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Octopus Go is an electricity tariff created for people who charge an electric vehicle at home. It offers a lower rate for five hours every night, while electricity used outside that window is charged at the quoted daytime rate. Unlike Intelligent Octopus Go, it does not communicate with a supported car or charger. The driver controls charging, making Go available to more vehicles and equipment. This guide was checked on 10 July 2026.
The cheaper period runs from 00:30 until 05:30 every day. Electricity used anywhere in the home during those five hours is billed at the night rate. The benefit is not restricted to the vehicle. A customer can also schedule appliances, water heating or a home battery during the same period. Safe operation should always take priority over savings. During the remaining nineteen hours, imports are billed at the daytime rate. Go covers electricity only, so gas must remain on another available tariff.
Octopus does not publish one national Go price because rates vary by electricity region and postcode. The standing charge can also differ. Customers must enter their postcode to see the current day rate, night rate and daily standing charge. Octopus is currently offering fixed Go rates because energy markets remain volatile. Customers should confirm the contract length, prices and leaving conditions shown during signup. For comparison, the Ofgem price cap from 1 July to 30 September 2026 uses an average Direct Debit electricity rate of 26.11 pence per kilowatt hour and a standing charge of 57.19 pence daily. These figures do not apply to Go.
Octopus Go is intended for customers who own or lease a battery electric vehicle or plug in hybrid and charge it at the supplied home. Ineligible accounts may be moved to another tariff. A wall charger is not compulsory because Octopus does not control the charging device. Anyone using a suitable domestic socket must still follow electrical safety guidance. The customer must first be supplied by Octopus Energy. New customers usually join a standard tariff while the company completes the meter connection and prepares the smart tariff switch.
A compatible smart meter must send half hourly readings to Octopus. The company says it can connect to second generation meters and some first generation models. Its Go page specifically identifies Secure first generation meters as generally compatible. Connecting to a meter commonly takes around fourteen days, although individual cases can take longer. Once Octopus receives half hourly readings, it sends the customer an invitation to accept the Go terms. The tariff then appears on the account. Smart meter data separates energy used during the cheap window from daytime consumption. The general terms allow limited estimation when readings are missing. Other missing consumption may be billed using Flexible Octopus rates.
Octopus Go provides a fixed nightly window rather than an automated charging plan. The driver must arrange for the car or charger to begin and stop at suitable times. Most modern vehicles and wall chargers include a timer. A smart charger can also manage the schedule through its own application. The important point is that Go does not create additional cheap periods outside 00:30 to 05:30. A 7 kilowatt charger running for five hours can supply about 35 kilowatt hours before losses. That may support roughly 100 miles of driving, depending on the vehicle, weather and journey. Drivers requiring a larger daily refill may need some daytime charging or may find Intelligent Octopus Go more suitable because it provides a six hour overnight window and managed charging at selected additional times.
The advertised cheap period remains 00:30 to 05:30 when the clocks change. Octopus warns that an in home display can show a different start time after a daylight saving adjustment. The app, online account and bill are more reliable for checking costs. Customers should confirm that vehicle timers have handled the change between Greenwich Mean Time and British Summer Time.
Solar panels do not prevent a customer from joining Octopus Go. A household battery can charge during the cheap period and discharge later, reducing imports at the daytime rate. The result depends on battery efficiency, capacity, degradation and export payments. Energy losses mean grid charging will not always produce worthwhile savings. Go can be paired with Outgoing Octopus, Agile Outgoing Octopus and the Octopus Smart Export Guarantee. Existing generation payments should be checked before changing export arrangements.
Go has the broader compatibility. It works with any electric vehicle or charger, but the customer must schedule charging inside the five hour window. Intelligent Octopus Go requires a supported vehicle or charger and an active connection through the Octopus app. In return, Octopus manages the schedule and provides six cheap hours for the home from 23:30 to 05:30, plus eligible managed vehicle charging at other times. Go may suit a driver whose equipment is unsupported, who prefers direct control, or whose usual charging comfortably fits into five hours. Intelligent Go may offer greater convenience and flexibility where the technology is compatible.
The best comparison uses actual annual household consumption and expected vehicle charging. Compare costs across a full year of driving. Separate the electricity likely to fall inside the cheap window from daytime use, apply the quoted rates, then add the annual standing charge. A low night price can be outweighed by an expensive day rate when most household consumption remains outside the window. Homes with electric heating, daytime occupancy or limited ability to shift demand should examine this carefully. Octopus Go is a practical tariff for drivers who want predictable overnight charging without device integration. Its value comes from disciplined scheduling, an accurate regional quotation and enough regular vehicle use to make the cheaper five hour period meaningful.
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