Cosy Octopus: tariff explained (2026)
Cosy Octopus is the tariff built specifically for homes heated by an air-source or ground-source heat pump. Instead of one flat unit price, it splits the day into set time bands, with a few discounted "cosy" windows when electricity is cheapest — typically a stretch in the early morning and another in the afternoon. The idea is to run your heat pump hardest during those low-cost windows so your home stays warm for less, rather than heating reactively at peak times.
What is Cosy Octopus?
Cosy Octopus is the tariff built specifically for homes heated by an air-source or ground-source heat pump. Instead of one flat unit price, it splits the day into set time bands, with a few discounted "cosy" windows when electricity is cheapest — typically a stretch in the early morning and another in the afternoon. The idea is to run your heat pump hardest during those low-cost windows so your home stays warm for less, rather than heating reactively at peak times.
Who it’s best for
- Households with a heat pump (air-source or ground-source) as their main heating — this tariff is designed around how heat pumps actually run
- People with a well-insulated home or hot-water/thermal store that can hold heat between the cheap windows
- Anyone willing to schedule heating around the cosy windows (often easy via a smart thermostat or the heat pump's own timer)
- Those who also have a hot-water cylinder, and increasingly EV or battery owners who can load-shift into the same cheap periods
How it works
The day is divided into off-peak "cosy" windows, a standard rate for most of the day, and a higher peak rate during the early-evening crunch when grid demand spikes. You pay less per unit during the cosy windows and more during peak, so the savings come from front-loading your heating: warming the house and the hot-water cylinder during the cheap slots and coasting through the expensive evening peak. A heat pump suits this well because it heats steadily and a well-insulated home holds that warmth. Like every Octopus tariff it's 100% renewable electricity with no exit fees, and you can move to or from it for free as a customer, so you're never locked in. The exact band timings and rates vary by region and change with the wholesale market and price cap, so always check the current Cosy Octopus rates on octopus.energy before deciding.
Joining Cosy Octopus? Use my referral link and get £50 credit on top.
Get my £50Whichever tariff you land on, joining Octopus through a referral link earns you £50 account credit (and £50 for the person who shared it) — paid automatically a few weeks after your switch completes. That £50 is pure bonus on top of any heating savings Cosy brings, and you can always start on Cosy or switch onto it later once you're a customer.
Rates and availability change regularly — check current prices on octopus.energy. Last reviewed 1 June 2026.
FAQs
How much is the Octopus Energy referral bonus?+
£50 for you and £50 for the referrer — £50 each. Business and charity referrals are £75 each. Octopus sometimes frames it as “splitting £100 with a mate”, which is the same thing: £50 into each account.
Is the Octopus referral code still working in 2026?+
Yes. The scheme is active and we re-verify our code on the 1st of every month. We last confirmed it works on 1 June 2026.
How long does it take to get the £50 credit?+
It’s paid automatically once your switch completes and your first monthly Direct Debit has been taken — usually around 4 weeks after you join. No claim needed.
Ready to switch? Use my link and we both get £50 — it costs you nothing.
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