For transparency, I work in the industry for a competitor so I'm clearly have my own views that I'd like to think are balanced.
They (Octopus) are very innovative, generally very good on service and price. I like and admire them as a company, there is a lot to like. Greg the founder is a top person and really good for the industry. They win consumer awards for good reason.
They, like all retail energy utility companies do not fit their own meters or operate them, these are MOP and MAP contracts and whilst they can escalate to try and expedite they are at the mercy of others, who reasonably are trying to protect their staff from excess risk due to Covid19. So for those waiting on meters being fitted or fixed, it isn't all in their (Octopus) hands.
However that said, I assume most EV drivers, at least in part, drive an EV to help the environment.
Therefore my biggest gripe with Octopus, is like most of the industry, they Greenwash. Although they are doing a lot to push the move to EV's and are trying through buying some wind turbines in December 2020 to go slightly more 'green' and have really good intentions as far as I can see.
However they are not green, the energy they sell you is NOT 100% renewable, despite what it says on the tin, they buy energy wholesale and it's brown, generally mirroring the current mix on the grid each day (now plus their own wind generation). So no more than 60-70% green on a good day. They claim 100% through buying certificates (REGOs) on the wholesale market, which are separated from the original generated energy and sold for very few pence per MWh, it is far far cheaper than buying real renewable energy to them, hence they sell it for cheaper than the 100% renewable suppliers.
PS UK Tesla Superchargers are 100% renewable and powered by more than one of the genuine 100% renewable companies (the energy company are not allowed to say that though). Or certainly were about a year ago when I checked last.
They (Octopus) are very innovative, generally very good on service and price. I like and admire them as a company, there is a lot to like. Greg the founder is a top person and really good for the industry. They win consumer awards for good reason.
They, like all retail energy utility companies do not fit their own meters or operate them, these are MOP and MAP contracts and whilst they can escalate to try and expedite they are at the mercy of others, who reasonably are trying to protect their staff from excess risk due to Covid19. So for those waiting on meters being fitted or fixed, it isn't all in their (Octopus) hands.
However that said, I assume most EV drivers, at least in part, drive an EV to help the environment.
Therefore my biggest gripe with Octopus, is like most of the industry, they Greenwash. Although they are doing a lot to push the move to EV's and are trying through buying some wind turbines in December 2020 to go slightly more 'green' and have really good intentions as far as I can see.
However they are not green, the energy they sell you is NOT 100% renewable, despite what it says on the tin, they buy energy wholesale and it's brown, generally mirroring the current mix on the grid each day (now plus their own wind generation). So no more than 60-70% green on a good day. They claim 100% through buying certificates (REGOs) on the wholesale market, which are separated from the original generated energy and sold for very few pence per MWh, it is far far cheaper than buying real renewable energy to them, hence they sell it for cheaper than the 100% renewable suppliers.
PS UK Tesla Superchargers are 100% renewable and powered by more than one of the genuine 100% renewable companies (the energy company are not allowed to say that though). Or certainly were about a year ago when I checked last.
