Octopus Go: tariff explained (2026)
Octopus Go is the original time-of-use tariff for electric-vehicle households: one fixed cheap window in the small hours of every night, with a higher rate the rest of the day. The off-peak window applies to your whole home, not just the car, so anything you can run overnight charges at the cheaper rate. It is the simple, predictable cousin of Intelligent Octopus Go, with no app-controlled smart charging to set up.
What is Octopus Go?
Octopus Go is the original time-of-use tariff for electric-vehicle households: one fixed cheap window in the small hours of every night, with a higher rate the rest of the day. The off-peak window applies to your whole home, not just the car, so anything you can run overnight charges at the cheaper rate. It is the simple, predictable cousin of Intelligent Octopus Go, with no app-controlled smart charging to set up.
Who it’s best for
- EV drivers who charge at home most nights and want a fixed, predictable cheap window rather than smart-scheduled slots
- People happy to shift the dishwasher, washing machine, tumble dryer or hot-water heating into the early hours
- Households who already have (or are happy to get) a compatible smart meter sending half-hourly readings
- Anyone who prefers a set-and-forget overnight rate over the smarter-but-fiddlier Intelligent Octopus Go
How it works
Octopus Go gives you one low overnight rate during a fixed window in the small hours, and a single higher rate for the rest of the day. The cheap window covers everything in your home during those hours, so it pays to load up your EV charge, hot water, heating and big appliances overnight and ease off during the day. Because it is a time-of-use tariff you will need a compatible smart meter that sends half-hourly readings so Octopus can bill the right usage to the right window. The trade-off is simple: the daytime rate is higher than a standard single-rate tariff, so Go works best when a good chunk of your usage genuinely shifts into the cheap hours. Unlike Intelligent Octopus Go, there is no smart charging to schedule and nothing reliant on your car or charger being integrated with Octopus, just a fixed window you can plan around. Rates and the exact window can change with the market and your region, so always check the current details on octopus.energy before you decide.
Joining Octopus Go? Use my referral link and get £50 credit on top.
Get my £50Whichever EV tariff you land on, joining through a referral link gets you £50 credit (and £50 for the person who shared it) on top of any savings, paid automatically a few weeks after your switch completes. The link must be used directly, so tap it rather than typing the Octopus address yourself, or you will usually miss out on the £50.
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.
Get my £50