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Household savings scenarios (verified, conservative)

Verification-first Savings scenarios are constrained to source-backed claims. We do not publish invented savings figures.

Verified core input: Octopus referral credit is £50 (eligibility and terms apply).

Formula used: Year-1 expected impact = £50 + tariff-cost difference.

If tariff comparison data is missing, the only safe minimum shown is the verified referral-credit component.

Scenario A — Low-use household (1–2 people, flat/small home)

Usage profile: 1,800 kWh electricity + 7,500 kWh gas (Ofgem low).

Baseline annual cost reference: ~£1,189.55 (Ofgem Apr–Jun 2026 average cap rates).

Verified minimum year-1 component: £50 referral credit (if eligible).

Expected impact framing: £50 + tariff-cost difference on like-for-like assumptions.

Scenario B — Medium-use household (2–3 people, typical home)

Usage profile: 2,700 kWh electricity + 11,500 kWh gas (Ofgem medium).

Baseline annual cost reference: ~£1,641.18 (aligned with Ofgem ~£1,641 typical annual benchmark).

Verified minimum year-1 component: £50 referral credit (if eligible).

Expected impact framing: £50 + tariff-cost difference on like-for-like assumptions.

Scenario C — High-use household (4–5 people, larger home)

Usage profile: 4,100 kWh electricity + 17,000 kWh gas (Ofgem high).

Baseline annual cost reference: ~£2,302.26 (Ofgem rate model).

Verified minimum year-1 component: £50 referral credit (if eligible).

Expected impact framing: £50 + tariff-cost difference on like-for-like assumptions.

Assumptions and caveats

  • Referral credit depends on Octopus referral eligibility and terms.
  • Tariff savings depend on current supplier, region, payment method, meter type, and usage.
  • Ofgem cap rates are GB averages for Apr–Jun 2026 and can change quarterly.
  • No universal personal-savings claim is made beyond the verified referral-credit component.

Verified gas-saving example 1 — Lower thermostat by 1 C

Safe wording (confidence: Medium-High): If your home still feels comfortable, lowering your thermostat by 1 C can reduce heating energy use noticeably. A UK smart-meter analysis in gas-heated homes found each 1 C lower setting (between 22 C and 18 C) was linked to around £130 less annual energy use for a typical 85m² home, based on the Oct 2022 price cap.

Caveat: This is not a guaranteed saving for every household. Results vary by insulation, home size, weather, heating schedule, and tariff. Keep healthy indoor temperatures (typically 18–21 C).

Verified gas-saving example 2 — Lower combi boiler flow temperature to 60 C or below

Safe wording (confidence: High action relevance / Medium-High £ estimate): If you have a combi boiler, reducing radiator flow temperature to 60 C or below can improve efficiency and cut gas use. UK consumer guidance linked by Ofgem indicates average savings around £65/year (Sept 2023 price basis).

Caveat: Applies to condensing combi boilers; not universally applicable to all systems. If rooms do not heat adequately, raise setting slightly.

What is not claimed

  • No universal personal savings guarantee is made from these examples.
  • No supplier-vs-supplier blanket claim is made from this section.
  • £ examples are time-specific and illustrative, not guaranteed outcomes.

Sources used (verified)

  • Octopus referral explainer: https://octopus.energy/blog/octopus-referrals/
  • Ofgem average usage profiles: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/average-gas-and-electricity-use-explained
  • Ofgem Apr–Jun 2026 cap rates: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/news/changes-energy-price-cap-between-1-april-and-30-june-2026
  • UCL thermostat analysis summary (SERL dataset context): https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2022/dec/analysis-energy-bills-how-much-money-does-turning-down-thermostat-actually-save
  • Ofgem consumer advice (boiler settings): https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/information-consumers/energy-advice-households/save-money-on-your-energy-bill
  • Money Saving Boiler Challenge: https://moneysavingboilerchallenge.com/
  • Nesta evidence context for flow-temperature intervention: https://www.nesta.org.uk/project/lowering-boiler-flow-temperature-reduce-emissions/

Updated: 2026-04-04 · Editorial owner: WGuru Web Ops