Will electricity be cheap this weekend?
Octopus Agile prices for Saturday 24 October and Sunday 25 October in London, from our forecast until Octopus publishes the real prices the afternoon before.
The short answer
Octopus Agile in London this weekend looks like Sat 24 Oct about 22p (cheapest 12:00 to 15:00), Sun 25 Oct about 16p (cheapest 11:30 to 14:30) per kWh on average. That is about 8p per kWh cheaper than the weekdays around it, so it is worth saving big jobs for.
Day by day, London
average p per kWh, weekend highlighted
| Day | Average | Likely range | Cheapest 3 hours | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 23 Oct | 29.7p | – | 21:00–00:00 | real |
| Sat 24 Oct | 22.3p | 15p to 31p | 12:00–15:00 | forecast |
| Sun 25 Oct | 16.3p | 10p to 25p | 11:30–14:30 | forecast |
| Mon 26 Oct | 25.5p | 19p to 34p | 00:00–03:00 | forecast |
| Tue 27 Oct | 19.6p | 12p to 29p | 03:00–06:00 | forecast |
| Wed 28 Oct | 26.1p | 18p to 36p | 02:30–05:30 | forecast |
| Thu 29 Oct | 34.8p | 26p to 45p | 12:00–15:00 | forecast |
Agile prices and forecast, London beta
p per kWh. left of now: real prices. right: our forecast
- Real prices (and tomorrow's once published)
- Forecast
- Likely range: 8 in 10 real prices land inside (measured)
| Day | Typical price | Likely range | Cheapest 3 hours | How good |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today | 29.7p | exact | 21:00–00:00 (18.1p) | Published |
| Sat 24 Oct | 22.3p | 15p–31p | 12:00–15:00 (9.9p) | Tested usually 4.8p out |
| Sun 25 Oct | 16.3p | 10p–25p | 11:30–14:30 (8.4p) | Tested usually 5.0p out |
| Mon 26 Oct | 25.5p | 19p–34p | 00:00–03:00 (8.3p) | Tested usually 5.1p out |
| Tue 27 Oct | 19.6p | 12p–29p | 03:00–06:00 (6.1p) | Tested usually 5.3p out |
| Wed 28 Oct | 26.1p | 18p–36p | 02:30–05:30 (10.4p) | Tested usually 5.8p out |
| Thu 29 Oct | 34.8p | 26p–45p | 12:00–15:00 (27.9p) | Tested usually 5.8p out |
Beta forecast by UK Electricity, not Octopus Energy, made Friday 23 October at 01:02. Built from NESO's wind and demand forecasts and Agile's recent prices. Real prices from Octopus Energy's public API. How it works and how accurate it is
How to read this
The weekend row shows our forecast average and the range that about 8 in 10 real prices fall inside. By the Friday afternoon, Saturday's real prices are out; Sunday's follow on Saturday afternoon. See how the forecast works and how accurate it has been.
Common questions
Is electricity cheaper at the weekend?
Usually a little, on Octopus Agile. Offices and factories use less power on Saturdays and Sundays, so wholesale prices tend to be lower, and a windy or sunny weekend can push them right down, sometimes below zero. On a fixed or price-cap tariff the price is the same every day.
How far ahead can you forecast weekend prices?
Our forecast runs 7 days ahead, so from Sunday or Monday it covers the next weekend. The nearer the day, the narrower the likely range. Octopus publishes the real prices for each day around 4pm the day before.
What should I save for a cheap weekend?
Anything flexible and power-hungry: washing and drying, charging an electric car, running a dishwasher, heating hot water with an immersion heater, or filling a home battery. Our cheapest 3 hours for each day are the best time to start them.
Why might the weekend be dearer?
Mostly a lack of wind. If a calm spell is forecast, gas power stations set the price, and that can outweigh the lower weekend demand. A cold snap that raises heating demand does the same.