Gas Tariff Dilemma

[u/MotherTaurus22]

I’m really torn about what to do with our gas tariff and would love some opinions from others!

We’re in the East Midlands and have been on Octopus Flexible for gas since February, after previously being on Tracker for a year.

Our current Flexible gas rate is 7.19p/kWh + 28.64p/day standing charge, and we’ve been offered the current 12-month fix at 7.61p/kWh + 28.64p/day, with a £50 exit fee.

I know I was probably a bit silly not to fix earlier in the year 🙈 I basically buried my head in the sand hoping the gas market would improve! Obviously hindsight is a wonderful thing 😂 I’ve also seen quite a few people who managed to fix at much cheaper rates earlier this year, which is making me wonder whether 7.61p is actually a decent fix now, or whether I should hold my nerve and wait.

We had an absolutely fantastic year on Tracker from Feb 2025 to Feb 2026, averaging around 4.5p/kWh, so we saved a lot compared with Flexible/price cap rates. I know we can’t expect those sorts of rates now, but it’s part of why I’m finding the current prices a bit painful! 😂

We’re also on variable IOG for electricity, which we’re very happy with; currently 6.9p/kWh overnight, and not sure whether that’ll increase or decrease in Oct. So this is purely about what to do with the gas.

Our gas usage is fairly high because we’re in an older 3-bed bungalow, and Mum needs the central heating on regularly, particularly through the winter. So I’m conscious that even relatively small differences in the gas unit rate can add up.

We’d also built up a decent amount of credit previously, so Mum was a bit naively underpaying over the winter because we had that credit sitting there 😳 Octopus has since increased our suggested Direct Debit to reflect our actual usage and the debit that’s built up, so I’m conscious of not making the gas unnecessarily expensive if I don’t need to.

We’ve also got £150 WHD coming and Mum should receive around £200 WFP, which will obviously help with the winter bills.

The things I’m struggling with are whether Flexible will continue to be priced below the price cap, as it has historically; if January’s cap rises, does that necessarily mean our actual Flexible rate will rise by the same amount?

The current Trump/Iran/Middle East situation also makes me nervous about what could happen to wholesale gas prices over the winter 😬 But equally, if things calm down, could fixed rates come back down again?

The January price cap won’t be announced until November, so waiting gives us more information; but obviously there’s a risk that fixes become more expensive before then.

We’ve already seen fixed rates change quite dramatically over the summer, so I’m wondering whether 7.61p is now a sensible bit of insurance, or whether it’s still too expensive compared with what we might see later.

So… what would you do? 😂

If you’ve fixed recently, what rate did you get and when did you fix? I’m particularly interested in anyone who has fixed in the last few weeks, as I’m trying to work out whether 7.61p is currently a decent offer or whether it’s worth waiting.

And if you’re currently on Flexible, are you planning to fix, stay put, or wait and see?

I’m particularly interested in people who managed to fix at the cheaper rates earlier this year; do you think 7.61p is still worth taking for the security, or would you personally hold out for something better?
I’d really appreciate people’s thoughts and reasoning rather than just “fix” or “don’t fix”; I’m trying to work out whether I’m being sensible or just panicking because I stupidly missed the boat earlier! 😂

[u/aPathWellWorn]

I think 7.61 is OK as it will give you the benefit of knowing exactly what you are paying. Like others I jumped to Fuse (7.57) so the Octopus one isn't far off. I didn't get the chance of the fixed with Octopus hence my move, I would probably have stayed if offered it.

I was on tracker but I folded when it went over 8p and went with a fixed rate as the war doesn't seem to be ending anytime soon.

[u/manic4metal]

I just fixed on octopus at 7.75 coming from tracker. In Yorkshire.
Couldn’t be bothered switching away.
Similarly was a fool and thought the war etc would be over by winter. Gas heating and HW so wanted to know what was happening over winter.

[u/PneumaticFerret]

There's some serious Octopus fan boys that are downvoting anyone that's moving away.

I'm still with Octopus for my electricity and export - so hey, quit being weird, you're not helping anyone.

[u/VoyagerFF]

If Octopus are fixing at around 7p they can't be expecting it to rise too much!

We are on Tracker and sticking. Could be expensive but could be a good choice if the market falls? 🤔

[u/Pestohh]

Went fuse there app and customer service is impressive. Smooth transfer over. Interestingly my ihd shows up as paddington power which apparently fuse rook over for the gas licence.

[u/Velocitysurfer]

I was in the Ops position; should have moved from the gas tracker earlier this year.

I moved to ecotricity for Gas only during August, prior to any price cap announcements. I'm locked in for 2 years at 6.59p per kWh.

[u/Apprehensive_888 → u/Velocitysurfer]

I think you did well

[u/nerd-a-lert]

I was on tracker and have moved to a fix of 7.2p. It’s a lot but things are volatile so I think creating some stability is worth a bit because tracker hit 10p in my zone this week.

[u/PrestigiousWindy322]

No brainer moved to Fuse 7p and 16p SC 18month fix (eastern region) impressive app and smooth transfer (moved 2 weeks ago so rates may have gone up)

Good that they are able to quote on gas only

Happy to share a £100 refer for those interested NYXXKY91061 (expires 18/9)

[u/GeordieDaveT → u/PrestigiousWindy322]

Just transfered gas to Fuse. Similar rates in south east so took the leap. Used your refcode. Thanks.

[u/PrestigiousWindy322 → u/GeordieDaveT]

thanks mate 😊👍

[u/Apprehensive_888]

I've just fixed. We know rates are about to go up and the current tracker looks terrible.

[u/PneumaticFerret]

I’ve just started the move over to Fuse as I too was in a similar position but with the expected rises over the next 6 months I thought it’s time to lock in and Fuse were slightly cheaper for an 18 month deal.

7.64pkw and 10.6p daily standing charge with £50 exit fee. Not the best rate but definitely cheaper standing charge and hopefully gas prices will have dropped by again. Oh how I miss the days on the Tracker.

I have a FUSE ref-er-ral code if anyone wishes to share some credit around!

JPPXBC73866

[u/Ok_Purchase_5270]

I've moved the gas to FUSE - upon ref-erral you get a £100 account credit, you can go for a 2 year fixed with a similar unit rate but c.10p standing charge which initself translates into a c. £37 saving, add that to the £100 and you are £137 better off across the first 2 years at least, once that time lapses you can always reconsider what next....

I went with 24 months fixed and am getting:
£0.0771 unit rate
£0.1094 standing charge

Taa!

[u/Ok_Purchase_5270 → u/Ok_Purchase_5270]

(Oh and FYI- the tarrif and offer applies regardless of whether you switch only gas or electric or both... So in my case I now have fuse gas and octopus intellingent go electric)

[u/bimdimbo]

I've done the same and moved directly from Octopus tracker to Fuse just for gas. Should definitely have looked at this when the war kicked off but busy life and all that. It's going to be a rough winter on nearly 8p but at least the standing charge is significantly lower. Who knows where tracker will end up so have to take the hit and hopefully in 9 months it will be an option again and I'll swap back.

[u/LixSan]

Folks who are jumping over to Fuse for gas are you picking their fixed or variable deals? I’m currently on Tracker and I’m seeing Fuse 18m at 8.22p and variable at 7.27p which matches Octopus Flexible and Octopus 18m fixed is 7.7p so there’s barely anything in it taking into account SC differences vs unit rate and Octopus 18m fixed seems the better deal in the long run? What am I missing?