Octopus Agile Tariff | Prices Today, Tomorrow and Price History

What is Octopus Agile Tariff?

Octopus Agile sits alongside Octopus Tracker, Cosy and Intelligent Go, with each suiting different usage patterns.

Also known as Agile Octopus, it is a flexible time-of-use (ToU) electricity plan from Octopus Energy that updates half-hourly prices in line with the wholesale market.

It’s the UK’s first mainstream time-of-use tariff directly linked to the wholesale electricity market, with prices set every half hour and capped at £1 per kWh to protect against spikes.

Live prices are updated daily after 4pm. You can check today’s Octopus Agile tariff rates, see tomorrow’s Agile prices once published, and explore full history for all 14 UK regions on Energy Stats UK.

With dynamic pricing every 30 minutes, this Agile tariff rewards those who can shift their usage to cheaper periods, avoid peak rates, and even take advantage of negative pricing events where you get paid to use electricity.

At a Glance

• Today’s Agile tariff prices change every 30 minutes

• Tomorrow’s rates are published daily after 4pm

• Price cap of £1/kWh protects against spikes

• Negative pricing events mean you can sometimes get paid to use electricity

To benefit from this tariff, you will need a SMETS2 or upgraded SMETS1 smart meter and be an Octopus Energy customer.

Reading Guide

This article about the Agile Tariff is a comprehensive read, drawing on both data and hands-on testing.

Use the Table of Contents below to jump straight to the questions that matter most or scroll through at your own pace.

How the Agile Tariff Works

• Half-hourly pricing: Every 30-minute slot has its own unit rate.

• Daily updates: Tomorrow’s rates are published after 4 PM.

• Dynamic pricing: Rates follow wholesale market changes, reflecting supply and demand.

• Plunge pricing: When renewable generation is high, rates can go negative – meaning you’re paid to use electricity.

• Price cap:  The tariff has a maximum rate (currently capped at £1/kWh under version AGILE-24-10-01).

In simple terms, Agile rates are calculated using the formula min(D × wholesale price + P, cap) — where D is your region’s cost multiplier, P is the 4–7 pm peak uplift, and the final rate is capped at £1/kWh including VAT.

This safeguard is called Price Cap Protect, ensuring you’ll never pay more than the capped unit rate.

The Agile tariff is ideal for:

• Solar PV owners

• EV drivers

• Homes with heat pumps or storage heaters

• Anyone who can shift usage away from the 4 PM – 7 PM peak

Agile and the Wholesale Market

Agile Octopus runs on half-hourly settlement, meaning your unit rates follow the wholesale cost of electricity in near real time. Each slot reflects the market price of generation, plus network charges (DUoS, TNUoS), balancing costs (BSUoS), and policy levies.

Because prices are tied directly to wholesale, Agile can deliver very low rates when renewables are abundant, and occasionally even negative prices (“plunge pricing”), while a built-in price cap safeguard protects against extreme spikes.

If you’d like to see how the math works, we’ve written a step-by-step guide showing how wholesale prices can be derived from Agile rates — read the wholesale pricing explainer here.

What to Look Out For With Agile Octopus Before Switching

Take caution though as the wholesale market can be volatile with wild price swings, so please carefully read the warnings on the Octopus Energy website regarding this tariff.

There are a number of pre-configured graphs on this page to help show current and historical half-hourly rates. You can see looking back over the past year how the price can change.

Agile is not a “fire and forget” tariff. You really need to be heavily invested in monitoring the prices unless you have considerable automations in place.

If you do decide to change your supplier to Octopus Energy, then you can claim £50 of FREE credit when switching using my referral link.  Thank you if you decide to do that.

Key Things to Remember About Agile

• Prices change every 30-minute settlement period, based on the day-ahead wholesale electricity market.

• You’ll need a SMETS2 smart meter (or an upgraded SMETS1) for half-hourly readings.

• Agile sits alongside Octopus’s other smart tariffs, such as Tracker, Cosy, and Intelligent Go, plus export options like Outgoing Agile under the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG).

• Standing charges still apply, and a peak-time uplift (typically 4–7 PM) can make those slots more expensive than the average rate.

• Agile works best if you have flexible usage, e.g. EV charging, home batteries, or smart home automations to shift demand.

• Many customers also use smart home automations to make Agile easier to manage, from scheduling EV chargers and home batteries to linking with apps like IFTTT, Home Assistant, or Octopus Watch to automatically shift demand when prices are low.

Octopus Agile Rates Today

You can check today’s Agile rates in two main ways:

1. By region: Each of the UK’s 14 DNO regions has its own rate chart.
2. Daily posts: Rates are shared on Energy-Stats UK’s social media (Twitter/X, Bluesky, Mastodon) with a graph showing today’s Agile prices.

Here is the latest daily price graph that was sent out via social media.

Octopus Agile Rates Tomorrow – Plan Ahead for Cheaper Energy

Tomorrow’s Agile rates are released after 4 PM each day. This advance notice allows you to plan energy-intensive activities, such as EV charging or heating water in the cheapest half-hour slots.

Octopus Agile Price History & Historical Rates by Region

Energy Stats UK provides detailed historical Agile pricing data:

• View historical rates for all 14 UK regions.

• Access 7-day charts showing recent price trends.

• Download complete datasets in CSV format for analysis. Perhaps create your own agile rates spreadsheet.

Historical records are valuable for spotting patterns, such as cheaper overnight rates or seasonal shifts and for identifying when plunge pricing events have occurred.

Octopus Agile Pricing by UK Region

Tariff unit rates vary by DNO (district network operator) region due to varying local network costs.

The pricing for each of the different 14 UK DNO regions can found via these individual pages on the website:

Eastern England
East Midlands
London
Merseyside and Northern Wales
North Eastern England
North Western England
Northern Scotland
Southern England
South Eastern England
Southern Wales
South Western England
Southern Scotland
West Midlands
Yorkshire

Download Historical Tariff Pricing (CSV)

Explore today’s tariff rates across all 14 UK DNO regions from the separate region pages on the website.

If you wish to explore Octopus Agile Rates with different timeframes wider than those on this page, be sure to check out Energy Stats Dashboard feature.

You can download raw pricing data in CSV format via the Download Historical Data section, perfect for comparing daily energy rates or creating your own analytics.

Agile Price History, Last 7 days (West Midlands)

As an example of what you can get from the site, here’s the last 7 days pricing data from the West Midlands region.

Negative Pricing / Plunge Pricing – Why It Happens & How to Benefit

One of the most exciting and unusual features of the Octopus Agile tariff is negative pricing, also known as plunge pricing. This occurs when wholesale electricity supply significantly exceeds demand, often during periods of high renewable energy generation.

Why Does Negative Pricing Happen?

• Excess Renewable Generation: During particularly windy or sunny periods, renewable sources like wind and solar may produce more electricity than is needed. Rather than reduce generation, the grid passes on the surplus to consumers.

• Low Demand Windows: Times such as late night, weekends, or bank holidays often see a dip in electricity use. When demand is low but generation remains high, prices can dip below zero.

• Grid Balancing Challenges: Shutting down certain power plants can be technically difficult or expensive. In such cases, the system may pay consumers to use power instead of cutting generation.

• Market Dynamics: Electricity trading is very reactive to supply and demand imbalances. When supply far outpaces demand, prices can plunge below zero in wholesale markets.

What it Means for You

Agile Octopus is designed to pass on these negative price events directly to customers, meaning sometimes you get paid to use electricity!

These are not just theoretical: there are real plunge events logged—such as several hours of negative pricing during especially green periods.

See Plunge Pricing in Action

Want to explore how often (and how deeply) prices have gone negative?

See the full plunge pricing history page, which records the number and timing of these events across the UK and over time.

Another bonus is that Agile pricing often aligns with times when the grid is greener. Octopus matches all Agile electricity with REGOs (Renewable Energy Guarantee of Origin certificates), so your usage is backed by 100% renewable energy.

You can also set up alerts or notifications via the Octopus API or third-party apps so you never miss a plunge pricing event.

Comparing Octopus Agile with Other Smart Tariffs

Choosing the right Octopus tariff isn’t just about today’s price, it’s about matching your energy habits to the tariff that works best for you. The Octopus Agile follows daily wholesale prices, , every 30 minutes, but other smart tariffs might suit you better depending on when and how you use electricity.

Here’s why researching is worth your time:

• Maximise savings by aligning your usage with cheaper time periods.

• Reduce bill volatility if you prefer predictable rates over daily changes.

• Match your lifestyle—EV drivers, home workers, and heat pump owners often have different “best fit” tariffs.

Other Octopus smart tariffs to consider:

• Octopus Tracker – A single day rate that follows the wholesale market, ideal if you want less hands on management compared to Agile.

• Octopus Cosy – Designed for heat pump users with three low-cost periods each day.

• Octopus Intelligent Go – Perfect for EV owners, offering cheap overnight charging rates.

For a deep dive into how each of these tariffs works, and how to decide which one is best for you, check out our dedicated guide:
👉 Time of Use / Smart Tariffs — Compare All Options

By comparing side-by-side, you can find the tariff that balances cost, predictability, and convenience, making sure your energy plan works for you, not the other way around.

FAQ: Agile Octopus Tariff & Rates

What are Octopus Agile rates today?

Octopus Agile rates today change every 30 minutes across 14 UK regions. You can check the live half-hourly prices on Energy Stats UK or in the Octopus Energy app.

What is the Octopus Agile kWh cost today?

Today’s Octopus Agile kWh cost varies by region and settlement period. Each 30-minute slot has its own rate, displayed in pence per kWh.

When are tomorrow’s Octopus Agile tariff prices published?

Tomorrow’s Octopus Agile tariff prices are published every day after 4pm. This allows you to plan energy use around the cheapest slots in advance.

Where can I view Octopus Agile price history by region?

You can view the full Octopus Agile price history for all 14 UK regions on Energy Stats UK. Charts, CSV downloads and negative pricing events are included for easy analysis.

Can Octopus Agile tariff prices go negative?

Yes, Octopus Agile tariff prices can go negative when renewable generation is high and demand is low. At those times you can actually be paid to use electricity.

What is the Octopus Agile price cap per kWh?

The Octopus Agile tariff is capped at £1 per kWh, so you will never pay more than that even in price spikes. Older versions had lower caps, so check your contract or ask Octopus to confirm which tariff you are on.

How does Octopus Agile link to the wholesale market?

Octopus Agile prices are set directly from the day-ahead wholesale electricity market. Each slot reflects the wholesale cost plus network charges, balancing costs and policy levies.

Why do Octopus Agile prices vary between UK regions?

Prices vary because distribution and transmission costs differ across the 14 DNO regions. Each region has its own adjustment factor and peak-time uplift in the pricing formula.

How is the Octopus Agile price calculated?

Agile prices are calculated from the day-ahead wholesale price with regional adjustments and a 4–7 pm peak uplift. The final rate is limited by the tariff cap per kWh.

Do I need a smart meter for Octopus Agile?

Yes, Octopus Agile requires a SMETS2 smart meter or an upgraded SMETS1. Without half-hourly readings the tariff is not available.

What export tariffs can I combine with Agile Import?

You can pair Agile Import with Agile Export, Outgoing Fixed or SEG tariffs from other suppliers. Choose a fixed export rate for predictability or a dynamic one for wholesale-linked earnings.

Can I switch away from Octopus Agile if prices rise?

Yes, there are no exit fees. You can move to a fixed or variable tariff anytime if Agile becomes too expensive and return later if prices stabilise. Octopus apply a 30-day smart tariff rule, meaning you can only switch between Agile, Tracker, Go and other smart tariffs once every 30 days.  If Agile doesn’t fit your usage, consider Octopus Tracker, Cosy or Intelligent Go.

Latest Agile Tariff Version & Pricing Updates