Octopus Cosy is a three-rate time-of-use electricity tariff from Octopus Energy, designed for homes with a heat pump or electric heating. It offers 8 hours of cheaper off-peak power every day, with a higher rate during the evening peak. This page covers Cosy tariff times, rates and typical savings, and how it compares with other Octopus plans.
The Cosy Octopus tariff is one of several smart tariffs aimed at different setups, including solar, batteries and EVs. Choosing the right one can make a big difference to your bills, especially if you combine a heat pump with other low-carbon tech.
If you decide Cosy is right for you, you can join Octopus Energy here and claim £50 free credit.
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Octopus Cosy Tariff Rates
Cosy has three different unit rates. Off-peak slots are about 50% cheaper than the standard rate, while the evening peak is roughly 30% higher. The standard rate applies to the rest of the day.
Rates change with wholesale prices and vary by region, so you won’t see a single fixed number here. You can check the live Cosy tariff rates and historical trends in the graphs below to see exactly what applies in your area.
Octopus Cosy Tariff Times
Cosy splits the day into three bands. Off-peak slots give you cheaper electricity, the standard rate applies most of the day, and the evening peak costs more.
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Off-peak windows — around 50% cheaper than the standard day rate
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04:00–07:00
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13:00–16:00
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22:00–00:00
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Standard rate — applies to all other hours outside off-peak and peak
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Peak rate — roughly 30% higher than the standard rate, between 16:00–19:00
By shifting heating, hot water or other heavy loads into the off-peak slots, you can cut your costs and avoid the expensive evening peak.
How Much Can You Save With The Cosy Tariff?
Octopus Energy estimates that households can save up to £200 a year on electricity with Cosy, and as much as £315 if you also include gas savings. Your actual savings depend on how efficiently your heat pump runs (SCOP), how much load you can move into the off-peak hours, and whether you use tools like timers or smart controls.
If you combine Cosy with solar panels or a home battery, you can push the savings further by charging or shifting loads when power is cheapest.
👉 If you’re ready to try Cosy, you can join Octopus Energy here and claim £50 free credit.
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:
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Reflect grid demand, offering cheaper rates when use is low and renewable generation is high.
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Encourage households — especially those with heat pumps, solar, or EVs — to shift usage into greener, cheaper times.
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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?
Other Octopus time-of-use tariffs include Agile, which tracks wholesale half-hourly prices; Tracker, which changes daily in line with wholesale markets; and Intelligent Go, designed for smart EV charging. Each one has a different focus, so your best fit depends on whether your priority is running a heat pump, charging an EV, or following the wholesale market.
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:
Half Hour Cosy 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.
Historical Octopus Tariff Prices
Looking at past rate trends helps you:
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Spot seasonal cost patterns
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Gauge off-peak energy savings
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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.
Strategies To Maximise Cosy Savings
Take full advantage of time-of-use pricing by:
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Running hot water reheats or appliance timers during discounted periods — see the Hot Water Golden Rules for data-backed savings tips.
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Avoiding use during the 16:00–19:00 peak.
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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 Best Heat Pump Hot Water Settings (The Golden Rules)
Eligibility for Octopus Cosy
You can join Cosy if you:
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Have a heat pump (air or ground source) or an electric boiler
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Are an Octopus Energy electricity customer
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Have a SMETS2 (or compatible SMETS1) smart meter sending half-hourly readings
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(Optional) Have solar PV — Cosy works alongside Octopus Outgoing Fixed (SEG) export
Switching steps:
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Sign up for any Octopus Energy electricity tariff
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Make sure your smart meter is set to send half-hourly data
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Octopus will move you to Cosy and confirm by email
Ready To Switch?
Join Octopus Energy, claim £50 free credit
Start today with no exit fees and flexible pricing.
FAQs About Octopus Cosy
What are the Octopus Cosy tariff times and peak hours?
Octopus Cosy gives you three off-peak windows each day: 04:00–07:00, 13:00–16:00 and 22:00–00:00. That’s 8 hours of cheaper power, about 50% lower than the standard day rate. The evening peak runs from 16:00–19:00 and is roughly 30% more expensive. All other times are charged at the standard rate.
How much can I save with the Octopus Cosy tariff?
Octopus Energy estimates typical savings of up to £200 per year on electricity, or around £315 if you also include gas. Actual savings depend on your heat pump efficiency (SCOP), smart scheduling, and how much usage you can shift into the off-peak slots. 👉 You can join Octopus Energy here and get £50 free credit.
Is Octopus Cosy worth it for heat pump users?
Yes. Cosy is built for homes with air- or ground-source heat pumps or electric boilers. By running heating and hot water in the discounted off-peak windows, you can cut costs and lower carbon compared to a flat-rate tariff.
Who can get the Octopus Cosy tariff?
You need to be an Octopus Energy electricity customer, have a SMETS2 (or certain SMETS1) smart meter set to half-hourly readings, and use a heat pump or electric boiler. Homes with solar panels and batteries can also benefit when combined with Octopus export tariffs.
What smart meter is needed for the Cosy tariff?
You’ll need a SMETS2 smart meter, or a compatible SMETS1 model, configured to send half-hourly readings. This ensures your usage aligns with the three-rate Cosy tariff structure.
How does the Cosy tariff compare to other Octopus tariffs?
Cosy is a triple-rate tariff optimised for heat pumps. Octopus Go is aimed at EV owners, with a 4-hour cheap slot overnight. Agile and Tracker follow wholesale prices, while Flux supports solar and battery households. The right choice depends on whether your focus is heating, EV charging, or wholesale tracking.
Can I use Cosy with solar panels and batteries?
Yes. Cosy pairs well with solar PV and home storage. You can export excess power on Octopus Outgoing Fixed or Agile, and charge your battery in off-peak hours to maximise savings.
What happens if I use electricity during Cosy peak times?
Any electricity used between 16:00–19:00 is billed at the higher peak rate, about 30% above the standard rate. To save money, shift heating water, running appliances or EV charging into the cheaper Cosy Hours.
Is the Cosy tariff fixed or flexible?
Cosy is a flexible, variable-rate tariff. Prices can change with wholesale energy costs, but there are no exit fees and you can switch away at any time.
Referral information and free credit offer
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Energy Stats UK can be found on various social media platforms posting daily tariff pricing graphs and summaries.
Be sure to follow @energystatsuk on Twitter / X, Bluesky, Mastodon and Instagram.
Note: The current and past performance of energy pricing is not necessarily a guide to the future.