Talk to me about... Energy Tariffs.

[The Hawk]

Last months bill my electricity was a touch under 8p/kWh, due to overnight charging. My gas now varies daily but is usually around 6p lately.

Last month my electricity worked out at 18.4p/kWh; gas was 5.3p/kWh.

My electricity rate is from a combination of Octopus Go cheap overnight rate and taking advantage of National Grid's Demand Flexibility sessions. Gas is Octopus Tracker.

My installation of batteries is on hold while I re-evaluate my plans. Meanwhile, the wind farm I have invested in should come online around the end of the year, which should reduce my electricity costs down to around zero. I'm also planning to invest a small amount in Ripple's new solar farm, to cover my increasing EV mileage.

Finally, I'm still hoping to replace my gas combi boiler, some time in the next 2 years, to an electric night storage combi boiler, at which point I will be all electric.

The ultimate goal will be to be all electric, with my wind / solar farm shares covering my energy bills and EV 'fuel' costs.

 

[tek-monkey]

WHAT!?

I'm paying something extortionate like 38p kWh plus 58p standing charge?!

You're in Scotland now yeah? You should be able to get an interest free loan to cover energy efficiency measures, so as long as the savings easily pay off the loan you're sorted.

 

[tek-monkey]

Last month my electricity worked out at 18.4p/kWh; gas was 5.3p/kWh.

My electricity rate is from a combination of Octopus Go cheap overnight rate and taking advantage of National Grid's Demand Flexibility sessions. Gas is Octopus Tracker.

My installation of batteries is on hold while I re-evaluate my plans. Meanwhile, the wind farm I have invested in should come online around the end of the year, which should reduce my electricity costs down to around zero. I'm also planning to invest a small amount in Ripple's new solar farm, to cover my increasing EV mileage.

Finally, I'm still hoping to replace my gas combi boiler, some time in the next 2 years, to an electric night storage combi boiler, at which point I will be all electric.

The ultimate goal will be to be all electric, with my wind / solar farm shares covering my energy bills and EV 'fuel' costs.

Octopus tracker is great, I wish I'd got on it sooner!
I did look at Ripple but didn't really have enough funds to invest then wait a long time for results, solar/batteries was immediate return of about £110/month over winter and should cover my whole £150/m in summer.

Gas is another matter, we just had a new gas boiler and expect to stay on gas while it's cheaper to use than electricity. That said our radiators aren't ideal and are very badly placed, and we nee to add a few really. I'm planning on installing air 2 air units in all the places that there is no pipework for radiators (the extension has no heating bar one small radiator on the wall of the original house), will cost a few k but much less upheaval than new radiator pipework plus losing kitchen units to place them, and the added benefit of cooling in the summer. I'll be adding a unit to the main living room too, so that I can use that when electricity is plentiful to offset the gas.

I am still debating underfloor for the extension, but that would have to be wet as electric underfloor costs a LOT to run.

 

[The Hawk]

Octopus tracker is great, I wish I'd got on it sooner!
I did look at Ripple but didn't really have enough funds to invest then wait a long time for results, solar/batteries was immediate return of about £110/month over winter and should cover my whole £150/m in summer.

Gas is another matter, we just had a new gas boiler and expect to stay on gas while it's cheaper to use than electricity. That said our radiators aren't ideal and are very badly placed, and we nee to add a few really. I'm planning on installing air 2 air units in all the places that there is no pipework for radiators (the extension has no heating bar one small radiator on the wall of the original house), will cost a few k but much less upheaval than new radiator pipework plus losing kitchen units to place them, and the added benefit of cooling in the summer. I'll be adding a unit to the main living room too, so that I can use that when electricity is plentiful to offset the gas.

I am still debating underfloor for the extension, but that would have to be wet as electric underfloor costs a LOT to run.

My gas boiler is 6 years old so, whilst I'm not in a rush to changeover, I am looking to go all electric sooner rather than later.

If I do go down the route of a night storage combi boiler, my night electricity usage is going to account for over 90% of my total usage, which reduces the financial benefits of a battery installation, hence why I'm delaying a decision on that, especially as I'm planning to replace my EV next year, which may offer a vehicle to grid solution.

I suspect I will end up with some small battery system, coupled with some home solar, although that won't necessarily be traditional solar panels; I'm keeping an eye on other solar technologies, such as solar blinds.

 

[That-Crazy-Rat-Lady]

You're in Scotland now yeah? You should be able to get an interest free loan to cover energy efficiency measures, so as long as the savings easily pay off the loan you're sorted.

Oo I hadn't heard of that!

What kind of measures do you mean - I've already done what I can - insulation etc

 

[tek-monkey]

Oo I hadn't heard of that!

What kind of measures do you mean - I've already done what I can - insulation etc

I've not looked into it as not eligible but loads of people get the loans for solar and batteries

 

[tek-monkey]

Oo I hadn't heard of that!

What kind of measures do you mean - I've already done what I can - insulation etc

Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan · Home Energy Scotland

Find out how to turn your house into a cosy, efficient home with grants and interest-free loans funded by the Scottish Government.

www.homeenergyscotland.org

 

[Cue]

I'm planning on installing air 2 air units in all the places that there is no pipework for radiators (the extension has no heating bar one small radiator on the wall of the original house), will cost a few k but much less upheaval than new radiator pipework plus losing kitchen units to place them

Unless the run is quite significant and complex, 3-3.5k is all you should really be expecting to pay at the top end for a couple of mini splits. I think we had a quote for £1400 including VAT per unit from a local firm, I ended up running the pipework myself and having an F-Gas friend of a friend commission the gas part of it as that’s the only legally required bit… cost me £800-1000 in all I think?

Tip: We have an over specced 2.5kw in the bedroom that we even manage to find beneficial in the home office (back bedroom) during the summer months as it can cover way more than the bedroom.

 

[staffordjas]

I'm just glad we could carry our 'Oct 23' tariff contract over from the old house to this one.
Took a few weeks ( in true Staffordjas tradition got f ooked up their end)
But bill rated Soooooo much cheaper than sons rates.

BG started inviting me to change to a dearer standard tariff, and ditch my fixed oct 23 " without penalty charges... not that stupid...paying a hell of a lot less at the moment!

 

[Cue]

Here we go… bit the bullet and moved to Agile after our Octopus Go tariff expired. We only had a 14% night rate utilisation over the past year and with Agile generally being sub-30p it made sense.

Add a handy little app with a Home Screen widget into the mix and I’ve got a nice quick way to check our current unit rate.

 

[The Hawk]

Here we go… bit the bullet and moved to Agile after our Octopus Go tariff expired. We only had a 14% night rate utilisation over the past year and with Agile generally being sub-30p it made sense.

Add a handy little app with a Home Screen widget into the mix and I’ve got a nice quick way to check our current unit rate.

My Octopus Go expires in July, so I'm hoping, with the end of the Government Energy Price Guarantee by then, that Octopus will be able to reintroduce some of its fixed price tariffs, including new Go tariffs. Otherwise, I'm tempted to go for Intelligent as things currently stand.

 

[tek-monkey]

Here we go… bit the bullet and moved to Agile after our Octopus Go tariff expired. We only had a 14% night rate utilisation over the past year and with Agile generally being sub-30p it made sense.

Add a handy little app with a Home Screen widget into the mix and I’ve got a nice quick way to check our current unit rate.

We're 98% night rate, due to batteries. Our go expires I'm September so we'd likely need to go back on the cheapest night rate again, but til then I may go onto flux once my export MPAN is sorted.

 

[tek-monkey]

Unless the run is quite significant and complex, 3-3.5k is all you should really be expecting to pay at the top end for a couple of mini splits. I think we had a quote for £1400 including VAT per unit from a local firm, I ended up running the pipework myself and having an F-Gas friend of a friend commission the gas part of it as that’s the only legally required bit… cost me £800-1000 in all I think?

Tip: We have an over specced 2.5kw in the bedroom that we even manage to find beneficial in the home office (back bedroom) during the summer months as it can cover way more than the bedroom.

Hmm, I can certainly fit it all, just the gassing part I'd need help with. Although I may need someone with better ladders for where I want 1 unit as it'll be a git to reach.

 

[Cue]

Hmm, I can certainly fit it all, just the gassing part I'd need help with. Although I may need someone with better ladders for where I want 1 unit as it'll be a git to reach.

Yeah you can’t do the gassing yourself, I mean strictly speaking you can below a certain size but you’d need various gauges, a vac pump, nitrogen, etc…

It’s probably a very good profession to get in with people turning to heat pumps tbh, with everyone looking at the grant and getting quoted £5k+ for an install in a semi after grand funding is applied, there’s probably good money in showing people that they can get more for less.

 

[tek-monkey]

Oo I hadn't heard of that!

What kind of measures do you mean - I've already done what I can - insulation etc

Is this any use? Heat pump for 500 quid in Scotland, then get the interest free loan for solar/batteries?

Discover our eco-friendly air source heat pumps - British Gas

Air source heat pumps are an energy-efficient way to heat your home, lower emissions and reduce costs. Learn more about the installation process and benefits here.

www.britishgas.co.uk

 

[Cue]

Is this any use? Heat pump for 500 quid in Scotland, then get the interest free loan for solar/batteries?

Discover our eco-friendly air source heat pumps - British Gas

Air source heat pumps are an energy-efficient way to heat your home, lower emissions and reduce costs. Learn more about the installation process and benefits here.

www.britishgas.co.uk

That price is still an absolute piss take IMO, they’re effectively overcharging those who don’t need pipe and radiator upgrades to cover the cost of those who do (though frankly radiator upgrades shouldn’t even cost that much). Ridiculous use of taxpayer money.

If they actually applied this grant to forced air ASHPs it’d be far less

 

[tek-monkey]

That price is still an absolute piss take IMO, they’re effectively overcharging those who don’t need pipe and radiator upgrades to cover the cost of those who do (though frankly radiator upgrades shouldn’t even cost that much). Ridiculous use of taxpayer money.

If they actually applied this grant to forced air ASHPs it’d be far less

I guess forced air won't heat your water, so you'd still use gas? Although my gas use is so heavily winter weighted it's obvious it's all heating.

 

[Cue]

I guess forced air won't heat your water, so you'd still use gas? Although my gas use is so heavily winter weighted it's obvious it's all heating.

It wouldn’t no, but on-demand heating of water with a heat pump I can’t imagine would be terribly quick either

You’d use instant water heaters at the sinks and shower, they cost about £90.

And yeah same, we basically use no gas in the summer.

 

[tek-monkey]

It wouldn’t no, but on-demand heating of water with a heat pump I can’t imagine would be terribly quick either

You’d use instant water heaters at the sinks and shower, they cost about £90.

And yeah same, we basically use no gas in the summer.

Yup! Tbf we were away in the summer for 2 months, but that was june/July so aug/Sept are real

 

[Lucy]

Intelligent Octopus have dropped their tariff quite a lot. Night time rate now 7.5p.