Shape Shifters: Agile - your questions answered

What is Shape Shifters: Agile?

Agile passes these cost differences onto you. If you use energy at times when the grid is greener and cheaper, we think it's fair that you feel the benefits.

What’s the difference between Agile and Trio?

Agile is one of two versions of Shape Shifters. The other is called Trio.

Both give your business lower prices for most of every day. But, there are a few key differences. So, let’s explore how the two versions work:

How do I know whether Shape Shifters: Agile is right for my business?

We've run some analysis on the types of organisations that Agile works best for. We found that:

• 75% of businesses would save money just by joining Shape Shifters: Agile, without changing their energy habits; this is because they naturally use lots of energy away from peak times
• the highest saving business were ones that:
  • didn't do all of their energy-intensive tasks between 4pm and 7pm (in this period, wholesale costs are higher and it costs more to transfer power across the grid)
  • use low-carbon tech, like batteries, solar panels and electric vehicles (EVs)
• any business can boost their savings by shifting some energy usage away from the 4-7pm peak period
• keeping an eye on Agile prices helps Shape Shifters to lower their bills even more

Why is Shape Shifters: Agile good for the environment?

Agile incentivises people to use more energy when the grid is greener. It's a type of demand flexiblity.

National electricity demand is highest in the early evening. As a country, we can't yet meet this demand with renewable electricity alone. We produce loads of green energy, but not enough during those peak hours when national demand spikes.

If we could spread that demand throughout the day, we'd have enough green electricity to supply everyone all the time.

Shape Shifters: Agile helps to make this happen. It shows that small businesses can be a big part of a flexible energy system.

How does Shape Shifters: Agile save my business money?

Agile gives you much cheaper energy, nearly all day. Outside of the industry peak period (4-7pm), electricity costs less to use. So, you can lower your bills by shifting some consumption away from peak times.

We’ve found that loads of businesses are naturally off-peak energy users. As a result, 75% of Shape Shifters start saving money as soon as they join - without having to make any changes to their energy usage. Which means they get lower bills for no effort. Groovy!

If you want to increase those savings, you can tweak your usage habits accordingly - as the next answer explains.

How can I increase my business' savings?

You'll probably lower your bills as soon as you join Shape Shifters, without having to change your energy habits. That's what happens for 75% of customers that join.

But, if you want to boost these savings further, you can make some small changes to how and when you use your electricity. Like these:

• Set machines and equipment to run outside of peak hours
• Charge up big energy users - like laptops, batteries and electric vehicles - overnight
• Use your smart meter or Octopus Home Mini to spot what's spiking your usage at peak times

You can read about these - and a bunch more handy tips - in our blog.

I can’t change when I use my electricity. Can I still benefit?

Yes, absolutely! Agile provides you with prices that fit the way your business works.

If you're like most businesses, you naturally use most of your energy outside of the 4-7pm peak. So, you'll probably save money as soon as you join Shape Shifters: Agile. That's what 75% of our Shape Shifters customers have done, without having to change when they use energy.

Does Shape Shifters: Agile work with low-carbon tech?

Yes, definitely. In fact, Shape Shifters: Agile is perfectly suited for use with low-carbon tech. Here's why:

If you have a battery
Agile will work a treat. Charge up your batteries overnight, when electricity costs are really low. Then, use that battery power throughout the day. You can avoid drawing electricity from the grid at peak times - meaning you can slash your energy bills.

If you have an electric vehicle (EV)
Agile is great for these too. You can charge your electric car up to full outside of peak hours, when energy prices are low. Powering up overnight will be about as cheap a charge as you can get.

Is my business eligible for Shape Shifters: Agile?

If you don’t meet these yet, don’t worry. We’ve written guides on what to do if you don’t have a smart meter. And you can manage your Direct Debit and balance in your online account.

Do I have to pay an exit fee to move to Shape Shifters: Agile?

No, there are no exit fees at all. This is true for both versions of Shape Shifters - Trio and Agile.

You don’t have to pay an exit fee to move from your current Octopus contract to Shape Shifters. Even if you’re partway through a fixed contract, you can move to Shape Shifters at any time with no exit fee.

There’s also no exit fee for leaving. So if you join and don’t like it, you can switch to a different tariff at any time.

I'm an Octopus customer. How do I join?

I'm not an Octopus customer. How do I join?

The first step is to switch to Octopus. You can then move to Shape Shifters when we become your supplier.

Here’s how to do it, step-by-step:

1. Switch your business to Octopus
2. Head to the Shape Shifters page to sign up

Once you've done that, you'll be shifting shapes with us in no time.

How do you calculate the prices for Shape Shifters: Agile?

We base Agile rates on wholesale energy costs. They also factor in the price of getting your energy to your business and occasional charges for using the grid during the 4-7pm peak.

As these things change, your Agile prices follow. For more detail, you can read about the formula we use to calculate Agile rates.

How can I monitor my business' Shape Shifters: Agile prices?

In your online Octopus account
This shows your unit rate for each half-hour period today and tomorrow.

Do the prices change at different times of year?

Yes, unit rates tend to get lower in the summer. Which makes Agile an even brighter prospect for the sunnier months.

Energy markets are seasonal. During the winter, national demand for energy is higher. So, wholesale energy costs - which Agile prices follow - tend to be higher too. But this reverses in warmer and lighter months.

That said, the 4-7pm peak will always be the most expensive time of day. During this period, it costs more to move power across the grid and get it to your business.

If you want more detail, check out the historical energy prices in our Shape Shifters: Agile portal. These go back to January 2025, when the tariff first launched.

Is there a limit to how high or low my Shape Shifters: Agile prices can go?

No, there’s no upper or lower cap. The prices respond to changes in the wholesale energy market and - at peak times - the cost of using the grid. These can go up as well as down.

We've written more about how we calculate Agile rates. You can also use our Agile Portal to stay up to date with your prices. It shows you your unit rates for the day ahead. Plus, you’ll find historical figures going back to January 2025 (when the tariff began).

And remember - there's no exit fee. So, if you want to avoid prices changing, you can move to a different tariff for free.