EDF has been operating in the UK since 2002 as a subsidiary of French energy supplier Électricité de France (EDF Group).
It is an energy firm that generates power and distributes electricity and gas to clients all around the country and has earned its position among the Big Six electricity generating giants of the UK. According to the stats, EDF generated sales worth 10.11 billion euros in the year 2021 alone.
About Octopus Energy
Octopus Energy is a subsidiary of the Octopus Group, which was founded in 2000. It mainly works in the energy and investment management industries.
Octopus Energy Group, established in 2015, is a renewable energy company based in the United Kingdom specializing in sustainable energy production. It has amassed an outstanding number of customers since its launch which is more than 2 million.
Octopus Energy vs EDF: Green Considerations
With time the effects of global warming are getting more and more visible and people are prioritizing green technology to bring down the harmful effects on the environment. Here is how EDF and Octopus Energy service providers are making their supplies environment friendly.
EDF
If you’re looking for a renewable energy provider, EDF is a fantastic choice. It does not, however, provide exactly a “green” tariff because it generates a mix of renewable and low-carbon energy sources, such as wind and solar electricity.
For consumers who desire to make and preserve their own energy, the supplier also appears to offer a Powervault. This is a home-based battery storage system. It can store solar-generated energy and utilize it to power your spaces or an electric vehicle.
Octopus Energy
All Octopus energy rates provide 100 per cent renewable electricity, with clean, green sources such as solar and wind power satisfying all energy needs.
Octopus can even offset the carbon emissions from the gas consumers use for a few pounds extra each month to minimize their carbon footprint even further.
Customers who choose Octopus’ low-carbon energy over an average basic tariff saved 26,900 tonnes of CO2 from entering the planet in just one year. That is approximately equivalent to planting 365 trees for each Octopus Energy customer.
Octopus Energy vs EDF: Price Comparison
EDF
EDF was one of the Big Six global energy suppliers to declare its new prices after the Ofgem price cap announcement in August 2021.
This meant that the average EDF customer on a regular variable tariff would pay £1,277 per year, an increase of £139 per year.
According to one estimate, EDF’s Fix Total Service tariff costs £156 per month or £1872 per year for a dual fuel supply, standard meter, medium usage (3-bedroom house with 4 occupants), 2900 kWh of electricity and 12000 kWh of gas, and a postcode in the South East of England.
However, Ofgem announced a 54% hike to the energy price cap which took effect on 1 April 2022 and this will only raise the above-estimated prices.
Octopus Energy
If the same parameters are set to obtain a quotation from Octopus Energy it will provide two pricing options:
- Octopus Fixed was the cheapest plan, costing £144.47 per month or £1733.64 per year.
- The second tariff choice was the super green Octopus, which cost £146.99 a month or £1763.88 for a year.
Hence Octopus energy is the cheapest option of the two.
Octopus Energy vs EDF: Tariff Options
EDF
EDF offers fixed prices, adjustable-rate tariffs, and prepayment meter pricing, but you can also opt for a dual fuel tariff, which means both your gas and electricity are provided by EDF.
EDF claims that its EV pricing is the cheapest for off-peak electricity rates and that the electricity is 100 per cent renewable from wind and solar sources.
Until October 2023, Fix Total Service is a fixed rate tariff. This indicates that your unit pricing will not change during the term of the contract. However, there is a £200 exit fee (£100 per fuel) if you choose to change suppliers or tariffs early.
Octopus Energy
At Octopus Energy, we offer two types of tariffs: a fixed tariff, in which the price you pay per kWh of gas or electricity is fixed for the year, and a variable tariff, in which the price you pay can change.
The government’s Energy Price Cap, on the other hand, keeps the maximum you’ll ever spend on a variable tariff at a reasonable level.
At a fixed tariff rate, 100 per cent of the total electricity supplied to your residence will originate from renewable sources.
Through cooperation with Renewable World, Octopus also compensates for the gas usage of their Super green customers. Super green Octopus is Octopus Energy’s ecologically friendly tariff.
Your unit price and standing costs are locked in for two years with this tariff. Unlike EDF, they do not charge a departure fee if you shift suppliers midway.
Octopus Energy vs EDF: Customer Service
Citizens Advice is a platform that provides an honest and neutral comparison of energy supplier customer service. Both vendors, as per Citizens Advice reports, provide excellent customer service.
With the exception of email response time, both suppliers are quite tied for first place. Octopus energy answers the phone 29 seconds faster than EDF on average.
When it comes to correct invoices, EDF has a minor lead over Octopus, and consumers who switch to Octopus are more likely to do so within 15 days than those who switch to EDF.
Octopus Energy vs EDF: What Sets them Apart?
Both suppliers have made their mark in the UK energy market. EDF, being one of the Big Six energy providers, has gained millions of customers over time where as the Octopus energy even though is in its seventh year right now has gained an outstanding clientele due to its environmental friendly energy services.
EDF is an energy giant in the UK and has more customers than Octopus. Its online presence is unmatched and is very responsive to its customers’ queries.
Octopus energy, however, has a bright future due to its green energy tariffs and it can be a tough competition for EDF as well.