Octopus Energy Saving Sessions

[Stranger Dings]

Does anyone know how the Octopus ”Power Hour” energy saving sessions are actually calculated?

I’ve taken part in all of them, but the results just seem totally random.

I’ve had sessions where we’ve switched off as much as we can and gone out, only to be told that we didn’t manage to save anything.

Some sessions, we’ve made very small savings, Including one where virtually everything was switched off and the whole family was in another country.

One session I forgot it was happening despite signing up, only to be told I’d managed to save 93% of my normal usage and be credited with over £16 off!

I’ll continue to sign up for them and don’t really do it expecting to save much as we are already quite energy efficient. It all just seems so random.

 

[ACarneiro]

Just checked on Whatsapp.
"Savings Session Alert: 5.30PM to 6.30PM"
"16th November"

Use less electricity during the saving Session ---- power you save compared to normal"

Unfortunately my normal consumption is zero. Batteries.

I’m in the same situation and checked their FAQs
If you have that ability and can export during the time slot you’ll get the £2.25p/kWh for any electricity exported, so still worth it for us.
That’s what I’ll do, let’s see what happens.

 

[Tony Hoyle]

I’ve taken part in all of them, but the results just seem totally random.

I’ve had sessions where we’ve switched off as much as we can and gone out, only to be told that we didn’t manage to save anything.

Some sessions, we’ve made very small savings, Including one where virtually everything was switched off and the whole family was in another country.

One session I forgot it was happening despite signing up, only to be told I’d managed to save 93% of my normal usage and be credited with over £16 off!

My experience exactly the same.. I switched everything off and sat grumpily in silence for an hour, and got told I'd saved nothing.. completely ignored it and got told I'd saved loads.

I hear they've tweaked it.. hopefully so it makes some kind of sense.

 

[Zilla91]

So if you've got a battery you may as well charge up in the hour before at full rate and then discharge for the hour in order to make a profit and not be left with any less power in the battery before you started?

 

[Pink Duck]

I’ve configured discharge for the full event duration of 17:00–18:30, even though I’m not able to take part. Generous, I know.

 

[ringi]

So if you've got a battery you may as well charge up in the hour before at full rate and then discharge for the hour in order to make a profit and not be left with any less power in the battery before you started?

No, better to be left with no power in battery until start of next cheap rate period, and not use less battery capacity between end of last cheap rate and start of saving session.

 

[Columbo]

So the in day adjustment of the magic 3hrs use as much as you can an hour just before the session is no longer counted?

 

[thewishy]

So the in day adjustment of the magic 3hrs use as much as you can an hour just before the session is no longer counted?

Correct, was gamed massively last year

 

[thewishy]

So if you've got a battery you may as well charge up in the hour before at full rate and then discharge for the hour in order to make a profit and not be left with any less power in the battery before you started?

In terms of battery cycles and losses, you're probably better off setting a reserve value instead

 

[Mrklaw]

In terms of battery cycles and losses, you're probably better off setting a reserve value instead

or just ride it out. its crappy weather today with barely any solar so my battery would be totally dead which would mean some peak rate before 23:30. But it may not be so empty as to need the 3kwh which is what an hour charging would have given it.

also useful to occasionally do a drain to empty before charging - probably helps the BMS?

 

[Js1977]

I’m in the same situation and checked their FAQs
If you have that ability and can export during the time slot you’ll get the £2.25p/kWh for any electricity exported, so still worth it for us.
That’s what I’ll do, let’s see what happens.

Seems that I have yet something else to sort as dont have the appropriate export menu for the powerwall. Ive emailed Tesla but might have to get in touch with the installer as dont understand how this wasn't set from the start when it was approved by the DNO. Grrr

 

[ACarneiro]

Seems that I have yet something else to sort as dont have the appropriate export menu for the powerwall. Ive emailed Tesla but might have to get in touch with the installer as dont understand how this wasn't set from the start when it was approved by the DNO. Grrr

Tesla can sort it all out for you.
Took them a couple of days to email me back when I asked for export (and a Site Export Limit) to be set up.
They're actually very efficient.

 

[cyclbatrob]

Tesla can sort it all out for you.
Took them a couple of days to email me back when I asked for export (and a Site Export Limit) to be set up.
They're actually very efficient.

What email address did you use? I’m surprised it’s not a customer definable setting

 

[ACarneiro]

What email address did you use? I’m surprised it’s not a customer definable setting

You can contact them on [email protected]

 

[btc1k]

Tesla can sort it all out for you.
Took them a couple of days to email me back when I asked for export (and a Site Export Limit) to be set up.
They're actually very efficient.

How do you then configure the PW to export battery during the Saving Session? Just about to get mine set up via Tesla, at the moment I just export all solar.

 

[ACarneiro]

How do you then configure the PW to export battery during the Saving Session? Just about to get mine set up via Tesla, at the moment I just export all solar.

Once they enable grid export you’ll have an option to export “Solar” or “Everything”.
If you set your utility rate plan properly (with the peak, off peak and export tariffs), when you enable “Everything” the Powerwall will start exporting stored energy.
It’s something you have to do manually.
So yesterday at 1730 I set the export to “Everything” and at 18:30 I put it back to “Solar”.

You can’t automate the Saving Session behaviour with the Powerwalls.

 

[Pink Duck]

Home Assistant can automate Powerwall and I just did manual Time-of-Use pricing manipulation to get it to discharge throughout, but that does involve messing up the costing estimates.

Still without any readings from yesterday, but then Octopus support did ‘nudge’ the meter in advance of session to see if that would permit opt-in.

 

[btc1k]

Once they enable grid export you’ll have an option to export “Solar” or “Everything”.
If you set your utility rate plan properly (with the peak, off peak and export tariffs), when you enable “Everything” the Powerwall will start exporting stored energy.
It’s something you have to do manually.
So yesterday at 1730 I set the export to “Everything” and at 18:30 I put it back to “Solar”.

You can’t automate the Saving Session behaviour with the Powerwalls.

Brill, thank you

 

[ringi]

You can’t automate the Saving Session behaviour with the Powerwalls

Why hot set the export payment per kwh for the times of the saving session based on the total income from exporting a kwh?

 

[ACarneiro]

Why hot set the export payment per kwh for the times of the saving session based on the total income from exporting a kwh?

Well, you’d have to change the tariff for that one day and then change it back anyway so that’s still manual intervention.
Many ways to skin a cat and that is indeed one of them

 

[Js1977]

Why hot set the export payment per kwh for the times of the saving session based on the total income from exporting a kwh?

I think the key is the "export Everything" and then change it back otherwise I think it might interfere with the calculation/export rate rate from solar (I think) haven't got it enabled yet to have a play.

Tesla can sort it all out for you.
Took them a couple of days to email me back when I asked for export (and a Site Export Limit) to be set up.
They're actually very efficient.

They did get back to me today after I sent them an email yesterday along with the DNO approval letter. Now replied back just by just filling the columns in. Looks a bit AI generated though but lets see.

Dear Tesla Powerwall customer,
In order to activate the Energy Exports feature, it is imperative to configure the correct export limit. If set incorrectly, your system could exceed limits imposed by the DNO or cause your solar system to curtail its output. We therefore kindly ask you to reach out to your Powerwall Certified Installer to determine the following:

1. What is your DNO-approved export limit?
2. Do you have a solar export meter installed? If so, what is the limit configured for the solar export system?

Due to high volumes of requests we cannot assist with interpreting DNO letters at this time. We kindly request that you respond to this email with your approved export limit and solar export details only. Please provide these limits only in the below table:

	kW
DNO approved export limit
Solar export meter limit (if you have one installed)

Thanks in advance for your cooperation.
Kind Regards,


Cordiali Saluti/Best regards,





Alberto - Energy Support Specialist EMEA



Contact: [email protected]



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