Cosy Octopus tariff rates 2026: confirmed rates for every UK DNO region
Cosy Octopus has three daily cheap windows — 04:00–07:00, 13:00–16:00, and 22:00–00:00 — but the exact pence-per-kWh rate depends on your DNO region. This page shows the current confirmed rates pulled directly from the tariff database: off-peak, standard, and peak for every UK region, plus standing charges.
Overview
Cosy Octopus is Octopus's dedicated heat pump tariff. It uses a time-of-use structure with three daily cheap windows and a peak rate during the grid's most stressed hours. From March 2026, it is a six-month fixed tariff with a £25 exit fee.
Rate structure:
- Off-peak: 04:00–07:00, 13:00–16:00, 22:00–00:00 (8 hours/day, ~51% below the standard day rate)
- Standard: all other hours
- Peak: 16:00–19:00 (~50% above the standard day rate)
The rates below are the current confirmed figures pulled directly from the tariff database, effective from May 2026.
Current Cosy Octopus rates (May 2026, national fixed rates)
| Rate band | Time | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Off-peak | 04:00–07:00, 13:00–16:00, 22:00–00:00 | 14.93p/kWh |
| Standard | All other hours | 34.09p/kWh |
| Peak | 16:00–19:00 | 52.88p/kWh |
Note: Cosy Octopus 6M Fixed (the current product from March 2026) has national rates — the same pence-per-kWh figure applies in all regions. Standing charges vary by DNO region, shown in the table below.
Cosy Octopus rates by DNO region (variable product, Q2 2026)
The variable version of Cosy Octopus (still relevant for customers who signed up before March 2026) has regionally differentiated unit rates. These are the Q2 2026 (April–June) confirmed figures from the database:
| Region | Standing charge | Off-peak (~51% below std) | Standard | Peak (16:00–19:00) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern England | 52.19p/day | 13.09p/kWh | 26.67p/kWh | 40.01p/kWh |
| East Midlands | 51.06p/day | 12.42p/kWh | 25.32p/kWh | 37.98p/kWh |
| London | 42.42p/day | 13.07p/kWh | 26.63p/kWh | 39.95p/kWh |
| Merseyside & N Wales | 68.00p/day | 13.75p/kWh | 28.01p/kWh | 42.03p/kWh |
| Midlands | 57.35p/day | 12.54p/kWh | 25.56p/kWh | 38.34p/kWh |
| North East | 61.52p/day | 12.50p/kWh | 25.46p/kWh | 38.20p/kWh |
| North West | 44.93p/day | 12.96p/kWh | 26.42p/kWh | 39.64p/kWh |
| Northern Scotland | 47.71p/day | 13.11p/kWh | 26.72p/kWh | 40.08p/kWh |
| South East | 52.76p/day | 13.24p/kWh | 26.98p/kWh | 40.48p/kWh |
| South West | 54.86p/day | 13.07p/kWh | 26.63p/kWh | 39.95p/kWh |
| South Wales | 56.34p/day | 13.10p/kWh | 26.70p/kWh | 40.06p/kWh |
| Southern England | 61.74p/day | 12.52p/kWh | 25.51p/kWh | 38.27p/kWh |
| Yorkshire | 62.83p/day | 12.80p/kWh | 26.09p/kWh | 39.14p/kWh |
| Southern Scotland | 56.29p/day | 13.13p/kWh | 26.76p/kWh | 40.14p/kWh |
How the rate structure works
Off-peak windows (8 hours/day): The three cheap windows are designed around periods of lower grid demand. The overnight window (04:00–07:00) suits hot water cylinder reheating. The lunchtime window (13:00–16:00) suits a midday top-up and coincides with warmer outdoor temperatures, improving your heat pump's COP. The evening window (22:00–00:00) suits a buffer before overnight.
The peak rate (16:00–19:00): At 52.88p/kWh, the peak rate is approximately 3.5× the off-peak rate. It exists because Octopus is passing through the cost of the grid's most congested three hours. Avoiding this window — through pre-heating before 16:00 and setback from 16:00–19:00 — is the key to making Cosy work well.
The standard rate: All hours outside the three windows and outside the peak pay the standard rate of 34.09p/kWh. This is higher than the Ofgem Q2 cap of 24.67p/kWh because Cosy is a 6M fixed tariff priced to cover anticipated Q3 and Q4 cap rises over the term.
Is Cosy Octopus the right tariff for your home?
Cosy Octopus works best for households that can reliably schedule heating and hot water into the three cheap windows, and consistently avoid the 16:00–19:00 peak. Active load-shifting on Cosy typically saves £200–£400/year versus the standard variable cap.
It works less well for households where the heat pump runs during the peak window — occupancy patterns, lack of smart scheduling, or poor insulation can all lead to significant peak rate exposure.
Run a comparison on Heat Pump Tariffs using your actual half-hourly smart meter data to see whether Cosy Octopus or another tariff delivers the lowest annual cost for your home.
All rate data sourced directly from the Heat Pump Tariffs database, which pulls confirmed rates from the Octopus Energy API. Rates shown are the most recently confirmed figures and are updated each quarter.