Octopus Go and Intelligent Octopus Go customers are facing a price hike from 1 May 2026, with some saying they were given only 10-11 days notice of the change.
The tariff is popular among electric vehicle owners for offering cheaper overnight charging electricity, but both off-peak rates and standing charges are set to increase.
Octopus Energy says Energy prices rise Variable tariffs are allowed under the rules and are governed by “ongoing global volatility”.
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What is Octopus Go?
Octopus Go and Intelligent Octopus Go are smart electricity tariffs designed primarily for electric vehicle owners.
They provide cheap electricity overnight for a set number of hours – usually five or six – to encourage off-peak charging of EVs at home. Depending on the tariff, the same discounted rate may also apply to other household electricity usage during those hours.
The Intelligent Octopus Go EV also uses Smart Charging to automatically schedule charging when electricity is cheapest or lowest carbon intensity.
Because usage varies widely between households, the overall cost depends heavily on how much charging is done overnight versus daytime use.
What increases the price of Octopus Go
Customers were informed on April 20 that prices will increase from May 1, affecting both Octopus Go and Intelligent Octopus Go tariffs.
According to customer communications, the main change is an increase in the off-peak unit rate, with an average increase in standing charges of around 52p per month.
Octopus Energy said the increase reflects “ongoing global volatility”, while noting that the tariffs are among the cheapest available for EV charging. The company added that the variable tariff can go up or down depending on wholesale costs and policy charges.
Customer feedback and Martin Lewis response
Some Octopus Go and Intelligent Octopus Go customers have expressed frustration after receiving about 10-11 days notice of the price change effective May 1.
Some said the timing was confusing, especially since rates were cut as recently as early April.
One customer told the company they were “shocked at the short notice”, while another said the change was “very quick after the last price cut”, according to a message shared with the supplier.
“Two weeks notice of change. And they say they review every three months. Also destroys government levies and costs us more than before” another person commented on X.
Writing on X in response to a customer question about the change, Martin Lewis, founder of MoneySavingExpert, said: “Doesn’t sound good, but just a technicality. Octopus GO is not a price capped tariff so it hasn’t gone up because the price cap has dropped. It’s gone down because some government policy has been removed (but that’s why they add extra costs to energy bills. Different).”
His comments show that Octopus Go is a variable tariff, meaning prices can vary outside the energy price cap system based on supplier costs and policy charges.
When contacted, Octopus Energy declined to comment specifically on customer concerns, but they have said changes are allowed under variable tariff rules and that despite the increase, EV tariffs remain among the cheapest available for overnight charging.
