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Intelligent Drive Pack is an electric vehicle charging subscription from Octopus Energy. Instead of paying for each unit used during approved vehicle charging, the customer pays a fixed monthly fee and allows Octopus to schedule the charge. The current subscription price is £40 a month for one electric vehicle. Intelligent Drive Pack is presently oversubscribed and Octopus is directing new applicants towards Intelligent Octopus Go instead. This guide reflects the published position on 10 July 2026.
Intelligent Drive Pack launched in April 2025 at £30 a month. Many older articles, videos and search results still quote that original price. Octopus has since increased the subscription to £40 a month, equivalent to £480 over a full year. The current product page confirms the £40 price even though some older Octopus pages and page titles continue to mention £30. That distinction matters when calculating whether the subscription would save money. A comparison based on the former £30 price would understate the annual cost by £120.
The monthly payment covers electricity used by one eligible electric vehicle when charging is scheduled and controlled by Octopus. It does not cover all electricity used by the property. Lighting, cooking, appliances, electric heating, water heating and any home battery charging continue to be billed through the household's ordinary electricity tariff. The subscription also does not cover every vehicle charging session. An immediate or manual boost charge falls outside the managed schedule and is billed at the unit rate applying to the household tariff at that time. Public charging is not included either. The word unlimited therefore needs to be understood in context. It means unlimited eligible smart charging for one registered vehicle, subject to the product rules. It does not mean unlimited household electricity or unrestricted charging at any time.
The customer connects a compatible vehicle or home charger to the Octopus Energy app. The app is then used to tell Octopus how much energy the vehicle needs and when it should be ready. Octopus creates the charging schedule and selects periods when electricity is expected to be cheaper and often cleaner. Charging will usually take place overnight, although the precise schedule can vary according to electricity market conditions and the time available before departure. This flexibility is what allows Octopus to offer charging for a fixed subscription. By avoiding periods when demand and wholesale electricity prices are high, the company can reduce the average cost of supplying the vehicle. The customer must leave the vehicle connected and allow Octopus to control the eligible charging session. Octopus says it will try to follow the preferences entered in the app, although its terms do not guarantee that every requested charging target or operating preference will always be achieved.
A driver who needs electricity immediately can start a boost charge rather than wait for the Octopus schedule. Electricity used during that boost is not included in the Drive Pack subscription. It is charged through the main household tariff at the rate applying while the boost takes place. A daytime boost on Flexible Octopus could therefore cost substantially more than an overnight managed session. Occasional boosts may have little effect on the overall economics. Regular boosts can make the subscription less attractive because the driver is paying both the £40 monthly fee and additional unit charges. Drivers considering the product should think honestly about their routine. Someone who regularly arrives home with a low battery and needs to leave again shortly afterwards may struggle to give Octopus enough scheduling flexibility.
Intelligent Drive Pack is an add on rather than a complete electricity tariff. The household must also have either Flexible Octopus or an eligible Octopus fixed tariff for its ordinary electricity supply. It is not designed to sit alongside Intelligent Octopus Go, Octopus Go, Agile Octopus, Tracker or other specialist import tariffs. Customers with electricity export must also have their export arrangement with Octopus, using the compatible Outgoing Octopus product. This restriction is important for homes with batteries, heat pumps or large amounts of flexible electricity demand. Intelligent Drive Pack covers the registered car, but it does not provide a cheap overnight rate for the rest of the property. A household using substantial electricity overnight might obtain greater total savings from Intelligent Octopus Go, where the whole home receives the cheaper rate during its six hour overnight period.
The property needs a smart meter that Octopus can connect to. The meter must provide the information required to operate and bill the subscription. The customer must own or hold a long term lease for an eligible battery electric vehicle or plug in hybrid. That vehicle must normally be charged at the home supplied by Octopus. A compatible car or charging point must be connected to the Octopus Energy app within seven days of signing up. The device must remain authorised so Octopus can control charging and collect the information needed to calculate the vehicle's eligible consumption. Compatibility should always be checked through the current Octopus process. Vehicle software, charger integrations and manufacturer access can change. The fact that a car can accept scheduled charging through its own dashboard does not necessarily mean Octopus can control it. The subscription is for domestic use. The terms exclude commercial operation and allow Octopus to investigate charging that appears inconsistent with the registered vehicle or product conditions.
Intelligent Drive Pack applies to one registered electric vehicle. A household with two electric cars cannot use one subscription to cover unrestricted charging for both. Octopus may monitor charging volumes and device activity to determine whether the subscription is being used in accordance with its terms. Where a compatible charger rather than the car is integrated, the practical arrangement should still be confirmed with Octopus. The written terms remain clear that the subscription is intended for one vehicle. Octopus can terminate the Drive Pack or transfer the customer to another tariff where it believes the product is being misused.
The value depends mainly on how much electricity the car consumes. At £40 a month, a driver receiving 200 kilowatt hours of eligible smart charging is effectively paying 20 pence per kilowatt hour. At 300 kilowatt hours, the effective cost falls to about 13.3 pence. At 400 kilowatt hours it becomes 10 pence, and at 500 kilowatt hours it becomes 8 pence. These figures describe the subscription cost divided by the eligible energy delivered. They do not include charger losses, boost charging, the household standing charge or any ordinary electricity used outside the managed vehicle schedule. A driver covering 600 miles a month in an efficient electric car might use around 170 to 200 kilowatt hours after charging losses. For that driver, the subscription may not be dramatically cheaper than paying a competitive overnight unit rate. Someone covering 1,200 or 1,500 miles a month is likely to use much more electricity. Provided most charging remains under Octopus control, the fixed monthly payment could become significantly more attractive. Mileage alone is not enough. Vehicle efficiency can vary considerably with temperature, speed, terrain and driving style. A large electric van or sport utility vehicle may consume much more electricity than a small hatchback over the same distance.
Intelligent Drive Pack and Intelligent Octopus Go both allow Octopus to schedule vehicle charging, but their billing structures are different. Drive Pack charges a fixed monthly subscription for eligible vehicle charging. The rest of the home remains on Flexible Octopus or an eligible fixed tariff. Intelligent Octopus Go charges for each kilowatt hour. It currently offers eligible smart vehicle charging from 8 pence per kilowatt hour, together with six hours of cheaper electricity for the entire home from 11.30pm until 5.30am. For a lower mileage driver, paying only for the energy actually used may make Intelligent Octopus Go more economical. A high mileage driver may prefer the certainty of a fixed subscription, particularly if the car is normally left connected long enough for Octopus to manage every session. Homes with batteries, immersion heaters, dishwashers or other overnight loads should also consider the whole home benefit of Intelligent Octopus Go. Drive Pack does not apply its subscription to those loads. Octopus is currently directing potential Drive Pack customers to Intelligent Octopus Go because Drive Pack is oversubscribed.
The Drive Pack subscription is offered for a fixed term of either three or twelve months, depending on the version accepted when the customer joined. Payment is collected monthly in advance. Octopus allows the customer to cancel by contacting the company. The subscription remains active until the end of the paid billing period, after which it does not renew. There is no separate exit fee, but Octopus does not provide a partial refund for unused days within a month that has already been paid. A fourteen day cancellation period applies. Octopus states that it will refund the subscription fee when cancellation occurs during that period and no electric vehicle charging has taken place under the subscription.
Using Intelligent Drive Pack gives Octopus permission to connect to the vehicle or charger, collect operating information and influence charging times. The information collected can include the equipment model, electricity consumption, charging preferences, actions taken by the customer and the performance of the connected device. Octopus uses this information to operate the charging schedule and support billing. The customer also gives Octopus the exclusive right to use the connected vehicle or charger for relevant electricity flexibility services. The same equipment or property cannot be enrolled in a competing demand response programme while the subscription remains active. This is not merely a payment plan. It is an agreement that allows Octopus to use the timing flexibility of the car to support electricity system operation.
Intelligent Drive Pack is most attractive to a driver with relatively high annual mileage, a compatible vehicle or charger and a predictable routine that leaves the car connected for long periods. It also appeals to people who prefer a fixed monthly motoring cost and do not need a specialist time based tariff for the rest of their home. It may be less suitable for low mileage drivers, households with substantial overnight electricity demand, people who frequently require immediate charging or customers wanting Agile, Tracker, Go or another incompatible import product. The strongest comparison uses expected annual vehicle consumption rather than mileage alone. Divide the £480 annual subscription cost by the number of kilowatt hours likely to be charged through eligible Octopus schedules. Then compare that effective rate with Intelligent Octopus Go and any other available overnight tariff. Intelligent Drive Pack offers a genuinely different approach to home charging, but it is currently closed to normal new applications and the price has risen from its original £30 launch level to £40 a month. Anyone seeing the older price online should use the live Octopus product page as the current reference.
The Octary comparison page should calculate which Octopus Energy tariff, or combination of import and export tariffs, is likely to work best for a particular household. It should not rank tariffs using the headline price alone. A tariff with an 8 pence overnight rate may be excellent for a household with two electric cars, but poor for a household that uses most of its electricity during the day. A tariff offering 16 pence for evening exports may look attractive, but a home without battery storage may export almost nothing during the relevant hours. The comparison must consider: 1. Where the property is located 2. How much electricity and gas it uses 3. When electricity is used 4. How many people live there 5. How the property is heated 6. How many electric vehicles are charged 7. The battery capacity and mileage of each vehicle 8. The available charger power 9. Whether the home has solar panels 10. Whether it has battery storage 11. When electricity is imported and exported 12. Whether the household wants certainty or can accept changing prices 13. Whether the customer and equipment meet the tariff eligibility rules
The completed article series covers 17 products: 1. Flexible Octopus 2. Octopus 12 Month Fixed 3. Octopus 12 Month Fixed Low Standing Charge 4. Octopus Tracker 5. Agile Octopus 6. Intelligent Octopus Go 7. Octopus Go 8. Octopus Power Pack 9. Cosy Octopus 10. Snug Octopus 11. Octopus Flux 12. Intelligent Octopus Flux 13. Outgoing Octopus 14. Prime Outgoing Octopus 15. Agile Outgoing Octopus 16. Octopus Smart Export Guarantee 17. Intelligent Drive Pack Power Pack and Intelligent Drive Pack are specialist additions to a household tariff. Outgoing Octopus, Prime Outgoing, Agile Outgoing and the Smart Export Guarantee are export products. They should not be treated as direct alternatives to a complete electricity import tariff. The system should compare valid tariff packages rather than placing every product in one undifferentiated ranking. Examples of tariff packages include: Octopus publishes a compatibility guide because not every import tariff can be combined with every export tariff. The comparison must validate the proposed combination before showing it as available.
From 1 July to 30 September 2026, the Ofgem Direct Debit averages for a standard variable tariff are: ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Charge National average ----------------------------------------- ----------------------------- Electricity unit rate 26.11 pence per kWh Electricity standing charge 57.19 pence per day Gas unit rate 7.33 pence per kWh Gas standing charge 29.04 pence per day Typical dual fuel annual figure £1,862 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- These are national averages across England, Scotland and Wales. They are not the exact rates for every postcode. Regional pricing, payment method and meter configuration affect the actual tariff. The comparison page should never use the £1,862 figure as the user's predicted bill. It should calculate the bill from the household's own consumption and the rates for its region.
Tariff type: Standard variable electricity and gas tariff Current price structure: Regional unit rates and daily standing charges. Prices normally change when the Ofgem price cap changes. Headline reference: The July 2026 Ofgem averages are 26.11 pence per kWh for electricity and 7.33 pence per kWh for gas. Octopus publishes its own regional Flexible rates and states that its standard variable prices remain below the full cap. Exit fee: None Smart meter required: No, although a smart meter improves the comparison.
Main weakness: It does not reward overnight charging, flexible appliance use, solar storage or evening export.
Current product code: OE-FIX-12M-26-07-09 Tariff type: Fixed electricity and gas tariff Term: 12 months Current price structure: Unit rates and standing charges are fixed for the contract period. The exact rates vary by region and meter type. Exit fee: £50 per fuel. A dual fuel customer leaving both supplies early may therefore pay £100.
Main weakness: A customer may miss future reductions and may face exit fees when moving to an EV, solar, battery or heat pump tariff. The active Octopus product list confirms the July 2026 version, its twelve month term and the £50 exit fee per fuel.
Current product code: OE-FIX-12M-LOWSC-26-07-09 Tariff type: Limited fixed tariff trial Price structure: Lower daily standing charges and higher unit rates. Indicative standing charge reduction: About £150 a year for a dual fuel household.
- Above 1,800 kWh of electricity a year, the higher electricity unit rate is likely to erode the standing charge saving - Above 7,500 kWh of gas a year, the higher gas rate is likely to erode the standing charge saving Availability: Limited to 33,000 homes and subject to meter and account eligibility. Exit fee: £50 per fuel under the current fixed product. Octopus explicitly warns that the tariff will not save most households money. It is primarily relevant to relatively low consumption homes.
Tariff type: Daily wholesale linked electricity and gas tariff Price frequency: One electricity rate and one gas rate each day.
Term: The formula and standing charge are fixed for twelve months, but the unit rate changes daily. Exit fee: None Return restriction: A customer leaving during the term normally cannot rejoin Tracker for nine months. Tracker uses independently published wholesale market prices and a regional formula. The formula differs across the fourteen electricity regions.
- Households with enough financial flexibility to absorb expensive periods - People wanting exposure to falling wholesale prices without half hourly management Main weakness: Prices can rise rapidly and the tariff does not provide the protection of the Ofgem price cap. Calculation requirement: The engine must retrieve every daily price in the comparison period and match each day's consumption to that price. A simple annual consumption multiplied by today's Tracker rate would be misleading.
Current product code: AGILE-24-10-01 Tariff type: Dynamic electricity import tariff Price frequency: 48 prices a day, one for every thirty minute period. Maximum rate: 100 pence per kWh. Minimum rate: Prices can fall below zero, meaning the customer may receive a credit for consuming electricity during a negative period. Price publication: The following day's prices are normally published during the afternoon.
Agile prices follow wholesale electricity and can change sharply. Octopus warns that historical performance cannot predict future costs. Calculation requirement: Every half hour of consumption must be multiplied by the matching Agile unit rate.
Current product code: INTELLI-FIX-12M-26-06-13 Tariff type: Smart electric vehicle tariff Advertised off peak rate: From 8 pence per kWh Guaranteed home off peak period: 11.30pm to 5.30am Length of core off peak period: 6 hours Managed vehicle charging: Octopus can schedule eligible charging outside the core period and apply the off peak rate to the qualifying vehicle charging. Daily managed charging allowance: Up to six hours. Bump charging: Charged at the normal daytime rate.
Octopus states that eligible smart charging starts from 8 pence per kWh and that the six hour household window applies from 11.30pm to 5.30am.
- Dishwashers, washing machines and tumble dryers that can be scheduled safely
At a 7 kW charger, six hours can deliver a theoretical maximum of: 7 kW × 6 hours = 42 kWh The system must then apply charging losses and the vehicle's required energy. At 90 per cent charging efficiency, around 37.8 kWh may reach the vehicle battery. The comparison must not assume that every vehicle needs a complete battery refill every night.
Current product code: GO-FIX-12M-26-06-30 Tariff type: Fixed window EV tariff Off peak period: 12.30am to 5.30am Length: 5 hours Price: Regional and displayed through a postcode quotation. Vehicle integration: Not required. Compatibility: Designed to work with any EV and charger because the customer controls the timer.
Octopus confirms that Go provides a five hour overnight period and is compatible with all EVs and chargers.
7 kW × 5 hours = 35 kWh At 90 per cent efficiency, around 31.5 kWh may enter the vehicle battery. Main weakness: The off peak period is shorter than Intelligent Octopus Go and there are no additional Octopus managed charging slots.
Tariff type: Vehicle to grid charging and export product Vehicle charging cost: Eligible managed vehicle charging is credited back, producing an effective cost of zero. Current technical availability: Restricted to compatible vehicle to grid hardware and vehicles. Monthly charging limit: 210 kWh. Indicative mileage limit: 625 miles a month.
Import restrictions: It cannot be combined with Agile, Tracker or an Intelligent Octopus import tariff. If the customer fails the monthly conditions, the vehicle charging credit may not be paid and the charging remains billed at the household tariff rate.
210 kWh × 12 = 2,520 kWh The system must identify Power Pack as a specialist technical option, not a generally available EV tariff.
Tariff type: Monthly EV charging subscription added to another household tariff Current subscription: £40 a month Annual subscription cost: £480 Coverage: Octopus controlled scheduled charging for one EV.
Compatible import tariffs: Flexible Octopus or an eligible Octopus fixed tariff. Export requirement: Export customers must use the compatible Octopus export arrangement. Availability: Currently oversubscribed. New applicants are being directed towards Intelligent Octopus Go.
At 8 pence per kWh: £480 ÷ £0.08 = 6,000 kWh A single EV would need approximately 6,000 kWh of eligible annual charging before the £480 subscription became cheaper than buying the same energy at 8 pence per kWh. At 3.5 miles per battery kWh and 90 per cent charging efficiency: 6,000 × 0.90 × 3.5 = 18,900 miles This indicates an approximate break even of 18,900 annual miles when compared only with an 8 pence unit price. The real comparison must also include the different daytime household rates and overnight household benefits. Important rule: One subscription covers one EV. A two vehicle household cannot place both cars under one Drive Pack subscription.
Tariff type: Three rate electricity tariff for heat pumps and other qualifying electric heating.
Total cheap time: 8 hours a day Cheap rate relationship: 51 per cent below the regional day rate. Peak period: 4pm to 7pm Peak rate relationship: 50 per cent above the regional day rate.
Both flexible and fixed versions may be offered. The current fixed product is COSY-FIX-12M-26-06-25. There are no exit fees on the published Cosy versions.
Annual heat pump electricity = annual useful heat demand ÷ seasonal performance factor For example: 12,000 kWh useful heat ÷ SPF 3.2 = 3,750 kWh electricity The system should then allocate this electricity between the Cosy cheap, day and peak periods.
Current product code: SNUG-24-11-07 Tariff type: Smart storage heater tariff Off peak price: 9 pence per kWh Standard overnight period: 12.30am to 6.30am Length: 6 hours Additional benefit: One managed afternoon heating boost. Whole home benefit: All electricity used while the storage heaters are following the Octopus schedule receives the off peak rate.
Snug is not simply an Economy 7 tariff. Octopus controls the eligible storage heating circuit and can schedule charging in shorter periods.
- Homes where ordinary Economy 7 charging does not retain enough evening heat
Tariff type: Combined three rate import and export tariff. Cheap period: 2am to 5am. Peak period: 4pm to 7pm. Standard period: All remaining hours. Pricing: Regional. Import and export rates must be retrieved from the current product endpoint.
Standard Flux requires the household or battery controller to manage charging and discharging.
Main comparison issue: A high peak export rate does not automatically make Flux cheapest. The engine must include daytime import costs, battery losses and battery cycling.
Product code: INTELLI-FLUX-IMPORT-23-07-14 Tariff type: Automated solar and battery import and export tariff. Control: Octopus controls compatible batteries. Peak period: 4pm to 7pm. Compatibility: Restricted to supported battery systems and active integrations. Current availability: Temporarily unavailable to new applicants due to energy market volatility. Octopus directs new customers towards standard Flux. System treatment: Show the tariff for information and historic comparison, but mark it: Currently unavailable for new applications It should not appear as the main recommendation unless availability is confirmed through a live status check.
Current export rate: 12 pence per kWh Price structure: Flat rate at all times. Tariff type: Variable export tariff.
2,500 kWh × £0.12 = £300 Outgoing Octopus pays the same rate whenever the electricity is exported.
Current product code: OUTGOING-PRIME-FIX-12M-26-06-23 Peak export period: 4pm to 7pm Peak export rate: 16 pence per kWh Other times: 9 pence per kWh Term: Twelve months with a fixed pricing formula. Exit fee: None.
Let P be the proportion exported between 4pm and 7pm. 16P + 9(1 − P) = 12 7P = 3 P = 42.86 per cent A household needs to export approximately 42.86 per cent of its total exported electricity during the Prime window for its average export rate to equal 12 pence. Above 42.86 per cent, Prime may pay more than flat Outgoing. Below that level, flat Outgoing is likely to pay more before battery losses are considered. The published rates are 16 pence during the evening window and 9 pence during the remainder of the day.
Current product code: AGILE-OUTGOING-19-05-13 Tariff type: Dynamic export tariff. Price frequency: Every thirty minutes. Price basis: Day ahead wholesale electricity prices. Upper limit: Uncapped. Negative wholesale periods: The export payment stops just above zero rather than becoming a charge for exporting.
Octopus describes Agile Outgoing as suitable for storage owners who can export when prices are highest.
Current rate: 4.1 pence per kWh Price structure: Flat export rate. Main purpose: Allows Octopus to purchase export while the household keeps its import supply with another company.
Poor fit for: Existing Octopus import customers who can qualify for the higher Outgoing Octopus rate. At 2,500 kWh annual export: 2,500 × £0.041 = £102.50 The same 2,500 kWh on flat Outgoing at 12 pence would produce £300. The difference is £197.50, but moving the import supply could cost more than that if the existing supplier offers a valuable EV or fixed tariff. The official Octopus SEG rate is 4.1 pence per kWh.
The page should use a staged questionnaire. Users should not be confronted with every technical field at once.
------------------------------------------------------------------------ Variable Data Why it matters type --------------------- ------------ ------------------------------------- Postcode Text Determines electricity distribution region and tariff rates Electricity region Calculated Selects the correct tariff code Payment method Choice Direct Debit, standard credit or prepayment can have different prices Electricity only, gas Choice Determines eligible products and only or dual fuel costs Smart meter present Yes or no Required for most smart tariffs Smart meter Choice SMETS1, SMETS2 or unknown generation Half hourly data Yes or no Needed for accurate time based available comparisons Economy 7 meter Yes or no Affects baseline and possible meter changes Current supplier Choice Required when considering SEG export only Current tariff Text or Provides the baseline for savings selection Current contract end Date Allows exit fee and timing date calculations Current exit fee Currency Must be deducted from first year savings ------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------ Variable Data Why it matters type -------------------- ------------ -------------------------------------- Number of adults Integer Helps estimate base consumption and occupancy Number of children Integer Helps estimate hot water, laundry and evening demand Bedrooms Integer Useful when bills are unavailable Property type Choice Flat, terrace, semi detached, detached or bungalow Floor area Square Important for heating demand metres EPC rating A to G Helps estimate heat loss Construction age Range Supports heating demand estimates Insulation level Choice Low, average or high Days occupied each 0 to 7 Relevant to low standing charge and week flexible use People working from Integer Increases daytime consumption home Typical bedtime Time Helps assess overnight flexibility Typical wake time Time Helps assess EV and heating windows Peak avoidance 0 to 100 per Estimates how much use can leave 4pm ability cent to 7pm Budget certainty 1 to 5 Higher values favour fixed tariffs preference Price risk tolerance 1 to 5 Higher values allow Tracker and Agile Automation 1 to 5 Higher values favour Agile and willingness intelligent products ------------------------------------------------------------------------
The most accurate source should always take priority. Use this order: 1. Twelve months of half hourly smart meter data 2. Twelve months of monthly bills 3. Annual consumption figures from a bill 4. Manual meter readings covering a known period 5. A household estimate based on property and occupants Required fields: -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Variable Unit --------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- Annual electricity consumption kWh Annual gas consumption kWh Day electricity consumption kWh Night electricity consumption kWh Electricity used from 4pm to 7pm kWh Electricity used from 11.30pm to 5.30am kWh Electricity used from 12.30am to 5.30am kWh Electricity used in each Cosy period kWh Electricity used in each thirty minute period kWh Seasonal monthly consumption kWh -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The comparison should show an accuracy grade:
----------------------------------------------------------------------- Variable Unit or choice ------------------------ ---------------------------------------------- Main heating type Gas boiler, heat pump, storage heaters, electric boiler, direct electric, oil, LPG or other Hot water type Gas, heat pump, immersion, direct electric or other Heat pump type Air source or ground source Heat pump electrical kWh a year consumption Heat pump seasonal Number performance factor Annual useful heat kWh demand Gas boiler efficiency Percentage Hot water cylinder Litres capacity Immersion heater power kW Storage heater count Integer Storage heater input kW each rating Storage heater control ALCS, internal timer, smart control or unknown type Heating use during 4pm Percentage to 7pm Ability to preheat Low, medium or high Desired minimum indoor Celsius temperature ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of people matters significantly for hot water use, but it should not replace measured energy data when bills are available.
The vehicle section must be repeatable because a household may have more than one car. For each vehicle record: ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Variable Unit or choice ---------------------------------------------- ------------------------ Vehicle make and model Text Battery electric or plug in hybrid Choice Total battery capacity kWh Usable battery capacity kWh Current minimum state of charge Percentage Desired departure state of charge Percentage Annual mileage Miles Vehicle efficiency Miles per kWh Home charging percentage Percentage Public charging percentage Percentage Workplace charging percentage Percentage Charger power kW Charger efficiency Percentage Days charged at home each week Integer Typical plug in time Time Typical departure time Time Required charging days Days of week Compatible with Intelligent Octopus Yes, no or unknown Compatible with vehicle to grid Yes, no or unknown Immediate charging frequency Sessions per month Maximum acceptable delayed charging Hours -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual home EV energy = annual mileage ÷ miles per kWh ÷ charging efficiency × home charging proportion Example: 12,000 ÷ 3.5 ÷ 0.90 × 0.80 = 3,048 kWh The household needs approximately 3,048 kWh of grid electricity a year for that vehicle at home.
Usable battery capacity × required state of charge increase ÷ charging efficiency Example: 70 × 0.55 ÷ 0.90 = 42.78 kWh A 7 kW charger would require approximately: 42.78 ÷ 7 = 6.11 hours This vehicle may fit within Intelligent Octopus Go's six hour allowance only marginally, while it would exceed the five hour Octopus Go window.
----------------------------------------------------------------------- Variable Unit or choice ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Solar installed Yes or no Array capacity kWp Annual generation kWh Roof orientation Direction Roof tilt Degrees Shading level Low, medium or high Solar generation by month kWh Current self consumption Percentage Current export kWh MCS or equivalent certificate Yes or no DNO approval G98, G99 or unknown Export MPAN present Yes or no Existing Feed in Tariff Yes or no Feed in Tariff generation rate Pence per kWh Feed in Tariff export method Deemed or metered Current export rate Pence per kWh ----------------------------------------------------------------------- The system must not assume that all solar generation is exported. Solar generation = self consumed solar + battery charging + exported solar + system losses
----------------------------------------------------------------------- Variable Unit or choice --------------------------------------- ------------------------------- Battery brand and model Text Total capacity kWh Usable capacity kWh Maximum charge power kW Maximum discharge power kW Round trip efficiency Percentage Minimum reserve Percentage Backup reserve Percentage Maximum export power kW DNO export limitation kW Solar charging allowed Yes or no Grid charging allowed Yes or no Grid export allowed Yes or no Automated tariff integration Yes or no Intelligent Flux compatibility Yes, no or unknown User controls schedule Yes or no Battery warranty throughput MWh Battery cycle warranty Cycles Estimated degradation cost Pence per kWh cycled -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Battery usable capacity × permitted depth of discharge
Energy charged × round trip efficiency Example: A 13.5 kWh battery with 90 per cent usable capacity and 90 per cent round trip efficiency gives: 13.5 × 0.90 × 0.90 = 10.94 kWh Only about 10.94 kWh may be returned after allowing for the selected usable range and losses.
The user should be able to add controllable appliances: ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Appliance Relevant variables ----------------------- ----------------------------------------------- Washing machine Cycles per week, kWh per cycle, permitted hours Tumble dryer Cycles per week, kWh per cycle, permitted hours Dishwasher Cycles per week, kWh per cycle, permitted hours Immersion heater Power, heating duration, cylinder capacity Pool heat pump Input power, operating hours, allowed schedule Hot tub Daily kWh, ability to avoid peak Dehumidifier Power and operating hours Electric cooking Daily kWh, normally difficult to shift Home office equipment Weekday daytime kWh Electric shower Power and daily minutes Air conditioning Seasonal consumption Battery charging Power and available time Storage heating Input power and required duration ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This is particularly important for Agile, Cosy, Go and Intelligent Octopus Go.
Annual electricity cost = annual electricity kWh × unit rate + 365 × daily standing charge
Annual gas cost = annual gas kWh × gas unit rate + 365 × gas standing charge
Annual cost = sum of consumption in each rate period × that period's rate + annual standing charge For Octopus Go: Cost = off peak kWh × Go night rate + remaining kWh × Go day rate + standing charge
For Agile: Annual cost = Σ half hourly consumption × matching half hourly import rate + standing charge
For Tracker: Annual cost = Σ daily consumption × matching daily rate + standing charge
Annual export income = Σ exported kWh × matching export rate
Net energy cost = electricity import cost + gas cost + subscriptions + exit fees − export income − tariff credits
The first year result should include:
The ongoing figure should exclude one off switching costs and show the expected cost for a full twelve month period.
Tracker, Agile and Agile Outgoing cannot be forecast accurately using one day's price. The system should show three scenarios:
Based on a lower historical percentile, such as the 25th percentile of recent prices.
Based on the consumption weighted average over a selected historical period.
Based on a higher percentile or stress period. The system must clearly state: A risk indicator should accompany each result: ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Risk level Meaning ----------------- ----------------------------------------------------- 1 Fixed rates or price cap protected 2 Variable quarterly pricing 3 Structured time of use pricing 4 Daily wholesale pricing 5 Half hourly wholesale pricing -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Eligibility must be checked before price ranking. A tariff should receive one of four statuses: 1. Eligible 2. Possibly eligible, equipment check required 3. Not eligible 4. Currently unavailable Examples: ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Tariff Eligibility test ------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Flexible Standard domestic supply Fixed Standard domestic supply Low Standing Charge Usage thresholds, meter type and trial capacity Tracker Working smart meter Agile Working half hourly smart meter Intelligent Go Compatible EV or charger and app connection Go EV or plug in hybrid and compatible smart meter Power Pack Compatible V2G car and charger, G99 and availability rules Cosy Qualifying electric heating Snug Compatible storage heating circuit and SMETS2 meter Flux Solar, battery, import and export smart metering Intelligent Flux Compatible battery and tariff availability Outgoing Eligible generation and export metering Prime Outgoing Eligible generation, ideally battery storage Agile Outgoing Eligible generation and half hourly export data SEG Eligible renewable generation, export metering Drive Pack Compatible EV or charger, one EV, Flexible or Fixed import ----------------------------------------------------------------------- The system must not recommend Intelligent Flux while it remains unavailable or Drive Pack while it remains oversubscribed, unless the user confirms that they are already enrolled.
The final recommendation should not be based only on cheapest estimated cost. Suggested scoring: ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Category Weight ------------------------------------------------------- --------------- Predicted annual cost 45 per cent Eligibility and technical compatibility 20 per cent Price risk 10 per cent User effort and automation 10 per cent Ability to meet charging or heating needs 10 per cent Contract flexibility 5 per cent ----------------------------------------------------------------------- The user should be able to alter the weighting. A customer who places a high value on certainty may give price risk a 25 per cent weighting. A technically experienced battery owner may reduce the effort weighting and prioritise annual cost.
The result should not merely say: Intelligent Octopus Go: £1,284 It should explain why. Example:
Your household has two electric vehicles and expects to charge approximately 5,900 kWh at home each year. Both cars are normally connected overnight, and your 7 kW charger can deliver most of the required energy during the six hour off peak period. You also use around 1,400 kWh each year for appliances between 11.30pm and 5.30am. That electricity would receive the off peak household rate as well. Your solar system is expected to export mainly during daylight hours, so the flat 12 pence Outgoing tariff is likely to pay more reliably than Prime Outgoing unless your battery is reconfigured for evening export. Estimated annual cost: £X\ Estimated saving against Flexible Octopus: £Y\ Price risk: Low to medium\ Automation required: Moderate\ Result confidence: High, based on twelve months of half hourly data The system should also explain why alternatives were rejected: - Prime Outgoing is unlikely to outperform flat Outgoing unless at least 42.86 per cent of export can be moved into the evening period.
The results page should show:
The tariff or tariff package with the strongest overall score.
The tariff with the lowest central annual cost.
The best fixed or price cap protected tariff.
The tariff that most effectively rewards use during lower demand or renewable rich periods.
Based on vehicle count, mileage, battery capacity, charger power and availability.
Based on import cost, export income, battery losses and available control.
For each tariff or package, show: 1. Estimated annual import cost 2. Estimated gas cost 3. Estimated export income 4. Standing charges 5. Subscription charges 6. Exit fees 7. Net annual cost 8. Monthly equivalent 9. Difference against current tariff 10. Eligibility status 11. Risk score 12. Effort score 13. Confidence level 14. Main benefit 15. Main disadvantage
The comparison should not permanently hardcode most tariff rates. Octopus provides a public REST API with: The base API address is: https://api.octopus.energy/v1/ The products endpoint is: https://api.octopus.energy/v1/products/ A product endpoint returns regional tariff codes, standing charges, unit rates, exit fees and product availability. Price endpoints can return the applicable rates for a requested period. The Octopus documentation confirms that public product and price information can be retrieved without authentication, while personal consumption data requires the customer's API credentials and meter details. For every price record, store: ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Field Purpose --------------------- ------------------------------------------------- Supplier Octopus Energy Product code Identifies the tariff version Tariff code Identifies region and meter configuration Direction Import or export Fuel Electricity or gas Region code Electricity distribution region Payment method Direct Debit, standard credit or prepayment Rate type Flat, day, night, peak, dynamic or subscription Price including VAT Consumer facing price Price excluding VAT Calculation and audit Standing charge Pence per day Exit fee Pounds per fuel Valid from Start date Valid to End date Retrieved at API retrieval timestamp Source URL Audit and verification Availability Open, restricted, paused or oversubscribed -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Useful currently listed API product codes include: ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Product Current code ----------------------------- ----------------------------------------- Flexible Octopus VAR-22-11-01 Octopus 12M Fixed OE-FIX-12M-26-07-09 Low Standing Charge Fixed OE-FIX-12M-LOWSC-26-07-09 Agile Octopus AGILE-24-10-01 Intelligent Octopus Go Fixed INTELLI-FIX-12M-26-06-13 Octopus Go Fixed GO-FIX-12M-26-06-30 Cosy Variable COSY-22-12-08 Cosy Fixed COSY-FIX-12M-26-06-25 Snug Octopus SNUG-24-11-07 Flux Import FLUX-IMPORT-23-02-14 Flux Export FLUX-EXPORT-23-02-14 Intelligent Flux Import INTELLI-FLUX-IMPORT-23-07-14 Outgoing Octopus OUTGOING-VAR-24-10-26 Prime Outgoing OUTGOING-PRIME-FIX-12M-26-06-23 Agile Outgoing AGILE-OUTGOING-19-05-13 Octopus SEG Export Only OUTGOING-SEG-EO-FIX-12M-24-04-05 Power Pack Export POWER-PACK-24-02-15 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- These codes will change when new tariff versions are released. The system should discover the latest available product rather than relying permanently on the codes above.
The best tariff is determined by the shape of the household's energy use, not merely the amount used. Two homes may each consume 8,000 kWh of electricity a year but receive completely different recommendations: - One may have two EVs charging overnight and be ideal for Intelligent Octopus Go. - One may use most electricity between 4pm and 7pm and be poorly suited to Agile. - One may have very low consumption and qualify for the Low Standing Charge trial. The Octary system should therefore calculate cost, confirm eligibility, assess practical compatibility and explain the result in normal language. It should show both the financial answer and the reason behind it. EDF's range is organised differently from Octopus, so I will treat each distinct tariff product or pricing model as a separate article rather than creating separate articles for every temporary regional quotation. The current series appears to require approximately 15 main tariff articles, plus a possible separate article about EDF Smart Charging because it is an add on rather than a complete tariff: 1. EDF Standard Variable 2. EDF Simply Tracker 3. EDF Simply Fixed 4. EDF FreePhase Dynamic 5. EDF FreePhase Static 6. EDF FreePhase Low Standing Charge Trial 7. EDF GoElectric 8. EDF Pod Point Plug & Power 9. EDF Heat Pump Tracker 10. EDF Empower Fixed Exclusive 12m 11. EDF Empower Fixed 12. EDF Export Exclusive 12m V3 13. EDF Export 12m 14. EDF SEG Export Variable Value 15. EDF SEG Export Variable EDF also has Sunday Saver challenges and a Smart Charging option, but these are benefits or add ons rather than complete tariffs. Closed or legacy products will not be presented as currently available unless they remain open to a restricted group. EDF's live household pages currently identify its standard, tracker, fixed, FreePhase, EV, heat pump, solar import and four export tariff categories.
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