Octopus Energy: Difference between revisions

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==Consumer-impact summary==

===User freedom===

Though they offer ~~tarifs~~ that allow flexibility for battery owners, the 'Flux' tariff. The website states this is open to all, as long as the system is capable. There is no exclusion for DIY or any other type of battery mentioned on the website.

Though they offer tariffs that allow flexibility for battery owners, the 'Flux' tariff. The website states this is open to all, as long as the system is capable. There is no exclusion for DIY or any other type of battery mentioned on the website.

When you call to sign up, they only offer those for particular brands or manufacturers battery systems. This would include the systems they install, plus products from some selected manufacturers, a DIY battery system would not qualify for any special ~~tarifs~~. That is disappointing for owners of battery systems from others/DIY battery systems, and means they miss out on considerable savings. Octopus will miss out on returning stored solar to the grid during peak times, increasing reliance on high carbon electricity. <ref name=":0" /> <ref>{{Cite web |last=unknown |date=24 Sep 2025 |title=Solar PV & Home Battery General & Product Terms version 13 - updated on 08 September 2025. |url=https://octopus.energy/solar-terms-and-conditions-sept-2025/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924172733/https://octopus.energy/solar-terms-and-conditions-sept-2025/ |archive-date=24 Sep 2025 |access-date=24 Sep 2025 |website=Octopus energy official site}}</ref>

When you call to sign up, they only offer those for particular brands or manufacturers battery systems. This would include the systems they install, plus products from some selected manufacturers, a DIY battery system would not qualify for any special tariffs. That is disappointing for owners of battery systems from others/DIY battery systems, and means they miss out on considerable savings. Octopus will miss out on returning stored solar to the grid during peak times, increasing reliance on high carbon electricity. <ref name=":0" /> <ref>{{Cite web |last=unknown |date=24 Sep 2025 |title=Solar PV & Home Battery General & Product Terms version 13 - updated on 08 September 2025. |url=https://octopus.energy/solar-terms-and-conditions-sept-2025/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924172733/https://octopus.energy/solar-terms-and-conditions-sept-2025/ |archive-date=24 Sep 2025 |access-date=24 Sep 2025 |website=Octopus energy official site}}</ref>

It is not very clear from the website that with a DIY battery storage system you cannot access any of the enhanced tarifs, you need to call the solar team on '''0808 196 6842'''. They were quite clear that the solar with battery tariff was only available with systems they install, or specific manufacturers battery products. A further call will be made, to confirm and if permission is given to record it, be made available here.

It is not very clear from the website that with a DIY battery storage system you cannot access any of the enhanced tariffs, you need to call the solar team on '''0808 196 6842'''. They were quite clear that the solar with battery tariff was only available with systems they install, or specific manufacturers battery products.

The flux tarif page says this <ref>{{Cite web |last=unknown |date=24 Sep 2025 |title=Octopus Flux |url=https://octopus.energy/smart/flux/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924174530/https://octopus.energy/smart/flux/ |archive-date=24 Sep 2025 |access-date=24 Sep 2025 |website=Octopus energy official site}}</ref>

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It would be preferable to make it clear that only some battery systems can apply, and list them if possible.

===User ~~Privacy~~===

===User privacy===

Octopus claim "Fairer: Clear bills, simple emails, and transparent prices. We look after customers, and fight for everyone: highlighting suppliers' dirty tactics and campaigning for protections like the energy price cap."

Octopus claim "Fairer: Clear bills, simple emails, and transparent prices. We look after customers, and fight for everyone: highlighting suppliers' dirty tactics and campaigning for protections like the energy price cap."<ref>{{Cite web |last=unknown |date=2025-09-24 |title=Octopus energy - about us |url=https://octopus.energy/about-us/ |access-date=2025-09-24}}</ref>

~~Information from~~ <ref>{{Cite web |last=unknown |date=2025-09-24 |title=Octopus energy - about us |url=https://octopus.energy/about-us/ |access-date=2025-09-24}}</ref> ~~and customer experience.~~

===Business model===

~~Info from octopus to be added from~~ <ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=unknown |date=2025-09-24 |title=Octopus Energy: built to last |url=https://octopus.energy/blog/built-to-last/ |access-date=2025-09-24 |website=Octopus official website}}</ref>

<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=unknown |date=2025-09-24 |title=Octopus Energy: built to last |url=https://octopus.energy/blog/built-to-last/ |access-date=2025-09-24 |website=Octopus official website}}</ref>

===Market ~~Control~~===

===Market control===

Octopus are the largest single energy supplier in the UK, bigger even than British Gas. ~~So far they haven't been very monopolistic.~~

Octopus are the largest single energy supplier in the UK, bigger even than British Gas. {{CitationNeeded}}

==Incidents==

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===Example incident one (''date'')===

Though they offer ~~tarifs~~ that allow flexibility for battery owners, they only offer those for particular brands or manufacturers battery systems. This would include the systems they install, plus products from some selected manufacturers, a DIY battery system would not qualify for any special ~~tarifs~~.

Though they offer tariffs that allow flexibility for battery owners, they only offer those for particular brands or manufacturers battery systems. This would include the systems they install, plus products from some selected manufacturers, a DIY battery system would not qualify for any special tariffs.

It is not until you call them to try to sign up for the 'flux' tariff for example that you are told that only some manufacturers battery systems are allowed, this is counter to what is stated on the company website.

@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 ==Consumer-impact summary==
 ===User freedom===
-Though they offer tarifs that allow flexibility for battery owners, the 'Flux' tariff. The website states this is open to all, as long as the system is capable. There is no exclusion for DIY or any other type of battery mentioned on the website.
+Though they offer tariffs that allow flexibility for battery owners, the 'Flux' tariff. The website states this is open to all, as long as the system is capable. There is no exclusion for DIY or any other type of battery mentioned on the website.
-When you call to sign up, they only offer those for particular brands or manufacturers battery systems. This would include the systems they install, plus products from some selected manufacturers,  a DIY battery system would not qualify for any special tarifs. That is disappointing for owners of battery systems from others/DIY battery systems, and means they miss out on considerable savings. Octopus will miss out on returning stored solar to the grid during peak times, increasing reliance on high carbon electricity. <ref name=":0" /> <ref>{{Cite web |last=unknown |date=24 Sep 2025 |title=Solar PV & Home Battery General & Product Terms version 13 - updated on 08 September 2025. |url=https://octopus.energy/solar-terms-and-conditions-sept-2025/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924172733/https://octopus.energy/solar-terms-and-conditions-sept-2025/ |archive-date=24 Sep 2025 |access-date=24 Sep 2025 |website=Octopus energy official site}}</ref>
+When you call to sign up, they only offer those for particular brands or manufacturers battery systems. This would include the systems they install, plus products from some selected manufacturers, a DIY battery system would not qualify for any special tariffs. That is disappointing for owners of battery systems from others/DIY battery systems, and means they miss out on considerable savings. Octopus will miss out on returning stored solar to the grid during peak times, increasing reliance on high carbon electricity. <ref name=":0" /> <ref>{{Cite web |last=unknown |date=24 Sep 2025 |title=Solar PV & Home Battery General & Product Terms version 13 - updated on 08 September 2025. |url=https://octopus.energy/solar-terms-and-conditions-sept-2025/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924172733/https://octopus.energy/solar-terms-and-conditions-sept-2025/ |archive-date=24 Sep 2025 |access-date=24 Sep 2025 |website=Octopus energy official site}}</ref>
-It is not very clear from the website that with a DIY battery storage system you cannot access any of the enhanced tarifs, you need to call the solar team on '''0808 196 6842'''. They were quite clear that the solar with battery tariff was only available with systems they install, or specific manufacturers battery products. A further call will be made, to confirm and if permission is given to record it, be made available here.
+It is not very clear from the website that with a DIY battery storage system you cannot access any of the enhanced tariffs, you need to call the solar team on '''0808 196 6842'''. They were quite clear that the solar with battery tariff was only available with systems they install, or specific manufacturers battery products.
 The flux tarif page says this <ref>{{Cite web |last=unknown |date=24 Sep 2025 |title=Octopus Flux |url=https://octopus.energy/smart/flux/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924174530/https://octopus.energy/smart/flux/ |archive-date=24 Sep 2025 |access-date=24 Sep 2025 |website=Octopus energy official site}}</ref>
@@ Line 24: / Line 23: @@
 It would be preferable to make it clear that only some battery systems can apply, and list them if possible.
-===User Privacy===
+===User privacy===
-Octopus claim "Fairer: Clear bills, simple emails, and transparent prices. We look after customers, and fight for everyone: highlighting suppliers' dirty tactics and campaigning for protections like the energy price cap."
+Octopus claim "Fairer: Clear bills, simple emails, and transparent prices. We look after customers, and fight for everyone: highlighting suppliers' dirty tactics and campaigning for protections like the energy price cap."<ref>{{Cite web |last=unknown |date=2025-09-24 |title=Octopus energy - about us |url=https://octopus.energy/about-us/ |access-date=2025-09-24}}</ref>
-Information from <ref>{{Cite web |last=unknown |date=2025-09-24 |title=Octopus energy - about us |url=https://octopus.energy/about-us/ |access-date=2025-09-24}}</ref> and customer experience.
 ===Business model===
-Info from octopus to be added from <ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=unknown |date=2025-09-24 |title=Octopus Energy: built to last |url=https://octopus.energy/blog/built-to-last/ |access-date=2025-09-24 |website=Octopus official website}}</ref>
+<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=unknown |date=2025-09-24 |title=Octopus Energy: built to last |url=https://octopus.energy/blog/built-to-last/ |access-date=2025-09-24 |website=Octopus official website}}</ref>
-===Market Control===
+===Market control===
-Octopus are the largest single energy supplier in the UK, bigger even than British Gas. So far they haven't been very monopolistic.
+Octopus are the largest single energy supplier in the UK, bigger even than British Gas. {{CitationNeeded}}
 ==Incidents==
@@ Line 41: / Line 38: @@
 ===Example incident one (''date'')===
 {{Main|link to the main CR Wiki article}}
-Though they offer tarifs that allow flexibility for battery owners, they only offer those for particular brands or manufacturers battery systems. This would include the systems they install, plus products from some selected manufacturers, a DIY battery system would not qualify for any special tarifs.
+Though they offer tariffs that allow flexibility for battery owners, they only offer those for particular brands or manufacturers battery systems. This would include the systems they install, plus products from some selected manufacturers, a DIY battery system would not qualify for any special tariffs.
 It is not until you call them to try to sign up for the 'flux' tariff for example that you are told that only some manufacturers battery systems are allowed, this is counter to what is stated on the company website.