Octopus Energy: Complete Guide to the UK’s Leading Green Energy Supplier

What Is Octopus Energy?

Octopus Energy is one of the UK’s fastest-growing and most talked-about energy suppliers, offering gas and electricity to millions of homes and businesses across the country. Known for its tech-forward approach, transparent billing, and strong commitment to renewable energy, it has carved out a reputation that many traditional suppliers can only dream of. Whether someone is curious about octopus energy tariffs, thinking about switching, or just trying to log into their Octopus Energy account, this guide covers everything worth knowing.

Brief History and Founding

Octopus Energy was founded in 2015 by Greg Jackson, who had a vision to shake up an industry notorious for confusing bills, poor customer service, and outdated technology. Jackson built the company around a belief that energy could — and should — be simpler, greener, and fairer. Within just a few years, that vision started turning heads in a serious way.

Why It’s Gained Popularity in the UK and Beyond

So, who owns Octopus Energy? The company is majority-owned by Octopus Group, with significant investment from companies like Tokyo Gas and Generation Investment Management (co-founded by Al Gore). Its popularity in the UK comes down to a few things: competitive octopus energy prices, genuinely helpful customer service, and a willingness to innovate at a time when most energy firms were standing still.

The brand has also made headlines beyond just its bills — from its octopus energy free electric blankets scheme to the controversial octopus energy heat pump advert ban, there’s rarely a dull moment. Even finance expert Martin Lewis has repeatedly praised octopus energy as a strong option for savvy households looking to cut costs.

Quick Snapshot

As of 2025, Octopus Energy has surpassed 10 million customers in the UK — a milestone that puts it firmly among the country’s biggest suppliers. It now operates in the US, Germany, Japan, Australia, Spain, and several other markets. It has consistently won octopus energy customer service awards, earning top marks from consumer groups and review platforms alike.

II. How Octopus Energy Works

How It Supplies Gas and Electricity to Homes

At its core, energy octopus energy supplies gas and electricity through the National Grid — just like every other supplier. The difference lies in how it manages everything behind the scenes and how it interacts with customers. Bills are clear, meter readings are straightforward, and the whole experience is designed to feel less like dealing with a utility company and more like using a modern digital service.

The Technology-First Approach to Energy

Octopus Energy UK has always positioned itself as a technology company that happens to sell energy, not the other way around. This philosophy shows up in everything from the octopus energy app to the way it handles direct debits and payment processes.

The Kraken Platform — Their Proprietary Energy Tech

At the heart of Octopus Energy’s operation is Kraken — a proprietary technology platform that handles billing, customer management, smart meter data, and much more. The octopus energy kraken demerger has been a significant business story in recent years, as Kraken has grown into a standalone business that licenses its technology to other energy companies around the world. It’s essentially the engine powering not just Octopus but a growing number of utilities globally.

Smart Meter Integration

Octopus Energy has been a big advocate of smart meters, encouraging customers to get one installed so they can access accurate billing and better tariff options. That said, the company has also issued an octopus energy smart meter warning to some customers, flagging potential issues with certain meter types and compatibility. Anyone interested in getting a smart meter can manage the process directly through their octopus energy my account dashboard or by contacting support.

III. Octopus Energy Tariffs & Plans

Flexible Tariffs

Octopus Energy tariffs are arguably where the company really stands out. Its flexible range includes some genuinely clever options:

Agile Octopus links electricity prices to wholesale market rates, meaning prices change every 30 minutes throughout the day. It rewards customers who shift usage to off-peak times — like overnight — with significantly lower rates.

Octopus Go is designed primarily for EV owners, offering cheap overnight electricity for charging. It’s one of the most popular octopus energy ev tariff options on the market.

Cosy Octopus is aimed at heat pump users, providing cheaper electricity during certain hours of the day when heat pumps can store warmth efficiently.

Octopus Tracker follows wholesale energy prices on a daily basis, which can mean big savings when wholesale costs drop — though prices can also rise.

Fixed-Rate Tariffs

For those who prefer predictability, octopus energy fixed tariff options lock in a rate for a set period. These are ideal for households that want to budget carefully without worrying about octopus energy price cap changes affecting their monthly spend.

Green and Renewable Energy Tariffs

All of Octopus Energy’s electricity tariffs are backed by 100% renewable sources. The company also offers dedicated green tariffs for those who want to go even further in reducing their environmental impact.

Business Energy Plans

Octopus business energy serves SMEs and larger organisations looking for competitive rates and reliable supply. The octopus energy business arm offers tailored solutions with transparent pricing and access to the same Kraken-powered technology that residential customers enjoy.

How to Choose the Right Tariff

Choosing between octopus energy tariffs 2025 options really comes down to lifestyle. EV drivers will likely benefit most from Octopus Go. Households with smart home tech or flexibility around when they use power might prefer Agile. For simplicity, a fixed tariff or the standard flexible rate is the most straightforward choice. Getting an octopus energy quote online takes just a few minutes and helps narrow things down quickly.

IV. Pricing & Costs

Is Octopus Energy Cheaper Than Competitors?

Octopus energy rates are generally competitive, though as with any supplier, the answer depends on the tariff chosen and the region. The octopus energy standing charge is one area that customers sometimes flag — it can feel high on certain plans, though octopus energy has even experimented with an octopus energy no standing charge option for eligible customers.

How Their Pricing Compares to the Ofgem Price Cap

The octopus energy ofgem price cap is the same regulatory ceiling that applies to all suppliers — it sets a maximum unit rate and standing charge that energy companies can charge for default tariffs. Octopus Energy operates within this cap, and the company has been vocal about the octopus energy ofgem july price cap changes and how they affect customers. Notably, there have been instances where octopus energy warns customers of upcoming price hikes, giving people time to lock in a fixed deal before rates rise.

There was also a notable octopus energy standing charge correction issued to some customers after billing discrepancies were identified — a sign that the company does act on errors when they occur.

Tips for Saving Money on the Bill

Several ways exist to make the most of being an Octopus customer. Taking advantage of the octopus energy direct debit saving is one option — paying by direct debit typically secures a lower unit rate. The octopus energy saving scheme offers additional opportunities through smart energy use, and the octopus energy shower savings initiative rewards customers who reduce hot water consumption.

Watching for octopus energy pink friday deals is also worthwhile — the company has run seasonal promotions offering discounts and perks for new and existing customers.

Time-of-Use Tariffs Explained

Time-of-use tariffs, like Agile Octopus, vary the cost of electricity depending on demand. When the grid is under less pressure — typically late at night or early morning — prices drop. Customers on these plans can make real octopus energy energy savings by running dishwashers, washing machines, and EV chargers during off-peak windows.

V. Renewable & Green Energy Credentials

Commitment to 100% Renewable Electricity

Octopus Energy has been committed to supplying 100% renewable electricity from day one. Every unit of electricity supplied to customers is matched by generation from renewable sources — wind, solar, and hydro — through Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGOs).

Wind, Solar, and Other Generation Sources

Beyond just purchasing renewable energy, Octopus Energy solar panels and generation assets form part of the company’s wider investment strategy. The company has invested heavily in new renewable infrastructure across the UK and internationally.

Octopus Energy Generation

Octopus Energy Generation is the investment arm of the business, dedicated to funding and building renewable energy projects. It manages a significant portfolio of solar farms and wind installations, helping to add genuinely new green capacity to the grid rather than simply buying existing credits.

Carbon Footprint and Sustainability Goals

Octopus Energy’s sustainability ambitions extend beyond electricity supply. Its push into octopus energy heat pumps, EV charging, and zero-carbon home solutions reflects a broader goal of decarbonising the way UK households heat and power their homes. The octopus energy zero bills product — available to qualifying new-build homes with solar panels and batteries — is a bold example of this vision in action.

VI. Octopus Energy Reviews & Customer Service

Customer Satisfaction Ratings

Octopus energy reviews across platforms like Trustpilot are consistently strong, with the company regularly earning four or five stars. It has also performed well in Which? surveys and received positive recognition from Ofgem when compared against other large suppliers. The octopus energy customer base increase to over 10 million customers speaks volumes about how people feel once they’ve made the switch.

Common Praise

Customers regularly highlight billing transparency, the ease of the octopus energy app, and genuinely helpful support staff as major positives. The octopus energy live chat function is particularly popular for quick queries, and many people find that issues are resolved without the frustration commonly associated with energy suppliers.

Common Complaints

As with any supplier serving millions of people, octopus energy complaints do exist. Common themes include occasional delays in responses during peak periods and teething problems around smart meter installations. Some customers have also raised concerns following the octopus energy bill warning communications they received ahead of price cap changes — though many acknowledged that at least they were being kept informed.

How Their Customer Service Compares to Rivals

The octopus energy customer service team is widely regarded as one of the best in the industry. Unlike many larger legacy suppliers, Octopus has consistently topped customer satisfaction rankings. The company offers support via phone, email, live chat, and through the app — making it accessible in ways that suit different preferences. Octopus energy opening times for phone support cover standard working hours, and the octopus energy contact number is toll-free, making the octopus energy free contact number a genuine benefit for customers who need help.

VII. Octopus Energy App & Smart Features

Overview of the App

The octopus energy app is available on both iOS and Android and serves as the central hub for managing an account. From viewing bills and submitting octopus energy meter readings to adjusting direct debits and exploring tariff options, the app puts customers in control.

Monitoring Energy Usage

One of the app’s most useful features is real-time energy monitoring, especially for those with a smart meter installed. Customers can track usage patterns, identify peaks, and spot opportunities to shift consumption to cheaper times of day.

Managing Tariffs and Payments

Through the app or online octopus energy sign in portal, customers can update payment details, change their octopus energy payment amount, switch between eligible tariffs, and access their full billing history. The octopus energy log in process is straightforward — available at the main website or via the app using registered email and password credentials.

Smart Home Integrations

Octopus Energy has built integrations with a growing range of smart home devices. From smart thermostats to EV chargers and heat pump controllers, the platform allows customers to automate energy use around cheaper tariff windows. This is particularly valuable for those on Agile or Octopus Go, where timing really matters for octopus energy ev charging and octopus energy heat pump savings.

VIII. Switching to Octopus Energy

Step-by-Step Guide to Switching

Switching to octopus energy is simpler than most people expect. The process starts by visiting the Octopus Energy website, entering a postcode and a few details about current energy use, and selecting a preferred tariff. From there, Octopus handles the rest — including notifying the existing supplier.

How Long Does Switching Take?

The switch typically completes within 21 days, though in practice it often happens faster. During this time, the existing supplier continues to provide energy, so there’s no gap in service.

What to Expect on the First Bill

The first octopus energy bill usually covers the period from the switch date to the end of the first billing cycle. Customers are encouraged to submit an octopus energy meter reading on the day they switch to ensure accurate billing from the start. For those worried about an octopus energy cut off or supply disruption — there’s no need. Supply continues uninterrupted throughout the process.

Referral Scheme and Sign-Up Bonuses

Octopus Energy’s octopus energy refer a friend scheme offers bill credit to both the referrer and the new customer. Using an octopus energy referral code at the point of sign-up is an easy way to get a little something back. The scheme has been instrumental in helping the company grow its customer base organically.

IX. Octopus Energy for EV Owners

Octopus Go Tariff for EV Charging

The octopus energy ev tariff — Octopus Go — is one of the best-value overnight charging options available in the UK. It provides a significantly reduced electricity rate between midnight and 5am, which is when most EV owners plug in anyway. For a household with an electric vehicle, the savings can be substantial over the course of a year.

Smart EV Charging Integration

Octopus has also developed its own octopus energy ev charger hardware — the Octopus Electroverse and related home charging products. The octopus energy ev charger launch brought with it smart scheduling features that automatically charge vehicles during the cheapest overnight windows, with no manual intervention required.

Savings Potential for Electric Vehicle Drivers

When combined with the right tariff and smart charging, octopus energy cars and EV-focused products can meaningfully reduce the running cost of electric vehicles. Many drivers report that overnight charging via Octopus Go costs significantly less than fuelling an equivalent petrol vehicle — especially as wholesale electricity prices fluctuate.

X. Octopus Energy International Expansion

Operations Globally

While Octopus Energy UK remains the company’s heartland, its global footprint has grown rapidly. The business now operates in the United States, Germany, Japan, Australia, Spain, and New Zealand, among other markets. Each regional operation adapts to local energy market rules while benefiting from the centralised Kraken technology platform.

The Kraken Licensing Model

The octopus energy kraken demerger separated the Kraken technology business into a more standalone entity, allowing it to license its platform to third-party utilities around the world. Energy companies in multiple countries now run their operations on Kraken — making Octopus not just an energy supplier but a major energy technology business globally.

Growth Strategy and Future Markets

Octopus Energy’s ambition is clearly to be a global force in the energy transition. With continued investment in renewables through Octopus Energy Generation, expansion of its octopus energy heat pump and EV product lines, and the international rollout of Kraken, the company shows no signs of slowing down.

XI. Octopus Energy vs. Competitors

Octopus vs. British Gas

British Gas is the UK’s largest energy supplier by customer numbers, but it has faced criticism for customer service and pricing. Octopus energy, by contrast, consistently outperforms in customer satisfaction surveys and typically offers more innovative tariff structures.

Octopus vs. E.ON / EDF / Shell Energy

Against the major European-owned suppliers, Octopus holds its own on price and significantly outpaces them on customer experience and digital features. Its app, live chat, and smart meter support are frequently rated superior by independent reviewers.

Octopus vs. Bulb (Acquired)

Bulb was once considered Octopus’s closest rival in the challenger energy space. After Bulb’s collapse, Octopus Energy acquired its customer base — a significant moment that accelerated Octopus’s growth toward the 10 million customer milestone.

Key Differentiators

What truly sets Octopus apart is the combination of technology (Kraken), renewable credentials, innovative tariffs, strong customer service, and a pipeline of genuinely useful products like octopus energy solar panels, heat pumps, and EV chargers. The octopus energy logo — a friendly, distinctive octopus — has also helped build brand recognition in a sector where most companies are forgettable.

XII. FAQs

Is Octopus Energy good? Yes — based on octopus energy reviews, customer satisfaction data, and independent rankings, Octopus Energy is widely considered one of the best energy suppliers in the UK. It scores especially well for customer service, billing clarity, and innovation.

Is Octopus Energy reliable? Octopus Energy is a fully licensed and Ofgem-regulated energy supplier. It has grown steadily since 2015 and now serves over 10 million customers. There is no reason to doubt its reliability as a supplier.

What happens if Octopus Energy goes bust? In the unlikely event that octopus energy were to cease trading, Ofgem would step in to appoint a replacement supplier — just as it does for any energy company. Customer credit balances are protected under industry regulations. There’s also the octopus energy ofgem refund compensation process that covers customers in certain scenarios.

Can I get solar panels through Octopus? Yes. Octopus Energy solar panels are available through the company’s home solutions arm. Customers can get a quote for installation and potentially combine solar with battery storage for maximum savings — or even access the octopus energy zero bills product if eligible.

Does Octopus offer support for vulnerable customers? Yes. Octopus Energy has a financial assistance program for customers struggling with bills, and it supports the warm home discount scheme for eligible pensioners and low-income households. There have also been notable initiatives around octopus energy winter fuel payments for pensioners and the octopus energy social housing tariff for those in social housing.

What perks does Octopus Energy offer? Octopus Energy has partnered with various organisations to offer customer benefits. The octopus energy national trust perk gives members discounted access to National Trust properties. The company has also offered the octopus energy unlimited charging subscription for EV drivers, the octopus energy cuckoo broadband deal bundling energy and broadband, and the octopus energy free electric blankets and octopus energy electric blankets schemes for customers in need during winter.

Does Octopus Energy offer zonal pricing? Octopus Energy has been vocal in supporting octopus energy zonal pricing reforms — a proposed change to the UK electricity market that would price electricity differently depending on where in the country it’s generated and consumed. This is a live policy debate rather than a currently live tariff feature.

How do I move in with Octopus Energy? Moving to a new property is straightforward. Customers can visit www.octopus.energy.movein or use the octopus energy move in section of the website to register a new address and set up supply. The process takes just a few minutes online. The hello octopus energy onboarding experience is designed to be as painless as possible.

How do I contact Octopus Energy? There are several ways to get in touch. The octopus energy contact number and octopus energy telephone number are available on the website. Customers can also reach the team via octopus energy email, octopus energy live chat, or by using the in-app messaging function. The octopus energy customer service number is a free contact number, so there’s no cost for calling.

XIII. Conclusion & Verdict

Who Octopus Energy Is Best For

Octopus Energy is a strong choice for almost any UK household, but it’s particularly well-suited to tech-savvy customers, EV owners, environmentally conscious households, and anyone who’s been frustrated by poor service from their current supplier. Its range of octopus energy tariffs means there’s something for nearly everyone — from the budget-conscious renter to the green-minded homeowner with solar panels and a heat pump.

Final Recommendation

Based on Octopus Energy reviews, pricing data, customer satisfaction scores, and the breadth of products on offer, Octopus Energy stands out as one of the most well-rounded energy suppliers in the UK today. It’s not perfect — no supplier is — but it consistently puts in a performance that justifies its popularity and its rapidly growing octopus energy customer base.

For anyone sitting on an uncompetitive default tariff, exploring a switch to octopus energy is genuinely worth the time. Getting an octopus energy quote takes minutes, and the potential savings — especially on a time-of-use tariff — can be significant.

Switch to Octopus Energy / Get a Quote

Ready to make the move? Visit the Octopus Energy website to get a personalised quote, explore current octopus energy tariffs 2025, and start the switching process today. Don’t forget to use an octopus energy referral code to claim a bill credit for both parties.

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