Aaron Wilkes, a 36-year-old train driver from Sittingbourne, Kent, expects to save £2,000 a year on his energy bills after switching to a dynamic smart tariff. He moved from Octopus Energy's Go tariff to the Agile Octopus tariff two months ago, and the change has already made a "huge difference" to his finances.
How the Agile Tariff Works
The Agile Octopus tariff updates electricity prices every 30 minutes to reflect wholesale market rates. This encourages customers to shift high-energy tasks—such as running washing machines, charging electric vehicles, or heating water—to off-peak times when power is cheaper and often greener. According to Octopus Energy, their smart tariffs have helped customers save around £1 billion on energy bills in recent years, with over £200 million saved in 2026 alone.
Mr Wilkes said: "I started out on the Octopus Go tariff, and moved over to Agile around two months ago. The way I see it, the smart meter is the lock and the tariff is the key. Together, they unlock real savings."
Automated Energy Management
Mr Wilkes has automated much of his home energy use. Each day around 4pm, Octopus releases the next day's prices, allowing him to plan when to charge his cars, heat water, run appliances, or use his home battery. If prices are high, he relies on the battery; if they drop, he uses grid electricity.
He noted a particularly striking example: "Last Saturday, when prices went negative, we actually made around £4 by using electricity. We charged both cars, heated the water, filled the home batteries and put the washing on. We used around 100kWh at a time when the grid needed people to use more power."
Significant Savings Achieved
Since the start of the month, Mr Wilkes has spent £39 on electricity, including around £10 in standing charges. On a standard tariff, the same usage would have cost approximately £98. He estimates annual savings of around £2,000.
"With the cost of living still so high, those savings make a huge difference," he said. "But it also feels like a really sensible way to use energy. You’re saving money, but you’re also helping the grid by using electricity when there’s more clean power available and demand is lower."
Broader Impact of Smart Tariffs
Octopus Energy offers several smart tariffs, including Intelligent Octopus Go, Agile Octopus, and Cosy Octopus, all designed to reward customers for shifting usage to times of abundant renewable power. Greg Jackson, Founder and CEO of Octopus Energy, said: "The energy transition should be done for people, not to them. By focusing relentlessly on innovation, we've built smart tariffs that deliver real savings for customers – now totalling nearly £1 billion. Every time customers shift energy use away from peak periods – whether charging EVs, running appliances, or heating their homes – they make energy cheaper and cleaner for everyone. It’s no different from travelling off-peak: shifting demand unlocks cheaper deals and a more efficient system for everyone."
