Question 1

Since switching to a smart tariff, my house feels cooler than I'd like. How can I change this?

Accepted Answer

To help you save with your smart tariff, we optimise your heat pump to heat your home and hot water when energy prices are lower and use stored heat and hot water during peak times when energy is more expensive. This can cause slight temperature fluctuations depending on your home’s characteristics, especially in the first few days as your system adapts to this change.

If you notice significant changes in temperature, please contact our Customer Care team. We’ll review your optimisation settings to ensure they’re tailored to your home’s heating needs.

Question 2

I’ve noticed an increase in my electricity bill since switching to my smart tariff. What could be causing this?

Accepted Answer

Under the same conditions, connecting your heat pump to a smart tariff should result in significant savings compared to a standard flexible tariff. However, various factors can affect your energy bills, including colder weather and increased hot water usage, which requires your heat pump to work harder. It's also possible that the savings haven’t been fully reflected yet, depending on your billing cycle.

If you're concerned, please contact our Customer Care team so we can review your setup and help optimise your energy usage to maximise your savings.

Question 3

Will my indoor temperature fluctuate when the heat pump is optimised for a smart tariff?

Accepted Answer

To help you save money on your chosen smart tariff, we optimise your electricity load by shifting usage from expensive peak periods to cheaper off-peak periods.

As a result, your indoor temperature may experience slight fluctuations, typically no more than plus or minus 0.5 to 1 degree Celsius. Please note that actual temperature variations may differ depending on your home’s characteristics.

Question 4

Now that I’m connected to a smart tariff, where can I track my savings on electricity bills, and can I compare these savings to my expenses before switching to this tariff?

Accepted Answer

You can see your estimated monthly cost savings compared to your old gas boiler in the Aira Home Energy app.

Want to know how much you’re saving with Smart Tariff Control activated and Aira Intelligence?

We track your energy usage every month and estimate how much you’ve saved compared to running your heat pump without Smart Tariff Control enabled. So you can see the difference, not just feel it.

You’ll find it in Insights in your app.

Question 5

Why do I need a smart meter to switch to an Octopus Energy smart tariff?

Accepted Answer

A smart meter is an intelligent measuring device that accurately tracks your electricity usage in real-time, enabling precise billing based on your consumption.

It is a requirement for Octopus Energy tariffs like Cosy Octopus as it allows us to monitor your electricity use across different pricing periods.

Question 6

How do I select the tariff I want my heat pump to optimise for?

Accepted Answer

Head to Settings > Smart Tariff Control > Manage Tariff. Select your DNO region (don’t know what yours is? Enter your postcode on the Energy Networks Association’s tool) and your tariff, then slide the toggle to enable Smart Tariff Connect. Hit save and Aira Intelligence will get to work, shifting when your system uses electricity. Heating your home and water when prices are low, and using less energy when they’re high.

Question 7

How is my Tariff Savings estimate calculated?

Accepted Answer

Your monthly savings are based on a smart statistical model. It compares days when your system is optimising (heating your home and water when prices are low, and using less energy when they’re high) with days when it’s not. We call these “calibration days”. They happen to help your system understand your home’s natural rhythm. But that’s not important. What is important is that they give us a clear baseline against which to measure your savings.

The result? An estimate of how much you’ve saved, shown in your app each month. Just remember, these savings are always an estimate. Weather, habits and how you use your heating can all affect the final number. But, just like your intelligent heat pump, the model is always learning, and gets more accurate over time.

Question 8

My tariff isn't available in Smart Tariff Control. Why?

Accepted Answer

We’re adding new tariffs all the time. If yours isn’t there yet, sit tight. It may appear in the coming months.

Question 9

What happens when I enable Smart Tariff Control?

Accepted Answer

When you enable Smart Tariff Control, your system fetches your local electricity prices daily based on the tariff you’ve selected. Then, it builds a smart schedule for the next 24 hours, heating your home and water when electricity is cheaper, and easing off when it’s more expensive.

It doesn’t just switch things on and off. It works with your heat pump’s temperature settings, your home’s heat curve (which shows how much warmth your home needs at certain times of the day), and other smart controls to find the perfect moment to use energy. Keeping you comfortable while saving you money.

Question 10

How will Smart Tariff Control affect my energy efficiency?

Accepted Answer

With Smart Tariff Control, your system shifts when it uses electricity, using more when it’s cheaper and less when it’s expensive. That might mean your heat pump runs a little harder at times, which can slightly reduce its efficiency.

But here’s the important bit: lower efficiency doesn’t always mean lower savings. And, with Smart Tariff Control, the savings from using cheaper electricity are designed to outweigh any dip in efficiency. So you’ll still come out on top.

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