Octopus Energy: Plans, Contact & Reviews in 2021

Octopus Energy
Founded	2015
Client Email	hello@octopus.energy
Client Number	0330 808 1080
Log in	Log into your Octopus Energy account here
Number of clients	600,000

The ‘Green’ sheep of the big six family

Octopus is one of the greenest energy suppliers on the market. They provide 100% green electricity to their customers. In terms of gas, they do their best to offset much of their customers’ usage.

The natural gas from octopus energy, on the other hand, isn’t green, but very few suppliers currently claim to be able to provide green gas for their customers. Customers who decide to go for a Super Green tariff also get all their gas carbon offset by Octopus. This means that what you use in gas, they then buy back from the grid. Again, this makes Octopus green tariffs a good option compared to others on the market

It’s important to note that they are the UK’s largest investor in solar energy. 40% of all solar energy is generated from these farms that are funded by the Octopus Group! So green energy is certainly at the forefront of their business model

Do Octopus have a renewable energy plan?

Yes – their Super Green tariff is one of the greenest plans on the market. Not only does it offer 100% renewable electricity, which is the case for all of Octopus’ plans, they also offset all the gas you use through this plan. This means that your energy consumption is carbon neutral.

As well as this, Octopus is aiming to plant 10,000 trees in the UK as part of their carbon offsetting plans. They want to offset 20,000 tonnes of CO2 released into the atmosphere.

How does carbon offsetting work?

Octopus Energy works with a partner company called “Renewable World” in order to carbon offset the gas they sell to their customers. Renewable World is an organisation that works around the world to tackle poverty through the use of renewable energy. When it comes to carbon offsetting in particular, the techniques used to balance out the carbon created by an energy source include the following:

• Taking CO2 out of the atmosphere by planting trees so soak up the carbon micro-particulates, or working to maintain existing carbon sinks“
• Providing low carbon energy alternatives for places which would otherwise have to use fossil fuels which generate high emission levels.

Why doesn’t Octopus Energy supply green gas?

The answer to that question is fairly simple. ‘Green gas’, which is offered by some suppliers in the UK is more expensive than the conventional alternative, and Octopus Energy is always working to keep prices as low as possible for their customers. In addition to this is the fact that green gas has some features which make it slightly less eco-friendly than you might imagine. Green gas takes the form of biogas, which is created when you heat the following types of natural matter in sealed containers:

• Food waste
• Animal slurry
• Vegetation

Once this gas has been created it has to be transported to the distributor using trucks which travel by road, using large amounts of petrol and belching out fumes. Instead of supplying bio-gas directly this way, Octopus Energy opts to use it to generate cleaner electricity which they can then supply directly to customers. Gas customers who want to do a little bit more for the environment can pay a small fee to go on the Super Green tariff and have the carbon generated by their gas use offset.

How is Octopus Energy able to guarantee the green nature of the electricity provided?

Much of the electricity which Octopus Energy sells to customers comes from solar sites which are run by Octopus Group, the parent company of Octopus Energy, which is the largest investor in solar farms in the UK. If it has to buy any energy from other sources it provides customers with a Renewable Energy Guarantee of Origin certificate

Is the Green Energy provided by Octopus Energy affordable?

The short answer to that question is yes. Of the other suppliers of green energy in the UK, only Bulb seem to offer a lower KWH price for gas and electricity, but their standing charges (the daily rate which is charged on top of the amount for usage to cover the cost of transporting the energy from its generating source to the customer) are 4 pence per day higher for gas.

Talking about price, let’s get down to business.

Octopus’ electricity, gas and dual energy plans

Octopus Energy has a range of fixed and variable tariffs to choose from, including innovative tariffs and their standard plans. However, no matter how innovative the tariff is, none of them have exit fees. Despite the fact that it is not quite their cheapest tariff, the Super Green is the most popular tariff offered by Octopus Energy, presumably on the grounds that it offers carbon offsetting.

Octopus Tariff Plans annual total average cost

As one of the largest energy suppliers in the UK Octopus Energy offers a large variety of tariff options meant to address the needs of every customer. As a result, Octopus is constantly shifting and adjusting its tariff plans to meet the needs of the market and compete with other energy suppliers. In this section, we have broken down the annual total average cost of their most popular tariff options and given you the average annual costs of their top dual fuel plans.

These costs can be seen here:

Octopus Energy variable rate tariff options

Octopus Energy’s two top performing variable rate tariff plans are very different from one another, the first is Octopus Energy’s standard variable rate tariff, called Flexible Octopus. This is the tariff plan that customers will default onto when their contract with a long term tariff concludes and will remain their active tariff plan until they choose to sign a new contract. The second variable rate tariff plan is called Octopus Tracker, which is a tariff plan that changes its prices every day! Both of these tariff plans do not have any contracts so customers are free to sign up for a different tariff plan at their convenience.

However, it is important to note that as variable rate tariffs the prices for these tariffs can go up or down in order to reflect the cost of energy within the UK, which can increases or decreases on a daily basis. If energy prices in the UK are going to increase drastically, your energy provider will let you know in advance so you can prepare your finances accordingly.

Average prices and rates for these tariff plans can be seen here:

Octopus Energy fixed rate tariff options

Octopus Energy offers a wide variety of fixed rate tariff options for their customers that vary in length, and among their most popular are a number of 12 month fixed rate tariffs and a couple 24 month fixed rate tariffs. These tariffs offer a fixed rate, which means that the cost of your energy will not increase or decrease at all throughout the duration of your tariff contract. This has its advantages as it locks in your rate so that you pay the same rate even if the cost of energy within the UK goes up.

Average costs and rates for these tariff options can be seen here:

Does Octopus have Economy 7 tariffs?

Octopus have lots of Economy 7 tariffs. What an E7 tariff means is that your electricity bill will feature a standing charge and two separate unit rates. The first unit rate will reflect the use of energy during peak consumption hours, typically during the day, and the second unit rate will reflect the use of energy during off-peak hours such as nighttime. The E7 electricity tariff is a very economical way to reduce costs associated with your energy bill and is ideal for electric car owners that charge their cars at night, but it is only available to customers that have an Economy 7.

Average costs and rates or these tariffs can be seen here:

Exit fees are £0.

What is Octopus’ best plan?

Remember, there is no best plan from any supplier. It’s important to pick a plan that best suits your household’s energy requirements, which will definitely be different from other people’s. So, while it’s important to read plenty of reviews, and talk to your friends about their plans, the best and most foolproof way to know which plan is optimal for you is to call us and chat through your priorities.

It’s not all about price, but about your environmental priorities too. So give us a ring on 0330 818 6223 and one of our experts will find you the best Octopus Energy plan.

What do customer reviews say about Octopus Energy?

It’s often said that the ethos of a company is set from the very top of the company down. If that’s the case then it might be safe to assume that the customer service at Octopus Energy is excellent, based on the fact that the founder and head of the company, Greg Jackson, spends time every working day actually picking up the phone and dealing with customer queries. This is tangible when you study Octopus Energy’s customer reviews.

In addition to this recommendation, the UKPower website rated Octopus Energy as the top rated supplier in the country, with a customer satisfaction score of 83%. It’s a similar story over at Trustpilot, where 34,721 customer reviews have resulted in customer ratings which are 91% excellent and 5% great. A typical Trustpilot comment on Octopus energy is the following:

“I have found Octopus to be extremely efficient and quick to answer any queries I have. My brother recommended I switch to you, and I am very pleased to have done so. Keep up the good work!”

The consumer organisation Citizen’s Advice publish annual ratings for energy suppliers and, under these ratings Octopus Energy were ranked seventh, with a score of 3.85 out of 5 based on customer rankings on factors such as:

• Number of complaints
• Ease of contact
• Bills which are clear and easy to understand
• Ease of switching

What other services does Octopus Energy provide?

Does Octopus energy supply to customers with prepayment meters?

If you use a prepayment meter then you will need to email Octopus Energy at prepayment@octopus.energy and provide the following information:

• Your address including postcode
• Do you use a card and/or key to top up your meter(s) or can you do it via an app?
• Do you have a standard meter or an Economy 7 meter?
• What is the amount of energy you use in KWH? If you use an Economy 7 meter then you’ll need to break down your usage to day and night.

I have an electric vehicle – what are my options with Octopus?

• The Octopus Electric Vehicle’s initiative means that anyone who owns an electric vehicle can charge it for a very reduced rate, and even lease out the vehicle.
• Octopus Energy even have deals with electric vehicle companies, meaning you can opt for a monthly plan and get a good deal on your new car. This way, you can also get a great deal on your car insurance with Octopus, and be eligible for discounts and other deals and plans.
• Octopus Energy will also install your EV charging port for you in your home.
• Now, pick your EV energy tariff. Octopus have an energy tariff for your EV needs, called the Octopus Go tariff. With this tariff, you get much cheaper rates on electricity when you want to charge up your car. During off-peak times, such as between 12:30am and 4:30am, electricity costs per kWh can go as low as 5p.

So, not only can you buy and insure your new electric vehicle for a reasonable price with Octopus Energy, you can also charge it and maintain it for a very fair price. They have support services for anyone on this tariff available.

As with all of Octopus’ energy plans, there are no exit fees, so you can switch to a new plan, or even a new supplier, whenever.

Will Octopus install a smart meter in my home?

Yes!

• Octopus offer their customers smart meters and, unlike some other independent energy suppliers, you are eligible for one no matter where you live.
• They are also trying to install the latest version of smart meters on the market, which will allow you to keep your smart meter if you switch over to another supplier, instead of having to get a new one installed, which is nifty.
• To make the most of Octopus’ energy tariffs, you should definitely consider getting a smart meter installed. This is because, with an Octopus Energy smart meter, you can track your energy consumption and see when tariffs go up and down. If you opt for the Agile Octopus tariff, this will be very handy!
• If you already have a smart meter, you might be able to switch to Octopus Energy without having to get a new one installed, but it depends on the smart meter you currently have. So, if you have a first generation smart meter, it has to be a secure meter, and then you can switch over to Octopus without the need for another installation. If it’s not secure, you will have to upgrade.
• If you have a second generation smart meter, then you can go ahead and switch with no problems and no further installation.

Do Octopus have business energy deals?

Octopus Energy business tariffs are pretty varied and exhaustive. They have 3 main business tariffs to choose from, and like their domestic tariffs, their electricity is 100% renewable.

• If you want a very green business tariff, then you should opt for Octopus greenest business. This is a fixed tariff, meaning that prices stay the same for one year. However, it is a very sustainable tariff and they aim to offset all your gas usage.
• Another fixed tariff for your business is Octopus fixed business. Makes sense. This also means that prices are fixed for one year, so they are not subject to change. However, you can’t choose this tariff if you just want a gas plan. It’s only available for dual fuel, or sole electricity.
• Finally, if you want a variable tariff for your business, you should choose Octopus flexible business. This means that the prices of the tariff change depending on market price fluctuations, which are pretty constant.

On top of this, none of these plans have any exit fees.

Additional information about Octopus Energy

• In 2000, the Octopus Group was founded by Simon Rogerson and Chris Hulatt. In 2015, Octopus Energy officially began trading as an independent subsidiary company of the Octopus Group, with Greg Jackson as the CEO. Now, the Octopus Group focuses both on energy supply and financial services, as well as investments, healthcare, and property.
• Today, Octopus Energy has over 1 million customers. They have been growing exponentially since 2015, on average gaining around 30,000 customers every month.
• In 2018, Octopus and M&S Energy joined together in a partnership. This meant that Octopus Energy would take over all M&S energy supply. Octopus gained a lot of attention for this partnership, given that SSE was the former partner of M&S. SSE is one of the Big 6, so this demonstrated Octopus’ rapid and impressive growth in just 3 years.
• Last year in 2019, Octopus also took on all Coop Energy. This meant that Octopus became in charge of all the energy supply from Coop Energy to their 30,000 customers, allowing them to stay afloat.

What does Octopus Energy need to provide a quote?

If you want to find out whether octopus energy could save you money on energy then you only have to provide a few simple pieces of information:

• Your postcode – since the price of energy varies across different parts of the country
• Whether you want electricity only or gas and electricity (Octopus Energy don’t provide a gas-only tariff)
• Your type of meter – choosing from Standard, Smart and Economy
• Whether your energy use is Low, Medium or High

Energy for you and energy for me: A switching bonus

If you’re thinking of switching to Octopus Energy and you know somebody who already uses them, then ask your friend to refer you and, when you switch to octopus Energy, you’ll both receive a credit on your account worth £50. Once you’re an Octopus energy customer you can refer another friend and you’ll both get another £50 credit.

How does Octopus Energy measure energy use?

Of course, different people might have different ideas of what ‘high’, ‘medium’ and ‘low’ energy use looks like, so Octopus Energy provide the following templates, based on national averages:

Low consumption homes – 1 or 2 bedrooms

• Empty on most weekdays
• Built after 1970
• Average energy use – 1800 kWh of electricity and 8000 kWh of gas

Medium consumption homes – 3 to 5 bedrooms

• 3 to 5 occupants
• Some people might be home during the day
• Average energy use – 2900 kWh of electricity and 12000 kWh of gas

High consumption homes – 4 or more bedrooms

• Might have been built before 1970s
• Need lots of heat provided
• Average energy use – 4300 kWh of electricity and 17000 kWh of gas

For a more accurate estimate of how much energy you use, you can get a quote from Octopus Energy based on any recent bill. If a bill isn’t available then an estimate will be used and the accuracy of this estimate will be checked a month or so after you switch.

Contacting Octopus Energy

App

The Octopus Energy app is functional and free! It provides the same service as the Octopus website, allowing you to top up, submit energy readings and contact customer services. Unfortunately, if you are an Android user, you’re not in luck. The app is currently only available to Apple users.

Speaking of apps, Octopus Energy has also partnered up with the app ‘If This Then That’. This app is integrated with devices in your home to make sure you are using energy in a smart way. You can track how much energy these devices are using and make smarter choices. For example, let’s say you wanted to use your hairdryer. The app will tell you when it is cheapest to use this device, so you can plan your hair-wash and dry around the cheapest time of the day.

Site

You can head over to the Octopus Energy website which will provide you not only with information about their tariffs, but also allows you to top-up your prepayment card, submit meter readings, and contact customer services. Both the website and the app are very easy ways to manage your account with Octopus Energy.

Social Media

Octopus have all social media pages up and running, and they are pretty hot on customer service on these platforms too. So, if you want a very easy and quick way to get hold off customer service over at Octopus energy, you should head over to their Twitter or Facebook pages.

In person

If you want to speak to someone directly at Octopus, or send them a letter in the post, then you can head to or write to this address:

Octopus Energy – 1 Upper James St, Soho London W1F 9DE, United Kingdom

Octopus Energy in your area

Octopus Energy, like all other suppliers, offer different prices and conditions depending on your locality. To help you navigate this we created pages that detail these local offers for all major UK counties and cities. Find yours by following the links bellow:

• East of England
• East Midlands
• Greater London
• North East
• North Scotland
• North Wales
• North West
• South East
• South Scotland
• South Wales
• South West England
• West Midlands
• Yorkshire

East of England

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East Midlands

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Greater London

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North East

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North Scotland

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Octopus Energy in Orkney

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North Wales

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North West

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Octopus Energy in Greater Manchester

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South East

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Octopus Energy in Isle of Wight

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Octopus Energy in West Sussex

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South Scotland

Octopus Energy in Dumfries and Galloway

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Octopus Energy in Dunbartonshire

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