Snug Octopus review (November 2026)
A storage-heater tariff with a six-hour overnight cheap band and an Octopus-controlled afternoon boost.
Live tariff data
Snug Octopus prices for your area
Electricity rates and standing charges differ by distribution region. Enter your postcode or choose your electricity region before local figures are shown.
The short answer
Who Snug Octopus is most likely to work for
Snug can be a strong fit for the relatively small group of homes with compatible storage heating, because it combines an overnight cheap band with supplier-controlled afternoon charging.
In its favour
- Six-hour overnight cheap band
- Controlled afternoon storage-heater boost
- Designed around electric storage heating
Against it
- Strict equipment compatibility
- Higher rate outside cheap periods
- Requires supplier control and a compatible smart-meter setup
Read the fuller verdict and trade-offs
Its value cannot be judged from the cheap rate alone. Eligibility, the controlled-load setup and the amount of ordinary electricity bought at the day rate all matter.
- The afternoon boost depends on compatible equipment and supplier control. During a scheduled boost the whole home receives the off-peak rate, but the timing is not a general fixed band you can choose yourself.
- Electricity used outside the cheap periods can be materially more expensive.
- A storage heater, smart meter or control arrangement that is not compatible can make the tariff unavailable.
Tariff facts at a glance
- Current version
- Snug Octopus
View product code
SNUG-24-11-07- Price changes
- By time band
- The same scheduled price periods repeat each day
- Today’s full-day rate vs cap
- Choose a location
- A full-day regional average is needed for today’s comparison
- Estimated annual cost
- Choose a location
- Shown after an electricity region is selected
Key tariff facts
- Variable-rate tariff
- Compatible smart meter required
- Electricity tariff
Regional comparison
How prices differ across Great Britain
Snug Octopus unit rate and standing charge by region
The average price per unit on 6 November 2026, including VAT. The table also shows the daily standing charge.
Hover a region for its figure, or select one to load its prices.
Tap a region to load its prices.
View all regional prices
| Region | Per kWh | Standing charge per day |
|---|---|---|
| East Midlands | 22.28p | 50.7p |
| Yorkshire | 22.33p | 60.9p |
| North East England | 22.48p | 60.7p |
| West Midlands | 22.52p | 56.6p |
| Southern Scotland | 22.61p | 61.4p |
| Northern Scotland | 23.15p | 55.3p |
| North West England | 23.29p | 44.9p |
| South Wales | 23.39p | 54.4p |
| London | 23.43p | 42.3p |
| Southern England | 23.50p | 47.5p |
| South West England | 23.52p | 55.5p |
| Eastern England | 23.55p | 51.7p |
| South East England | 23.68p | 52.2p |
| Merseyside and North Wales | 24.33p | 66.7p |
Northern Ireland has a separate electricity market and is not covered by these regions.
Household fit
Who Snug Octopus might be good for
The right answer depends on your equipment, routine and tolerance for changing prices—not just how much electricity you use.
Likely to suit
- Homes already heated by compatible storage heaters
- Households willing to let Octopus schedule storage-heater charging
- People who can also move other suitable loads into the overnight cheap band
Less likely to suit
- Homes without storage heaters
- Households whose meter or heater controls are not compatible
- People who need full manual control of when their heating charges
- Homes with heavy daytime electricity use outside the controlled heater load
Before switching
Check the requirements and what will affect the result
What you need
- Compatible storage heaters that Octopus can control
- A compatible SMETS2 smart meter and auxiliary load control switch
- An Octopus Energy account at the property and the account holder living there
- Successful eligibility and technical checks by Octopus before the tariff is activated
What drives what you pay
- How much storage-heater charging Octopus can move into the cheap periods
- How much ordinary household electricity is used at the higher day rate
- The heat the home needs, which rises sharply in colder weather
- The regional standing charge and regional unit rates
How it works
How Snug Octopus sets its prices
The base tariff repeats two prices each day: a cheaper period from 00:30 to 06:30 local time and a day rate for the other eighteen hours.
Read the full pricing explanation
For a compatible installation, Octopus can control the storage heater through a SMETS2 auxiliary load control switch and schedule an afternoon boost at the cheap rate.
Outside the guaranteed overnight band, ordinary household electricity is normally charged at the day rate. When Octopus smart-schedules compatible heater charging, however, the off-peak rate applies to the whole home during that scheduled period.
Practical advice
Getting the most out of Snug Octopus
Separate heating from the rest of the home
Estimate storage-heater charging and ordinary household use separately. A low controlled heating rate does not make daytime cooking or laundry cheap.
Check every heater is compatible
Do not assume one compatible heater makes the whole installation eligible. Ask Octopus to confirm the meter, switch and connected loads.
Match the tariff to your home
Your largest electrical loads can change the answer
A specialist tariff can be better aligned with one large device, but its eligibility and expensive periods still matter. These are comparisons to make, not automatic recommendations.
Alternatives
Other smart tariffs from Octopus and EDF to compare
These are other smart-tariff comparisons from the two suppliers, not a claim that every option suits the same household.
Cosy Octopus
Cosy is designed around heat pumps and three daily price periods; Snug is specifically for compatible storage heaters and controlled charging.
More detail
The heating system decides which comparison is relevant.
Octopus Go
Go provides an overnight cheap period aimed at EV charging.
More detail
Snug adds storage-heater eligibility and supplier-controlled heating, so Go is not a substitute for the afternoon heater boost.
Flexible Octopus
Flexible avoids device compatibility and supplier control but has no dedicated cheap heating band.
More detail
Compare the whole-home day rate as well as Snug's cheap hours.
How to switch
Moving to Snug Octopus
- 1
Ask Octopus to check the storage heaters, smart meter and auxiliary load control arrangement before relying on the tariff.
- 2
Confirm which heater loads Octopus will control and when the afternoon boost can be scheduled.
- 3
Compare the higher day rate against your current tariff using electricity that is not part of the controlled heater load.
Frequently asked questions
Who can get Snug Octopus?
It is intended for homes with compatible storage heaters, a compatible SMETS2 smart meter and the necessary auxiliary load control arrangement. Octopus must confirm the installation rather than eligibility being assumed from the heater brand alone.
When is the Snug cheap period?
The public base tariff has a six-hour cheap band from 00:30 to 06:30 local time. An eligible controlled heater may also receive an afternoon boost at the cheap rate, scheduled by Octopus.
Can I use the afternoon boost for other appliances?
When Octopus schedules the storage heaters, all electricity used in the home during that period receives the off-peak rate. The boost is supplier-controlled rather than a fixed extra band you can trigger for appliances yourself.
Does Snug work with a heat pump?
It is designed for compatible storage heaters. A heat-pump household should compare a heat-pump tariff such as Cosy Octopus instead.
