I’m overwhelmed after I see the curiosity that Octopus’s good tariffs generate. Once we set out on this journey, we have been advised that prospects didn’t care about electrical energy, and that they’d by no means reply to the worth indicators of variable tariffs.
As an alternative, there’s an enormous urge for food for Octopus’s good tariffs – every time I open Fb or Twitter, I see individuals speaking about how they work, how nicely they work, or the problems they’ve with them – particularly with good meters.
That is superb – there’s an assumption inside the vitality trade that it’s extremely laborious to get individuals occupied with good meters – certainly, a few of our rivals need to make them necessary.
In the mean time, with regards to good tariffs and good meters, the commonest complaints I see say one thing alongside the strains of:
“I noticed on Fb that you just have been putting in good meters once more … then another person mentioned you weren’t .. then another person mentioned you have been…”
So what’s happening?
Octopus have been one of many final firms to cease installations through the COVID lockdown. Our prospects are so eager for good meters that we carried on for so long as secure and authorized – however ultimately we needed to cut back to “emergencies solely”.
As lockdown has begun to ease, we have began ramping up installations once more, with new security tools and coaching. With the engineers having been off the highway (many really stayed on the highway volunteering for meals banks and with the NHS) we have needed to take our time, with engineers receiving refresher coaching and extra checks on installs.
We’ve now bought most engineers again within the swing, however with decreased installs per day (sometimes 2 per day moderately than the pre-COVID 4). That is pushed by decrease set up density, slower installs on account of COVID precautions, cancelled installs when prospects have signs and many others.
As well as, we have to take engineers out of the sector once they’ve put in in a house the place subsequently a resident studies signs via monitor and hint, or the place the engineer themselves or a member of their household has signs or potential publicity. Native lockdowns have meant mass cancellations, but in addition points with deploying engineers who dwell in these areas.
All of which means whereas we’re putting in once more, there may be engineer shortages (generally at very quick discover) and quite a lot of work in dealing with affiliate rebooking. This varies lots by area and over time.
In the meantime, over 1000 individuals a day register for a wise meter with us – so we have now a six-figure variety of prospects ready for one.
Primarily, COVID set us again 100,000-200,000 installations, and as well as we’re working at a decrease capability – so it’s going to be some time earlier than we get to everybody.
Fortunately, we didn’t relaxation through the coronavirus lockdown – as a substitute we took the chance to deploy quite a lot of software program upgrades to enhance the smoothness of service. Making certain these upgrades have been functioning successfully has additionally slowed down our ramp-up just a little bit, as we needed to verify the service was working correctly as we scaled (excellent news – it’s improved set up reliability dramatically).
All which means whereas we work laborious to prioritise prospects who’re ready for an set up for good tariffs, we’re not all the time capable of finding a slot instantly, and even to know after we will with sufficient certainty to supply one additional out.
In fact, we attempt to be completely clear about this – we steadily weblog in regards to the standing of good installs – and in addition are very clear that every one our good tariffs are nonetheless “beta” merchandise – and {that a} reliance on good meters signifies that there may be points, delays, and really sometimes an lack of ability to supply a wise tariff if we are able to’t get the meter put in and dealing (that is uncommon!)
For almost all of consumers – good tariffs are dependable, and we’re capable of get a meter in moderately rapidly and reliably.
However for everybody else – that is all about pioneering a less expensive, greener grid for all of us. Octopus is proud to be investing on this and we all know that so many shoppers are too.
Get a wise meter
If you happen to’re occupied with getting a wise meter, you possibly can put your identify down now and we’ll keep in touch when we have now a slot out there for you.
