Would I benefit from changing to a fixed rate tariff? I'm not sure if this a good idea or not? We changed to economy 9 earlier in the year. Would like to save a few £'s if possible.
Answer
I'm on Simpler Energy smart economy 9, would I benefit from a fixed rate tariff?
Best answer by Firedog
Updated on 26/09/25 by Ben_OVO
You’d have to be very careful doing your sums, and base them on solid evidence of how much electricity you’re using at what times. OVO’s fixed-rate plans have recently shown alarmingly high standing charges, indicating (to me, at least) that they expect these charges to increase significantly over the next year or two. If the standing charge is a large proportion of your costs, a fixed-price plan might well prove more expensive.
What tariffs are available to you depends a lot on where you live. I just had a look at (current) prices in the Scottish Hydro region:
| Smart Economy 9 N. Scotland - ID 17 | Peak unit rate p/kWh ex VAT | Offpeak unit rate p/kWh ex VAT | Standing Charge p/day ex VAT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simpler Energy | 27.09 | 20.77 | 56.93 |
| 1-Year Fixed Loyalty | 27.45 | 20.45 | 59.52 |
The Simpler Energy (OVO’s Standard Variable Tariff) rates will be increasing on 1 October, but the actual rates haven’t been published yet.
If you’re on a dual or multi-rate plan and are struggling to decide which tariff to go for then we’d recommend contacting our Support Team. They’ll be able to assess your usage and use the usage data to look at some price comparisons to ensure you’re getting the best possible deal. You can find out more information, including contact details, below:
+1- Plan Zero Hero
Hi
Given the current market… The answer is almost certainly yes. You should be able to keep Smart Economy 9 but it’d basically just lock in the rates.
Have a word with OVO and they can see what’s on offer for you.
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+5- Plan Zero Hero
Hi
On a tariff such as E9, you should get 9 hrs at an off peak rate but the rest will be at a higher rate than many standard tariffs.
A calculation of when you can use which of the higher consuming appliances will help.
Bring me Sunshine ~ E&E {Solar PV, Battery Storage, Hybrid EV, ASHP}
- Plan Zero Hero
- Answer
Updated on 26/09/25 by Ben_OVO
You’d have to be very careful doing your sums, and base them on solid evidence of how much electricity you’re using at what times. OVO’s fixed-rate plans have recently shown alarmingly high standing charges, indicating (to me, at least) that they expect these charges to increase significantly over the next year or two. If the standing charge is a large proportion of your costs, a fixed-price plan might well prove more expensive.
What tariffs are available to you depends a lot on where you live. I just had a look at (current) prices in the Scottish Hydro region:
| Smart Economy 9 N. Scotland - ID 17 | Peak unit rate p/kWh ex VAT | Offpeak unit rate p/kWh ex VAT | Standing Charge p/day ex VAT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simpler Energy | 27.09 | 20.77 | 56.93 |
| 1-Year Fixed Loyalty | 27.45 | 20.45 | 59.52 |
The Simpler Energy (OVO’s Standard Variable Tariff) rates will be increasing on 1 October, but the actual rates haven’t been published yet.
If you’re on a dual or multi-rate plan and are struggling to decide which tariff to go for then we’d recommend contacting our Support Team. They’ll be able to assess your usage and use the usage data to look at some price comparisons to ensure you’re getting the best possible deal. You can find out more information, including contact details, below:
Noel | I have no official status; I'm just a volunteer who comes here to help other customers. My gear: Aclara SGM 1416-B Electricity-only E7 meter; Chameleon IHD3-PPMID-AAA | It may look as if I know what I’m talking about, but don’t let that fool you. |
Hey
Have the suggestions from our amazing community members helped you in deciding whether to switch to a fixed-rate tariff? Or are you still thinking it over? We’d love to hear your thoughts!
Renewable energy jokes never get old.
Thanks for your help. We are going to have a good think and look into what we are using etc and hopefully reach a conclusion. 👍🏼
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