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.

 

[Pink Duck]

From the website of: “The ESO will again run 12 tests between November and March 2024.”

 

[ACarneiro]

From the website of: “The ESO will again run 12 tests between November and March 2024.”

"From January 2024 to the end of March 2024 the ESO will look to run a further six tests. If the forecast volume of participation in the service exceeds 1.25GW at this stage, these tests will be competitively tendered, without the use of a GAP.

DFS tests will last for one hour.

Live events are likely to last for a longer period if they are needed and could run up to four hours each."

So there's still the whole of March to go and live events could be whenever. That's good to know, thank you for making me look, I was being lazy

 

[Irata]

"From January 2024 to the end of March 2024 the ESO will look to run a further six tests. If the forecast volume of participation in the service exceeds 1.25GW at this stage, these tests will be competitively tendered, without the use of a GAP. "

In the FAQ in the link above. Plenty of time yet, until end of march, albeit with a wonderfully waffle worded forecast disclaimer.

 

[thewishy]

In general peak electric load on the grid is tied to cold weather, and margin gaps are tied to cold weather and low winds.
March is generally warming, hence Pink Duck's suggestion of next week as the conclusion.

Of course, it doesn't mean that live events can't happen. Believe they're planning to leave the system in place year round.

 

[thewishy]

DFS notification just went out for today, anticipatory for a same-day test event.

 

[Pink Duck]

It’s like they read my posts and see the same data then roll dice lately. Margin of 25.5 GW this evening, 9 GW wind turbine output forecast.

Perhaps the magic of 29th Feb drew them in. Or someone remembered there’s one to go.

 

[Pink Duck]

From National Grid system events:
“This is an indication that DFS Service Requirements might be published 29/02/2024 at 12:00 for Providers being tested.”

So we wait until just after mid-day to find out if it’s really on for tonight. 18:00–19:00 seems likely.

Plus the ESO’s bit about 6 events from Jan-March is rather negated by the 8 that happened between Nov and Dec 2023.

Tonight if it goes ahead would be the fourth in Jan–Mar window and I suspect the last. Reward rate if elevated might confirm.

 

[Pink Duck]

18:00–18:30 125 MW for all providers - the first ever half-hour one!

Including NPOWER COMMERCIAL GAS LIMITED for the first time.

Out with the whimper, more like.

I wonder what Octopus will bid… £0.75/kW? (made up to £1.11/kWh, for 888 OctoPoints?)

 

[Pink Duck]

£1.20/kWh bid as it turns out and National Grid ESO accepted OCTOP-01 (but £1.20/kWh for OCTOP-02 was rejected).

Over-procured this time in fact. 151 MW offered for £84,947.

 

[ACarneiro]

Nothing on Octopus website yet

 

[phil4]

Octopus have it up, 30mins from 6pm, at £1.75/kWh

 

[Pink Duck]

Just opted in for £1.75/kWh:

 

[yessuz]

HA auto opted in

 

[phil4]

HA auto opted in

Mine never bothers, can't rely on it.

 

[notmeguv]

HA auto opted in

Mine too, before it was visible on the Octopus app.

 

[yessuz]

Mine never bothers, can't rely on it.

Hmm.

So far it has been 100% accurate

 

[phil4]

Hmm.

So far it has been 100% accurate

never fires so 100% inaccurate

And that's a blueprint that really doesn't have any way of not working

 

[Pink Duck]

Accepted provider bid breakdown (MW):

1. Octopus Energy Limited = 93 (61.5%)
2. EDF Energy Customers = 28 (18.5%)
3. Perse Technology Limited = 14 (9%)
4. Gridbeyond Limited = 6 (4%)
5. Solo Energy Limited = 4 (2.5%)
6. CUB (UK) Ltd = 3 (2%)
7. Equiwatt Limited = 2 (1%)
8. Drax Energy Solutions = 1 (1%)

Rejected provider list:

• Ovo Electricity Ltd
• Engie Power Limited
• Infinis Limited
• British Gas
• Oaktree Power Limited
• Urban Reserve
• Gridimp Ltd
• Hildebrand Technologies
• Flexitricity Limited
• E.On Next Energy Limited
• Axle Energy Limited
• Utilita Energy Limited
• SSE Digital Services Limited
• Levelise Limited

 

[Pink Duck]

Just discovered that n3rgy now have ability to fetch export data, sooner than Octopus is able to load into my account, so…

9.8053 kWh average demand plus 2.497 kWh export in 30 mins ‘saving’ 12.3023 kWh = 17,323 OctoPoints (£21.65)

With 100 Streak Bonus OctoPoints plus a social media pub quiz including 800,000 OctoPoints prize (£1,000) from 18:00!

 

[GRiLLA]

Just discovered that n3rgy now have ability to fetch export data, sooner than Octopus is able to load into my account, so…

9.8053 kWh average demand plus 2.497 kWh export in 30 mins ‘saving’ 12.3023 kWh = 17,323 OctoPoints (£21.65)

With 100 Streak Bonus OctoPoints plus a social media pub quiz including 800,000 OctoPoints prize (£1,000) from 18:00!

How do you normally use 9.8kWh in 30 minutes ?