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Guides, analysis and updates on UK electricity tariffs for heat pump and EV households.

Tariff comparisons

Is Octopus Energy good for heat pumps? An honest look at their tariffs, hardware and support

Octopus Energy dominates heat pump conversations in the UK — they install systems, run dedicated tariffs, and have more heat pump customers than any other supplier. But is that dominance deserved? This post looks at the Cosy Octopus tariff, their installation service, customer satisfaction data, and the cases where a different supplier might actually serve you better.

· Ashley
Guides

How to load-shift with a heat pump: cut your electricity bill by £200–£400 a year

Time-of-use tariffs offer rates as low as 14–17p/kWh during off-peak windows — roughly half the standard cap rate of 24.7p. But you only capture those savings if your heat pump actually runs during the cheap hours. Load-shifting moves your heating and hot water consumption into those windows. Done well, it's worth £200–£400 a year on the right tariff. This guide explains how to do it, what controls you need, and what’s realistic without it becoming a hobby.

· Ashley
Guides

Heat pump hot water: when to heat your cylinder (and when not to)

Hot water is the easiest load to shift on a time-of-use tariff — and the most valuable. A 200-litre cylinder reheated during a cheap window at 14p/kWh instead of the 24.7p standard rate saves the cost difference on every single litre, every single day. This guide covers how heat pump hot water works differently from a boiler, why timing matters, and how to set a schedule that captures the saving without ever running out of hot water.

· Ashley
Guides

What is a heat pump COP? Why it matters for your tariff choice and running costs

A heat pump with a COP of 3.0 produces 3 kWh of heat for every 1 kWh of electricity it uses. At the April 2026 standard electricity rate of 24.7p/kWh, that’s an effective heat cost of 8.2p/kWh — cheaper than gas, but only just. On a heat pump tariff at 14.5p/kWh, the same system delivers heat at 4.8p/kWh — decisively ahead of gas at any plausible price. COP is the reason tariff choice matters so much for heat pump owners.

· Ashley
Guides

How to Run Your First Tariff Comparison

Once your readings are in and your region is set, a comparison shows what every tariff would have cost you against your real usage. Here's how to run your first one and make sense of the results.

· Ashley