With these ongoing high agile prices, I’ve been wondering if it’s time to switch to another tariff. I’ve updated the Emoncms agile app to make it easier to compare different tariffs (currently all Octopus but it would be great to add others).
It’s now possible to compare two different time of use tariffs E.g Agile vs Intelligent Go, which looks to have been a lot cheaper recently!?
I haven’t tested the outgoing / solar mode so I’m expecting some bugs there. If anyone is using that mode on emoncms.org please let me know and I can investigate!
The law of averages is still working and with restrictions on switching back and forth, I’m sticking. I have a feeling they will have to adjust the Intelligent Go algorithm soon. Set in 2022. Also, I don’t have that option as an Import only customer with no PV, EV, or battery.
@TrystanLea have updated to 3.1.2. the rate being picked up for my current tariff (intelli-var-22-10-14-A) vary between the App and my Contract, is there something I’m missing?
I’ve improved the behaviour when you select a tariff that does not cover the full extent of the data, average unit rates are now calculated based only on periods with available tariff data:
I’ve also updated the python scripts for importing smart meter consumption data from the Octopus API, and added a script to fetch the meter serial and MPAN, see:
I am also sticking with Agile and with the lack of generation in current electricity market, it is difficult to foresee a reduction in current high prices at least for this winter. The issue to watch is the Governments decision later year to either remain with a fixed UK electricity price or move to zonal pricing. Agile will suit a zonal pricing structure.
I’ve just subscribed to the Octopus Compare App so I can look back a year. Compared to a Mar 24 Loyal Fix rate, I’m still winning on Agile, but by perhaps less than before - Jan-Feb this year hammered that.
I thought that the key comparison for heat pump usage should be between Cosy and Agile not the Go tariff. The 4pm to 7pm is the primary high price demand peak which most heat pump users can easily bridge with a modest battery and temperature setback combination. The rest of the day is low to average pricing on cosy with no surge pricing for the user to worry about on cold days.
I use two hours on battery and one hour temperature set back to bridge the early evening peak. This means I only need 6kWh usable storage. If you buy a hybrid solar inverter (say a Solis 3.6) with at least 7.2kWh battery and with 3 kW charge/discharge rate (say three 2.4kWh Dyness or Pylontech) it does the job automatically and later you can add solar panels. The kit costs me £2500 last year and the saving is around £1.50 per day for the 4 to 7pm session alone. Pay back is projected to be around 5 to 8 years (you can cycle them up to three times a day on cosy) and less with solar panels which are so cheap now.
These combined choices of tariff and demand shifting is more effective for my situation than the incremental improvements I can make on SCOP due to restrictions on emitter size. (But I accept they are not mutually exclusive)
An issue I am hitting with my calculations is solar reduces the return on investment for large battery capacity, as when solar is covering the load then the 7p/kwh electricity in a large capacity battery is not being used. (I assuming Fogstar DIY batteries.) Likewise having large battery capacity reduces the investment return from solar, as there will be enough battery capacity for a complete days load at times of year of good solar output.
It is hard to predict how much to export from batteries as its so costly if too much is exported, and Octopus may start to enforced the rules that their export rate is only for generation not storge.
If someone drives a lot of EV miles then Octopus IO starts to look better then Cosy regardless of battery size.
