Octopus Go Tariff: Rates, Times and Our Review
Go is Octopus's EV tariff: a cheaper unit rate for five hours every night, with a higher rate the rest of the day. It pays off only if you move enough use — usually EV charging — into the cheap window.
In one sentence
8.21p/kWh from 00:30 to 05:30 every night; roughly 28–31p/kWh at other times, depending on region.
Octopus Go at a glance
- Off-peak rate
- 8.21p/kWh in every region (inc. VAT).
- Off-peak window
- 00:30–05:30 every night, UK time.
- Day rate
- 28.02p–30.74p/kWh across the 14 electricity regions (inc. VAT).
- Eligibility
- Electricity only. Needs a smart meter; Octopus offers Go to electric vehicle drivers — check its terms.
Checked against Octopus Energy's published rates on 11 October 2026. Rates can change — confirm with Octopus before switching. We don't promise savings: it depends on when you use electricity.
Current rates
Rates checked against the Octopus Energy public API on 11 October 2026, including VAT. Off-peak 00:30–05:30 UK time.
| Region | Unit rate | Standing charge |
|---|---|---|
| London | Off-peak 8.21p · Day 29.52p | 42.29p/day |
| South East | Off-peak 8.21p · Day 29.89p | 52.21p/day |
| North West | Off-peak 8.21p · Day 29.24p | 44.85p/day |
| North Scotland | Off-peak 8.21p · Day 29.44p | 55.28p/day |
| Wales (South) | Off-peak 8.21p · Day 29.49p | 54.36p/day |
What Octopus Go actually is
Octopus Go is a two-rate electricity tariff with a cheap window from 00:30 to 05:30 every night. The cheap rate applies to everything you use in that window, not just the car.
Outside the window you pay the day rate, which varies by region. The more of your use you can move into the window, the more the tariff is likely to suit you.
Go has a fixed window and doesn't need Octopus to control your charger. That's what separates it from Intelligent Octopus Go, a different tariff that schedules compatible cars or chargers for you and has its own rates and window.
Pros
- Low, flat off-peak rate in every region.
- All electricity in the window is cheaper, not just EV charging.
- Same window every night — works with any charger that has a timer.
- No exit fees on Octopus's variable tariffs.
Cons
- Day rate is higher than the off-peak rate by around 20p/kWh, so daytime use costs more.
- Miss the window and you pay the day rate.
- Five hours may not fully charge a large, depleted battery.
- Intelligent Octopus Go is a separate tariff with different terms; check which suits your car and charger.
Who Octopus Go suits
- EV drivers who can plug in overnight and get enough charge within five hours.
- Households with a home battery that can charge overnight.
- Storage heater or hot-water tank users who can heat within the window.
Who should avoid it
- Households without a large overnight load — the higher day rate can outweigh the cheap window.
- Drivers who regularly need more charge than five hours provides.
- Households whose biggest loads are during the day.
Worked example: London, 4,500 kWh electricity a year
Illustration using the London rates above: 2,500 kWh used in the off-peak window (mostly EV charging) at 8.21p = £205.25, plus 2,000 kWh at other times at 29.52p = £590.40. Unit charges total £795.65, plus the standing charge.
If the same household used all 4,500 kWh at the day rate — for example charging the car in the evening — unit charges would be £1,328.40.
Whether that beats your current tariff depends on your own split between night and day use. Put your rates and usage into the EV charging calculator to compare.
Work out your own numbers on Octopus Go
- Heating with electricity? Cost each heater per hour, day and year with the electric heating running cost calculator using this tariff's unit rate.
- Want to move appliances into the cheap window automatically? See our review of the Hive Active Plug for scheduling flexible load into the cheap window.
- Compare home, off-peak and public charging with the EV charging cost calculator.
Safety first: UK fire services advise against running washing machines, tumble dryers or dishwashers while you are asleep or out of the house. Shift flexible load such as EV charging, hot water or storage heating into the cheap hours instead, and follow your appliance manufacturer's instructions.
How to switch to Octopus Go
- Confirm you have a working smart meter.
- Check Octopus's eligibility terms for Go and sign up on its website or app.
- Until Octopus confirms the change, you stay on your old tariff.
- Set your charger or appliances to run between 00:30 and 05:30.
- After your first bill, compare it with what you paid before.
Independent review. PowerGuardian is not affiliated with Octopus Energy. Rates shown are indicative for Octopus Energy's Octopus Go tariff at the time of review — check the supplier's website for current pricing before signing up.