Have you ever looked at your Octopus Energy bill and wondered if a different tariff could save you money? Maybe you’ve considered Agile or Tracker tariffs, or thought about shifting your usage to specific times of the day. Well, let me introduce you to the excellent Octo Price app.
What is the Octo Price App?
Despite its name, the Octo Price app is a website that you can access here. It’s free to use and not officially associated with Octopus Energy. This tool analyzes your past smart meter energy usage data and compares it with various available tariffs, helping you find the most cost-effective option.
Getting Started
To get the most out of Octo Price, you need to be an Octopus Energy customer with a history of usage data. If you're not yet a customer, you can use simulated data, but real usage data provides the best results. If you’re considering switching to Octopus Energy, please use my referral code for a £50 bonus credit.
Using the Compare Tariffs Tool
Before using any tools, you must provide your Octopus account details and API key. This allows the app to access your data securely. Here’s how to find your information:
- Account Number: Log into the Octopus Energy website, go to “My Account,” and copy your account number.
- API Key: Under “Personal Details” in your account, scroll to “Developer Settings” and click on “API Access” to copy your API key.
How It Works
To fully leverage the Octo Price app, follow these detailed steps to compare tariffs and explore additional features.
Step-by-Step Guide to Using the Compare Tariffs Tool
Obtain Your Account Details
- Account Number:
- Sign in to the Octopus Energy website.
- Navigate to "My Account."
- Your account number will be listed under your name, usually starting with "Das." Copy it to your clipboard.
- API Key:
- Click on “Personal Details” beneath your account ID.
- Scroll down to the “Developer Settings” section.
- Click on “API Access” to view your API key. If it’s your first time, you may need to generate it. Copy this key to your clipboard.
- Account Number:
Input Your Details in Octo Price
- Visit the Octo Price website.
- Go to the menu in the top right corner and select “Compare Tariffs.”
- Enter your account number and API key in the provided fields and click “Submit.”
Analyze Your Data
- The tool will automatically retrieve your last year’s energy usage data from Octopus Energy.
- It displays how much you spent on your current tariff (e.g., Octopus Go) and compares it to other available tariffs.
Compare Different Tariffs
- You can add multiple tariffs to the comparison by clicking the plus icon.
- For instance, adding “Octopus Fixed” and “Octopus Intelligent Go” might reveal potential savings.
- Example: My data showed I spent £1,143 on Octopus Go. Switching to Octopus Intelligent Go could have saved me £150, although this requires a compatible car or charger.
Exploring Additional Tools
Load Shifting Visualizer
- Ideal for users on standard tariffs considering a shift to Agile or another time-based tariff.
- The tool displays your typical usage pattern, indicating potential savings if usage is shifted to off-peak hours.
- Example: Shifting usage to Octopus Go’s off-peak hours showed a £210 annual saving.
Tariff Hopping Tool
- Useful for optimizing tariffs based on seasonal needs.
- Compare your current tariff with others to see if switching mid-year could save money.
- Example: Comparing Octopus Go with Agile showed that Agile would have been cheaper in April, saving me £9 that month.
My Octopast Year Visualization
- A comprehensive visualization of your energy usage over the past year.
- Includes details like daily electricity and gas usage, weather patterns, and daylight hours.
- Allows you to download the visualization as a JPEG for detailed analysis or to display it in a frame.
Final Thoughts
The Octo Price app is an invaluable tool for Octopus Energy customers looking to optimize their energy costs. The developer regularly updates the site, adding new features to enhance your experience. Check out Tim’s rule of thumb video on Tim and Cat’s Green Walk for a deeper dive into tariff comparisons.
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