[dk6780]

OVO are trialling a new tariff to their existing customers who have one of their Kaluza software equipped smart chargers (the @Mike Schooling designed one) fitted. In simple terms they charge you their standard single rate (typically around 14p/kWh) via your OVO smart meter for all of your electricity usage then use the data from the Kaluza software to rebate the EV usage down to 6p/kWh. The USP is that there's no time restrictions for when you charge your EV, but the intention is that Kaluza will time shift the EV demand when you allow it to hence helping manage grid balancing and use of renewables.
It makes an interesting comparison to Agile (no price volatility which is currently working against Octopus customers) and Go (including Faster) which whilst cheaper has time restrictions. Neither have any restriction to just using their cheap rates for EV charging which this OVO deal does.

Details here

Introducing our OVO Drive Anytime energy plan

And as part of my campaign of naming and shaming lazy journos, a shout out to Jillian Ambrose for an early attempt at the award for the year's most incoherent rehashing of marketing hype:

Ovo to launch 'half-price' electric vehicle charging tariff | Energy bills | The Guardian

 

[Lutek1000]

Unfortunately only for OVO customers with smart chargers.
Very limited I suppose but as mentioned, it's a trial.

 

[Neilew]

Does it still include the Polar offer? It isn't cheaper than GoFaster and the timed element doesn't make that much of an advantage to pay more for it. If the Polar card is included it could be a game changer.

 

[dk6780]

I believe that it does but as I'm not a customer I can't confirm it. You need their Smart plus charge point as well so it isn't a cheap conversion and they are only looking for 30 customers for the trial so I don't see Octopus being too fearful at the moment.

 

[DanPaul]

What's Ovo's daily standing charge?

 

[Neilew]

TBH, the only thing that interests me is the Polar card. I was with OVO for 2 years and mightily enjoyed having the card, but didn't use it all that often. It was really great for getting access to the 22 kW plus posts with my Zoe. However, they kept trying to increase my DD even though I was over £200 in credit and the customer services were appalling when I refused and asked for a decrease in my DD to reflect the amount in the account. Not answering emails and massive delays in getting replies. I had to switch to Octopus to get them to pay any attention to me. When they finally did close the account the statement was so vague that I'm not sure I got all my money back and it was over 2 months before they paid up.

Octopus' DD for me at setup was less than that of OVO, but still higher than my usage. When, after a year, I asked Octopus to lower my DD the agent said he would check my account and returned that he was surprised how much I had accrued. When I suggested the figure I wanted to pay he said I could safely go to a lower amount. Definitely 'chalk and cheese.

 

[dk6780]

The trial is apparently full ......