Why I switched from British Gas to Octopus

I switched to Octopus when my British Gas fixed tariff was coming to an end. I had also just bought an EV, so it was the right moment to look properly at what I wanted from my next energy tariff rather than simply rolling on to whatever came next.

The main thing that pushed me towards Octopus was Intelligent Go. I had heard a lot of good things about Octopus in general, then I did my own research and realised the overnight EV charging rate could fit the way I use electricity at home.

So this was less about running away from British Gas and more about moving to a tariff that made better sense for the next stage. This is what I actually did and what I would check before doing the same thing now.

Why I switched

My old fixed deal was ending, which is usually the point where most people take another look at the market. At the same time I had an EV on the drive, so a standard flat-rate tariff no longer looked like the best option for me.

Once I started comparing tariffs properly, Octopus stood out because of the smart tariff options and the amount of clear information available about how they worked. Intelligent Go looked especially attractive because it matched the way I wanted to charge the car: a fixed overnight whole-home window, smart scheduling for eligible EV charging and current prices that need checking against your own postcode before you switch.

The signup process

The signup itself was straightforward. I used a referral link, entered my postcode, confirmed the address and chose the Octopus tariff I wanted to move to.

It only took a few minutes online. That part of the process was simple. The decision before that point mattered more: I needed the EV tariff to fit the car, charger, smart meter and the way the rest of the house used electricity.

What I would check before copying this switch

Is your current fix inside the final 49 days, or would an exit fee still apply?
Do you want the switch as soon as possible, or on a later date near the end of a fix?
Will the old supplier have an up-to-date meter reading for the final bill?
Does your EV, charger and smart meter fit the current Intelligent Octopus Go eligibility checks?
Have you compared the whole-home cost, not only the overnight EV rate?

How long the switch should take

The exact timeline can vary, especially if you ask for the switch to line up with the end of a fixed deal. It is better to use the current rules than rely on memory from one switch.

Octopus currently says they usually switch new customers within 3 working days, unless you ask them to delay. Citizens Advice frames the wider switching rule as up to 5 working days when you ask to move as soon as possible, or a later start if you choose to wait until after the cooling-off period or the end of a fixed tariff.

In practice, timing around the end of a deal can make the overall wait feel longer even though the supplier change itself is routine. I would check the end date, any exit fee, the final meter reading and the new tariff start date before pressing ahead.

The important bit is that your supply does not get cut off. The gas still comes through the same pipes and the electricity still comes through the same wires. The switch is mainly a change of supplier and billing, not a physical change to your connection.

What stood out for me

The tariff choice felt more relevant to my home

This was the main reason for switching. Once an EV becomes part of the picture, your tariff matters more because you can shift a meaningful chunk of electricity use into cheaper hours. That is what made Intelligent Go worth looking at seriously.

The process was easier than expected

The application itself was quick and online, which is what most people want from a switch. It was mostly a case of choosing the right tariff and then letting the process run.

It made sense to switch at the end of a fix

If your fixed tariff is ending, that is a sensible time to review your options. General UK guidance says you can usually switch away from a fixed tariff without penalty in the last 49 days before it ends, which makes that window a practical point to compare suppliers and tariffs. After the switch, your old supplier should send a final bill within six weeks and refund any remaining credit within 10 working days of that final bill.

Would I do the same again?

Yes. For me, the switch made sense because my circumstances had changed. Once I had the EV, I wanted a tariff that actually rewarded overnight charging rather than treating every unit of electricity the same.

That is really the point of this page. If your current deal is ending and your household has changed, especially if you have added an EV, it is worth checking whether a tariff like Intelligent Go is a better fit for the way you use energy now. Use the EV calculator or live postcode tools before treating any one tariff as the obvious answer.

If you want the broader process rather than my own reasons for switching, the switching guide covers the general steps in more detail.