Octopus Saving Sessions explained

Octopus Saving Sessions explained

Octopus Energy’s Saving Sessions pay households to cut electricity use during peak grid hours. Sessions typically run on weekday evenings between 16:00 and 19:00 when national demand is highest. Payments are calculated per kilowatt-hour (kWh) you save compared to your typical usage at that time, credited as bill credit or OctoPoints (each point equals 1p). Sessions are announced via email or the Octopus app, usually 24–48 hours ahead (Octopus Energy, 2026).

The direct answer is that you earn roughly 20p to £1.50 per session by shifting 0.5 to 3 kWh of electricity use, with typical winter earnings of £6 to £15. No equipment or installation is needed — just a smart meter and an Octopus electricity account. The scheme is free to join and carries no penalty for missing sessions.

How much can you earn per session — and per winter

Typical earnings per session range from 20p to £1.50 per household, depending on how much electricity you shift. Over a typical winter (November to March), a home that saves 1 kWh per session across 30 sessions earns roughly £6 to £15 in bill credit (Octopus Energy, 2026). The exact rate per kWh saved varies by session and region; Octopus publishes the rate before each session. Ofgem’s demand flexibility service guidance confirms that such schemes are designed to reduce peak demand without penalising households that cannot participate (Ofgem, 2026).

Your actual earnings depend on three variables: how much electricity you can shift, how many sessions run in your area, and the per-kWh rate set for each session. Rates have ranged from roughly 15p to 50p per kWh saved in recent winters. The more you can shift — for example, running your dishwasher or washing machine before 16:00 — the more you earn.

Who can join — eligibility and how to sign up

The scheme is open to all Octopus Energy electricity customers in England, Scotland, and Wales with a smart meter (SMETS1 or SMETS2). You must have an active Octopus account and no outstanding balance over 90 days (Octopus Energy, 2026). Sign up via the Octopus app or online account — no installation or hardware changes are required.

If you are on a time-of-use tariff such as Octopus Go, Agile, or Cosy, you can still join. However, savings calculations adjust for your baseline to avoid double-counting. The scheme is separate from time-of-use tariffs; you can be on any Octopus tariff and still participate. Compare time-of-use tariffs for electric heating

How your baseline is calculated — and why it matters for your earnings

Your baseline is the average of your electricity use during the same time window on the previous 10 weekdays (or 3 weekends) when no saving session was running. Octopus then compares your actual use during the session to this baseline — the difference is your “savings” (Octopus Energy, 2026). If you use more than baseline, you are not penalised but earn nothing for that session. There is a cap of 10 kWh saved per session to prevent gaming.

This baseline method means your earnings depend on your normal usage patterns. If you already use little electricity during peak hours, your baseline will be low, making it harder to show savings. Conversely, if you typically run high-power appliances in the evening, you have more room to shift and earn more.

Quick numbers — typical earnings and savings at a glance

Source: Octopus Energy, 2026. These figures assume a per-kWh rate of roughly 40p, which is typical but varies by session and region.

How to verify your installer — MCS certification for heat pumps and solar

If you are shifting electricity use by installing a heat pump or solar panels, the installer must be MCS-certified to qualify for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme or Smart Export Guarantee. Check MCS registration at mcs-certified.com by searching company name or postcode (MCS, 2026). Octopus Saving Sessions do not require MCS certification for participation itself — this is relevant only if you combine with other government schemes (GOV.UK, 2026).

If you plan to add solar panels or a heat pump to increase your ability to shift electricity use, check that your installer holds current MCS certification. Without it, you cannot access the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant (currently £7,500 for heat pumps) or the Smart Export Guarantee payments for exporting solar power. MCS certification explained for heat pump grants

What happens if you miss a session or can’t shift

There is no penalty for missing a session or failing to shift — you simply earn nothing for that session. You can opt out of individual sessions via the app up to 1 hour before the start time (Octopus Energy, 2026). If you miss multiple sessions without opting out, Octopus may remove you from the scheme after 6 consecutive missed sessions.

This opt-out flexibility means you can participate without commitment. If your plans change, you can skip a session without any cost or negative impact on your account. The scheme is designed to reward voluntary demand reduction, not to penalise households that cannot participate on a given day.

Octopus Saving Sessions the direct answer to “how do I get paid for shifting my energy use”

You get paid per kWh you reduce during scheduled 1–2 hour windows, with earnings credited as bill credit. No upfront cost, no equipment needed — just a smart meter and an Octopus electricity account. Typical earnings are modest (£6 to £15 per winter) but can be increased by shifting more, for example running appliances earlier in the day. The scheme is separate from time-of-use tariffs; you can be on any Octopus tariff and still participate (Octopus Energy, 2026).

For most households, Saving Sessions are a low-effort way to earn a small return on behaviour changes you might already make to save energy. If you are on a time-of-use tariff like Octopus Agile, you may already shift your usage — Saving Sessions simply adds another layer of reward for avoiding peak hours. How to shift electricity use without sacrificing comfort