FAQ

Switch to Octopus Energy and you’ll get £50 credit once your switch is complete. Existing customer? Find out how you can benefit too. T&Cs apply (only one switching offer per household).

Yes. Octopus says customers who switch through a valid referral link can get £50 account credit once the switch is complete and the qualifying conditions are met. It is account credit, not a voucher or separate cash payment.

Octopus says the credit is normally added once your supply has switched and your first month's Direct Debit has been successfully taken. It often takes around four weeks, but it can take longer if the old supplier or the switch itself is delayed.

Octopus treats public or commercial promotion differently from small-scale personal sharing. This site uses affiliate wording and links where appropriate, and the public Octopus terms still apply.

The online signup only takes a few minutes. Octopus says it usually switches new customers within three working days unless you ask it to delay, and its standards say £40 compensation can apply if a switch is not completed within five working days once it has everything it needs from you. Dates can still vary because of meter details, address records, old-supplier objections or whether you choose to wait until after the 14-day cooling-off period.

No. Your gas comes through the same pipes and your electricity through the same wires regardless of supplier. Switching is a billing and account change, not a physical change to your supply.

Usually no. The new supplier normally handles the transfer and tells your old supplier. You should still keep opening readings, final bills and any credit-refund messages until both accounts line up.

Your old supplier should send a final bill after the switch. Octopus's standards say a final bill should be sent within six weeks after a customer leaves, with £40 compensation if that standard is missed. Keep the final bill, opening reading and credit-refund record until the old and new accounts agree.

If the energy account is in your name, usually yes. You normally do not need your landlord's permission to change supplier. If energy is included in your rent and the account is in the landlord's name, you normally cannot switch it yourself.

It depends on the tariff you choose. Flexible Octopus has no exit fee. Some fixed and smart tariffs can have exit fees or minimum terms, so check the tariff page and the terms shown during signup before committing.

You can, but check your current supplier's exit fees first. Some fixed deals charge per fuel if you leave early, while the final 49 days of a fixed-term tariff are usually the safer window to switch without exit fees. Compare the fee with any saving before moving.

It depends on your home, region, meter and when you use energy. Flexible is the simplest starting point. Agile, Go, Intelligent Go, Tracker and Cosy can be better fits for some households, but each has eligibility rules and risks. Use the tariff guides, quiz and postcode comparison tool before choosing.

Yes for most smart tariffs. Agile, Go, Intelligent Go, Tracker and Cosy all rely on smart-meter data and the tariff terms normally need half-hourly readings. Flexible Octopus can work without a smart meter, though you may still need to submit readings if your meter does not send them automatically.

Often yes, through your account or by contacting Octopus. Check the terms first because some tariffs have eligibility rules, fixed terms, exit fees or rejoin restrictions. A tariff change is not always instant, especially when smart-meter setup or device checks are involved.

Agile has a 100p/kWh Price Cap Protect limit, which protects against extreme half-hourly prices. The real day-to-day risk is more often expensive evening peaks. If you cannot move much use away from peak periods, a flatter tariff may feel safer.

Usually not straight away if you are on Flexible Octopus, because default-tariff prices are linked to the quarterly Ofgem price cap. Tracker and Agile are different because they follow wholesale markets more closely, so they can react sooner.

Not automatically. A short spike does not prove those tariffs have stopped making sense. They suit people who can tolerate movement and check prices. If you need certainty, a fixed or standard tariff may suit you better.

Usually the practical issue is price risk rather than your supply being cut off. Petrol-station headlines and home energy bills can both be affected by wider energy markets, but they are not the same thing.

It can be, especially when your usage fits one of the smart tariffs, but it is not automatically cheapest for every household. Check your postcode, payment method, standing charge, unit rates and any device eligibility before switching.

Energy suppliers normally install smart meters without an upfront charge. Appointment length depends on the property, meter type and whether gas, electricity or both are being changed.

This can happen, especially with older meters or after a supplier change. Keep manual readings while the setup settles, check whether bills are estimated and contact Octopus if readings or half-hourly data keep missing. For smart tariffs, app screenshots and charger data can help explain the issue, but Octopus billing depends on meter readings and tariff terms.

You do not have to use the app, but it is useful for balances, usage, meter readings, tariff changes and smart-tariff setup. The website is still there if you prefer managing your account in a browser.

No. This is an independent site run by an Octopus customer. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to Octopus Energy Ltd.

Through the Octopus referral link on this site. If you sign up using it and the referral qualifies, you get £50 account credit and this site may receive an affiliate commission. There are no ads, sponsorships or data-selling arrangements.

The postcode comparison tool uses Octopus tariff data so it can show regional prices. Broad guide pages avoid pretending that one national rate applies everywhere, because standing charges and unit rates vary by region and tariff.