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Stretching your budget? Share tips and advice to discuss budgeting and energy saving here. For the latest deals and discounts, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Octopus Saving Sessions

808 replies

NewBootsAndRanty · 01/11/2022 15:53

Anyone signed up for this? Payments for shifting your energy use away from peak times/within a given timeslot each day.

OP posts:
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NewBootsAndRanty · 15/12/2022 16:04

Breakdowns:
I "saved"
0.737kWh (1329 points) 12/12 session
0.615kWh (112 points) 30/11
0.509 (920 points) 1/12

OP posts:
Brogues · 15/12/2022 18:06

63p saved this time which surprised me because everyone was home for the last one.

I just had the Tv and Christmas tree lights on yesterday and Ds(9) asked if we were energy saving again - he’s loving it but I felt 2 hours was a lot more effort than two 1 hour sessions even though me and DH regularly eat later.

smilingthroughgrittedteeth · 15/12/2022 23:08

We earned £6.75 this time and we had used the microwave during the 2hrs. 2hrs was definitely harder and the kids struggled with the last 30mins.

Torteela · 16/12/2022 07:28

Torteela · 12/12/2022 21:41

I opted in but then (purposefully) proceeded to do nothing for those two hours - if I earn something then great! I have earned an average of 72p per session so far, which means it simply isn't worth putting life on hold when we get in from work. DH is always starving after a long day and I need a cuppa so for the sake of 72p I am not going to postpone dinner and household chores.

Apparently cut down by 41%; 1500 points?! 🤔

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 16/12/2022 11:09

Last time, when I switched off everything, including the freezer and wifi, I didn't save anything. This time, I left those on and saved a massive.... 8p!

Really not sure how accurate their monitoring is.

Flapjackquack · 16/12/2022 11:16

@GreenFingersWouldBeHandy - If you switched off your WiFi, they wouldn’t have been receiving readings from your smart meter which may be why you didn’t save anything.

Freeasabird76 · 16/12/2022 11:17

I've saved £3.75 over 5 sessions,but my bill went up £50 in a month.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 16/12/2022 11:20

@Flapjackquack thanks but my smart meter is not reliant on my home wifi, it runs on a completely separate system.

www.smartenergygb.org/faqs/how-do-smart-meters-work

NewBootsAndRanty · 16/12/2022 11:21

@Flapjackquack i don't even have WiFi and my smart meter works

OP posts:
Flapjackquack · 16/12/2022 11:33

Oh! I thought you had to have WiFi for it to work, that’s what the engineer told me. Ignore my comment then!

WhatsitWiggle · 16/12/2022 15:47

@Torteela it depends how heavy your usage was in that period in the 10 weekdays prior. As that's how they calculate the savings. I've saved under 10p on two sessions, one where I wasn't even in the house and another where I pretty much carried on as normal!

froginawell · 11/01/2023 07:28

Have they given up on these? I figured they'd stop over Christmas, but are they not doing any more?

tribpot · 11/01/2023 07:59

I was wondering when the next one was going to be as well, @froginawell . There should be a test session in January even if the National Grid don't need to use it for realsies (which seems likely given the milder weather). Will do a bit of digging and report back.

tribpot · 11/01/2023 09:51

Okay so I think there were a couple of test events later on in December, but this was only for a subset of suppliers (I think the ones who hadn't completed the four test events that were meant to take place in November/December). Nothing yet about a test event in January.

HandbagsnGladrags · 11/01/2023 10:08

They also let people use their savings yet. Bastards. Without that £2.27 I can't heat my home 🙄

Baconand · 11/01/2023 10:11

Yes we save a fair bit using this-we turn it in to a bit if a challenge. Think it was £12 last session. We are high users though-2 electric cars.

Flapjackquack · 11/01/2023 10:20

Octopus just let me redeem mine for account credit.

D20 · 11/01/2023 12:08

A work colleague did one recently but we ended up discussing shifting our usage versus cutting down usage so I didn’t ask which supplier he was with.

poshme · 18/01/2023 17:01

Saving session tomorrow at 9am. Just got notification

Flapjackquack · 18/01/2023 17:09

Same, doubt I will save anything, my useable between those hours is about 5p. I’ll opt in anyway.

Lysianthus · 18/01/2023 17:14

poshme · 18/01/2023 17:01

Saving session tomorrow at 9am. Just got notification

Thanks for posting, I hadn't received a notification but I'll sign up.

tribpot · 18/01/2023 17:22

Ah great spot @poshme I haven't had a notification or an email yet. Just opted in - our usage is normally quite high in that hour as I would have the PC on, DH would have the TV on, some of the heaters might be on as well. Let's see how we go.

gingercat02 · 18/01/2023 17:33

Ha we will be crap at that.
Usually everyone would be at school and work. DH had a sudden illness and we are both off this week so our usage will actually be more.
He's recuperating from hospitalisation so I can't exactly switch everything off 😂

WinterMermaid234 · 18/01/2023 17:48

I didn’t get a notification either but just happened to be checking usage on the App because heating kicked in at lunchtime as our thermostat went below 14c. I’ve been working at home wrapped up like a ⛄️ Sod’s Law I’ve got an important video call at 9am or I’d happily delayed starting work to see if it made a difference 😂

danni0509 · 18/01/2023 17:48

I’m with British gas but did the first peak save in December. Saved £4.08 and they doubled it to £9.16, that was for 2 hours, 5pm-7pm.

Didnt get another invite until couple of days ago, did last nights which was for 1 hour, 5pm-6pm. Won’t know what I earnt back yet as they take a week or so to let you know.

Then just had another invite for in the morning 9am-10am, no one’s home at that time tomorrow so that’s worked out ok.