How to read your Octopus Energy bill — explained simply
Octopus Energy has grown rapidly to become one of the UK's most popular suppliers, known for innovative tariffs like Agile, Tracker, and Go. Their bills are generally clear, but time-of-use tariff customers often find the rate breakdowns confusing.
What each part of your Octopus Energy bill means
Standard vs Agile/Tracker rate display
On a standard Octopus tariff, you'll see a single unit rate per kWh. But if you're on an Agile or Tracker tariff, your bill shows multiple unit rates — because the price you pay varies by time of day (Agile) or week by week (Tracker). Octopus breaks these down on your bill, often showing an average rate alongside the individual rates. The important figure for comparing costs is your total spend, not any single rate.
Import and export rates
If you have solar panels, your Octopus bill shows two separate sections: 'import' (energy you take from the grid) and 'export' (surplus solar energy you send back). The export section will show a credit — Octopus pays you for this via the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG). Your bill will show the export rate in p/kWh and the total credit earned. Import and export are billed and credited separately.
Octopus Points
Octopus Points are a loyalty reward that some customers earn through certain promotions or referrals. They appear as a balance on your Octopus account. Points can be converted to credit against your energy bill. Not all customers have Points — if you don't see this section, it simply means you haven't earned any yet.
Smart charge sessions (Octopus Go)
If you're on the Octopus Go tariff for electric vehicle owners, your bill will show 'smart charge sessions' — periods when your car charged during the cheap overnight window (typically 11:30pm–5:30am). During this window, the unit rate drops significantly (often around 7–9p/kWh). Your bill itemises these sessions separately from your regular household usage so you can see exactly how much your EV costs to run.
Saving Sessions credit
'Saving Sessions' are Octopus's demand flexibility programme. On certain days when the National Grid needs to reduce electricity demand (typically winter evenings), Octopus asks customers to cut usage during a 30–60 minute window. If you do, you earn credit — often £1–5 per session — which appears as 'Saving Sessions credit' on your bill. It's paid at a rate several times higher than the normal unit rate.
Common questions Octopus Energy customers ask
My Octopus bill shows lots of different unit rates — which one am I paying?
If you're on a time-of-use tariff like Agile or Tracker, you pay different rates at different times. Your bill shows each rate period separately. The rate you pay depends on when you used the energy. For comparing your overall cost, look at the total charge for the period rather than any individual rate — and check your average rate, which Octopus calculates for you.
What are Saving Sessions on my Octopus bill?
Saving Sessions are events where Octopus asks you to reduce your electricity use during a specific hour or so, usually on a winter weekday evening when grid demand is high. If you reduce your usage compared to your normal baseline, Octopus credits your account at a rate significantly higher than your normal unit rate. The credit appears on your next bill. You opt in via the Octopus app.
I'm on Octopus Agile — why does my bill look different every month?
Agile prices change every 30 minutes based on wholesale electricity prices. Your bill reflects what you actually paid across all those half-hour slots. In months with high wholesale prices (often winter), your bill will be higher. In months with cheap or even negative prices (often overnight or windy periods), you may pay very little. Octopus provides a breakdown of your spending by time period in the app so you can see exactly when you used expensive versus cheap electricity.
Octopus says I'm in credit but my direct debit hasn't changed — why?
Octopus reviews direct debits periodically, not every month. If you've built up a credit balance — perhaps because of a mild winter or lower usage — it doesn't automatically trigger an immediate direct debit reduction. You can request a refund of any credit or ask for a direct debit review via the Octopus app or by contacting their customer service team. They're generally responsive to these requests.
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