UPDATED: MAY 2026
Cosy Octopus gives heat pump owners three cheap windows every day to run heating at a discounted rate. Octopus estimates savings of up to £389/yr versus the standard variable tariff. Here’s everything you need to know.
Switch via Referral & Get £50 Free →Cosy Octopus is Octopus Energy’s smart tariff designed specifically for homes with heat pumps, electric boilers, or electric radiators. Unlike a standard flat-rate tariff, Cosy Octopus offers three discounted windows each day during which it makes sense to run your heating system and charge any storage devices.
The idea is simple: shift your heating load into the cheap windows, avoid the peak period in the late afternoon, and pay significantly less for the electricity your heating uses. The tariff works alongside your normal usage — you still pay the same rates for everything else, and the cheap windows cover the whole home.
You can find full details at octopus.energy/smart/cosy-octopus/.
Cosy Octopus has three cheap windows daily. These apply every single day, including weekends and bank holidays:
| Period | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 04:00–07:00 | ☀️ Cosy (cheap) | Early morning — ideal for pre-heating before the day |
| 13:00–16:00 | ☀️ Cosy (cheap) | Early afternoon — great for topping up heat mid-day |
| 22:00–00:00 | ☀️ Cosy (cheap) | Late evening — good for overnight heating preparation |
| 16:00–19:00 | ⚠️ Peak (expensive) | Avoid running heat pump during this window |
| All other hours | Standard rate | Normal pricing applies |
Octopus estimates savings of up to £389 per year versus the standard variable tariff, based on a typical heat pump household. The actual saving depends on:
Households with well-programmed heat pumps and good insulation tend to see the biggest savings, because they can pre-heat the home in a cheap window and coast through peak time without the pump needing to run.
Cosy Octopus is available to households with any of the following:
You do not need a heat pump specifically — electric boilers and electric radiators also qualify. The key eligibility requirements are:
If you don’t have a smart meter yet, Octopus can install one for free. It typically takes around 14 days to connect the smart meter after you join.
Like all Octopus tariffs, Cosy Octopus has no exit fees and no minimum term. You can switch back to Flexible Octopus or any other tariff at any time if your circumstances change or if a different tariff suits you better.
Use the button below — you’ll get £50 credit added to your account after your first Direct Debit clears. Use my Octopus Energy referral link to make sure the credit registers.
Request a free SMETS2 smart meter installation through your Octopus account dashboard. Installation typically takes a few weeks to book, then a morning or afternoon to complete. You’ll be notified once it’s connected and reading live data.
Once your smart meter is live, log in to your Octopus account, go to tariff settings, and apply for Cosy Octopus. Octopus will confirm your device eligibility and switch you over — usually within a few days.
Set your heat pump or thermostat to run during the cheap windows (04:00–07:00, 13:00–16:00, 22:00–00:00) and to avoid 16:00–19:00. Most modern smart thermostats make this straightforward.
Switch via Referral & Get £50 Free →
| Feature | Cosy Octopus | Flexible Octopus |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Time-of-use (3 cheap windows + peak) | Flat rate (single unit rate) |
| Cheap windows | 6 hrs/day at discounted rate | None |
| Smart meter required | Yes (SMETS2 or Secure SMETS1) | No |
| Best for | Heat pumps, electric boilers, radiators | All homes, simple billing |
| Estimated saving | Up to £389/yr for eligible homes | Baseline comparison |
| Exit fees | None | None |
Yes, for most heat pump and electric boiler owners. The potential saving of up to £389/yr is meaningful, and the tariff requires no major lifestyle change beyond programming your heating to run during the cheap windows. The main risk is if you genuinely can’t avoid running your heat pump during 16:00–19:00 — in that case your savings will be lower. Most households can manage around this window.
The three cheap “Cosy” windows are 04:00–07:00, 13:00–16:00, and 22:00–00:00 every day. These total six hours of discounted electricity daily. The peak period to avoid is 16:00–19:00, when rates are higher than standard.
Yes — a SMETS2 or Secure SMETS1 smart meter is required so Octopus can measure your usage in each time window accurately. If you don’t have one, Octopus will install one for free. Expect around 14 days between switching and your smart meter going live on the Cosy Octopus tariff.
You can apply for Cosy Octopus at the point of joining, but you’ll need a compatible smart meter in place before the tariff activates. If your current home doesn’t have one, Octopus will arrange installation — you’ll start on Flexible Octopus in the meantime. Make sure to switch via my referral link to get the £50 credit.
Eligible devices include: air source heat pumps, ground source heat pumps, electric boilers, and electric radiators (storage or direct acting). A SMETS2 or Secure SMETS1 smart meter is also required. Gas boilers are not eligible — Cosy Octopus is specifically designed for electrically-heated homes.