back on a hassle free, clean installation, which is where we really pride ourselves. We have some of the best installers in the business, and we are at the end of the telephone as needed to solve any problems and obviously to communicate everything during the course of the installation. If you want a low obligation chat, feel free to give us a call at the office. We’re always happy to help.

Author

Daniel Roser

Owner at New Dawn Solar