OVO which tariff first before heat pump add on

[connick159]

Hi all,

Considering a switch from octopus agile to OVO with heat pump add on.

We already have a smart meter and E7 so wondering if any experience / advice here regarding the best tariff for the baseline OVO tariff?

Was looking at the "simpler energy" one via direct debit but notice they also have the PAYG tariff with day and night rates similar to the "simpler" one.

Any thoughts or things to look out for.

Anyone on this heat pump tariff with thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

[JohnMo]

I moved from OVO to Octopus, would I ever go back NO.

 

Octopus - Not a single issue, that couldn't be resolved by picking up the phone and talking to someone in the UK, that was happy to help. You can change your direct debit easily with Octopus and see projected costs. 

 

OVO - I voted with my feet and moved.

 

 

[Dreadnaught]

I moved to Ovo from Octopus in October and am having problems with the "Heat Pump Plus" addon. I am giving them the benefit of the doubt for now but am not very impressed so far. I hope they will fix things soon.

 

My baseline tariff with Ovo is just their basic variable-rate one. No tie-ins. Given the problems thus far I am keen to be ready to depart at short notice.

[sharpener]

On 14/12/2024 at 09:02, connick159 said:

Considering a switch from octopus agile to OVO with heat pump add on.

 

IME Octopus Cosy is better - I have batteries and so can charge them three times every 24 hours and run the HP off them during peak periods. Off-peak tariffs are comparable.

 

The OVO HP integration AFAIR also potentially gives them control of your HP which I don't like the sound of even if they don't use it to begin with.

 

If you haven't got batteries Tomato is also worth checking, there is a thread about it.

 

 

Edited 4 hours ago by sharpener

[Dreadnaught]

3 minutes ago, sharpener said:

The OVO HP integration AFAIR also potentially gives them control of your HP which I don't like the sound of even if they don't use it to begin with.

 

Ovo Energy sent me an invitation to be part of their "Heat Pump Plus trial", where they will indeed control one's heat pump, aiming to heat the home when the grid is greenest.

 

They don't control your heat pump with the vanilla 15p/kWh heat-pump add-on.

[sharpener]

8 minutes ago, Dreadnaught said:

They don't control your heat pump with the vanilla 15p/kWh heat-pump add-on.

 

I would read the Ts and Cs very carefully, you are giving them access to your HP's API in order to read its energy usage so they can credit yr account with the difference. The two schemes seem to be inextricably linked, the link says

 

" * You’ll also need to be signed up to our Heat Pump Plus tariff and be an OVO customer."

 

It sounds as though this is a necessary but also sufficient pre-condition for their "nationwide heat pump flexibility trial" as its web page name is actually "heat pump plus trial".

 

Octopus have something similar in the works, I shall study it carefully but am not sure it would be compatible with my battery setup.

 

 

[Dreadnaught]

27 minutes ago, sharpener said:

Octopus have something similar in the works

 

Based on my past experience of Octopus Energy, I'd much rather swap back to them from Ovo Energy. Perhaps in due course I will.

[connick159]

1 hour ago, sharpener said:

"Octopus have something similar in the works, I shall study it carefully but am not sure it would be compatible with my battery setup."

 

 

Good to know, thanks.

Is there any publicly available info on this?

[connick159]

2 hours ago, sharpener said:

 

IME Octopus Cosy is better - I have batteries and so can charge them three times every 24 hours and run the HP off them during peak periods. Off-peak tariffs are comparable.

 

The OVO HP integration AFAIR also potentially gives them control of your HP which I don't like the sound of even if they don't use it to begin with.

 

If you haven't got batteries Tomato is also worth checking, there is a thread about it.

 

 

Would cosy be worth switching to, from agile, without any batteries?

We only have the heat pump and nothing else.

Will have a look at tomato too.

Cheers