Octopus Agile Automation Now Available
FoxESS are please to announce the roll out of new functionality that allows for automation of Octopus Agile time of use charge settings.
About Octopus Agile
The Octopus Agile Tariff is a dynamic electricity pricing plan that offers customers the unique advantage of paying wholesale prices for their energy usage. This innovative tariff is designed to help you save money by leveraging the fluctuations in the energy market. Here’s a quick overview of how it works and its benefits:
How It Works
- Dynamic Pricing: The Octopus Agile Tariff tracks wholesale electricity prices, which can change every half hour. This means your electricity rates are directly linked to the market prices, often resulting in lower costs during off-peak times when demand is low.
- Smart Meter Integration: To benefit from the Agile Tariff, you’ll need a smart meter installed. This allows for precise tracking of your energy usage in half-hour increments, ensuring you’re billed accurately according to the varying rates.
- Real-Time Data: With the Octopus Energy app, you can access real-time data on your energy prices and usage. This transparency helps you make informed decisions about when to use electricity, optimizing your consumption to times when prices are cheapest.
Benefits
- Cost Savings: By shifting your energy use to off-peak periods, you can take advantage of lower prices, potentially saving a significant amount on your energy bills.
- Environmental Impact: The Agile Tariff encourages using energy when renewable sources like wind and solar are most abundant, contributing to a greener, more sustainable energy system.
- Flexibility: Unlike fixed-rate plans, the Agile Tariff offers flexibility and the potential for savings without being locked into a long-term contract with static rates.
- Innovation and Control: Access to detailed energy usage data empowers you to better manage your consumption, leading to more efficient energy use and greater control over your expenses.
The Octopus Agile Tariff is ideal for those who are tech-savvy, environmentally conscious, and looking to save money on their electricity bills. By taking advantage of real-time pricing, you can turn the variability of energy costs into an opportunity for savings and sustainability.
FOX CLOUD INTEGRATION
Via foxesscloud.com, or via the Fox Cloud app, users can configure automation of Agile import/export through a simple user interface.
The are two mode options, ‘Trigger Price Mode‘ and ‘Time Slot Mode‘.
Trigger Price Mode enables the user to define a target buy price; and the Fox Cloud software will automatically schedule a 30 minute force charge event for every tariff window where the price falls below this defined price. Similarly, by enabling Agile Export, the system can schedule forced discharge events where the defined price exceeds the specified target price.
In Time Slot Mode, the user can simply specify a fixed number of periods from a drop down option of 1 to 10. By selecting a value, for example 5, this will automatically schedule 5 30 minute charge from grid events to coincide with the cheapest half-hourly rates published by Octopus for the next day. Again, Agile Export can be enabled for this option and works in reverse, scheduling force discharge to grid for the specified number of time slots selected.
The function may require a firmware upgrade and if you would like this feature enabled, please email service.uk@fox-ess.com providing your inverter serial number.