Octopus Cosy: Smart Time-of-Use Tariff for Heat Pump Users

Introducing Octopus Cosy Tariff

Octopus Cosy is a flexible, three-rate time-of-use electricity tariff from Octopus Energy, designed for homes with a heat pump or electric heating system.
See live regional rates, explore historical pricing trends, and discover how to make the most of your off-peak hours to cut energy costs.

The Cosy Octopus tariff is part of a family of Octopus smart tariffs created for different renewable setups. Choosing the right one can have a big impact on your bills — especially if you combine a heat pump with solar, battery storage, or EV charging. If you’re not sure whether Cosy is your best option, see our Best Heat Pump Tariff guide for a full comparison.

Unlike standard electricity plans, Octopus Cosy rewards you for shifting your usage into three specific off-peak periods each day, where prices can be around 50% lower than the standard rate. These low-cost slots are perfect for running heat pumps, heating water, charging an EV, or powering other high-consumption appliances.

This tariff is particularly popular with households embracing renewable energy and smart home technology. When combined with tools like smart thermostats, timers, and home energy management systems, Octopus Cosy allows you to optimise comfort while taking full advantage of cheaper, greener electricity.

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What is Cosy Octopus? (three-rate time-of-use tariff at a glance)

Cosy is a three-rate ToU tariff with off-peak ‘Cosy Hours’, a short evening peak, and a daily standard rate.

It’s designed primarily for heat pumps and electric boilers that can pre-heat or shift usage.

Rate structure:

• Off-peak windows — around 50% cheaper than the standard day rate.

• Standard rate — applies for much of the day.

• Peak rate — roughly 30% higher than the standard day rate during evening hours

You can read the official word on the tariff directly from the Octopus Energy website.

What are the Cosy Tariff times?

This time-of-use tariff splits your day into three distinct price bands, with three low-cost slots at about half the price of the standard rate, and a short peak period where electricity is around 30% more expensive.

• Discounted hours:

  • 04:00 – 07:00

  • 13:00 – 16:00

  • 22:00 – 00:00

• Peak period: 16:00 – 19:00

• Standard pricing: all remaining times

Homes with a heat pump can benefit by pre-heating water or rooms during the off-peak slots and reducing demand during the peak window.

Understanding Time-of-Use Tariffs

Time-of-use (ToU) tariffs like Cosy Octopus charge different rates depending on when you use electricity, rather than one flat price all day. It’s similar to paying less for an off-peak train ticket and more during rush hour — except it’s your home energy.

These tariffs are becoming more popular because they:

• Reflect grid demand, offering cheaper rates when use is low and renewable generation is high.

• Encourage households — especially those with heat pumps, solar, or EVs — to shift usage into greener, cheaper times.

• Help reduce pressure on the grid during evening peaks.

If you’d like a detailed breakdown, including examples of how ToU pricing works and the benefits for renewable energy users, read our full guide:
➡️ What Are Time-of-Use Tariffs?

What Are Time of Use Tariffs?

Octopus Cosy Pricing (all 14 UK regions)

Cosy rates vary by DNO (district network operator) region due to local network costs.

Choose your region to see live and historical pricing:

• 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

Half hour pricing for the last 7 days (Eastern England)

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

Why historical pricing matters

Looking at past rate trends helps you:

• Spot seasonal cost patterns

• Gauge off-peak energy savings

• Compare this tariff with others

Like the Best Heat Pump Tariff guide shows, your Cosy strategy should align with your tech mix (solar, EV, batteries, etc).

If you wish to explore smart Octopus tariffs with different time frames 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.

Smart usage strategies

Take full advantage of time-of-use pricing by:

• Running hot water reheats or appliance timers during discounted periods — see the Hot Water Golden Rules for data-backed savings tips.

• Avoiding use during the 16:00–19:00 peak.

• Charging batteries overnight or leveraging solar/EV smart-loads.

• Smart Remote Heat Pump Optimisers like Havenwise can automatically align usage with tariff peaks and troughs, removing the need for manual scheduling.

The Heat Pump Hot Water Golden Rules

Eligibility & how to switch

You can join Cosy if you:

• Have a heat pump (air or ground source) or an electric boiler

• Are an Octopus Energy electricity customer

• Have a SMETS2 (or compatible SMETS1) smart meter sending half-hourly readings

• (Optional) Have solar PV — Cosy works alongside Octopus Outgoing Fixed (SEG) export

Switching steps:

1. Sign up for any Octopus Energy electricity tariff

2. Make sure your smart meter is set to send half-hourly data

3. Octopus will move you to Cosy and confirm by email

Ready to switch?

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Start today with no exit fees and flexible pricing.

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FAQ

• What are the Octopus Cosy Hours and peak times?
  Cosy Octopus has three off-peak slots each day (04:00–07:00, 13:00–16:00, 22:00–00:00), totalling 8 hours of discounted power. The evening peak runs from 16:00–19:00 and is around 30% more expensive than the day rate. All other times are charged at the standard rate.

• How much can I save with Cosy Octopus?
  Octopus Energy estimates households can save up to £200 per year on electricity with Cosy, and as much as £315 if you include gas savings. Actual savings depend on your heat pump efficiency (SCOP), smart scheduling, and usage patterns.

• Is Cosy Octopus worth it for heat pump users?
  Yes — Cosy is designed specifically for homes with air- or ground-source heat pumps or electric boilers. By shifting heating and hot water into cheaper Cosy Hours, you can cut bills and lower carbon emissions compared to standard flat-rate tariffs.

• Who is eligible for Cosy Octopus?
  You must be an Octopus Energy electricity customer, have a SMETS2 (or compatible SMETS1) smart meter sending half-hourly readings, and use a heat pump or electric boiler. Homes with solar PV and batteries can also benefit when combined with Octopus export tariffs.

• What smart meter do I need for Cosy Octopus?
  You’ll need a SMETS2 smart meter (or certain SMETS1 models) configured to send half-hourly readings. This ensures your energy usage aligns with the three-rate Cosy tariff periods.

• How does Cosy compare to other Octopus tariffs?
  Cosy is a triple-rate tariff optimised for heat pumps. By contrast, Octopus Go targets EV charging with a 4-hour overnight cheap slot, while Agile and Flux have dynamic rates linked to wholesale prices. Your best option depends on your tech mix — EV, solar, batteries, or heat pump.

• Can I combine Cosy with solar panels and batteries?
  Yes. Cosy pairs well with solar PV and home batteries. You can export surplus power via Octopus Outgoing Fixed (SEG) or Outgoing Agile, while charging batteries in Cosy Hours to maximise off-peak savings.

• What happens if I use electricity during the peak period?
  Electricity used between 16:00–19:00 will be billed at the peak rate — around 30% higher than the standard day rate. To save money, shift high-demand tasks like heating water or running appliances into the cheaper Cosy Hours.

• Is Cosy Octopus fixed or flexible?
  Cosy is a flexible, variable-rate tariff. Unit prices can change in line with wholesale energy costs, but there are no exit fees or tie-ins, giving you the freedom to switch tariffs at any time.