Guides
Why Agile averages can mislead
The daily average is useful, but it can hide the exact hours that decide your cost.
Short answer
The daily Agile average is a quick signal, not a verdict. Your cost depends on when you use power. A day can have a friendly average and still punish heavy evening usage, or look ordinary overall while hiding a very cheap overnight run.
If you want live context while reading, check the dashboard, test a real run in the appliance timer, set a trigger in alerts, or compare the same day across regions.
The average ignores your routine
A plain average treats every half-hour slot as equally important. Your home probably does not. Cooking, showers, heating, EV charging, and appliance use tend to cluster at particular times. If those times line up with expensive bars, the average can be too optimistic.
Cheap slots need real usage
A cheap slot only saves money if you put useful demand into it. If low prices arrive while everything is already off, the chart can look good without changing your bill. This is why automation, appliance timing, EV charging, and battery charging matter more than the single lowest number.
Peak slots can dominate
The evening peak can dominate a day if that is when the household is busiest. A few expensive half-hours can outweigh a lot of modestly cheap background slots. The compare tool’s split mode exists because this shape matters.
Example
Imagine a day averaging 20p/kWh, but your main 4kWh lands at 38p/kWh in the evening. That day will not feel like 20p/kWh to you. Another household using the same 4kWh overnight could get a very different result.
What to watch out for
Use averages as a starting point. For real decisions, look at the price shape and your own usage pattern.
Related tool
Use the practical view next
Related guides
Is Agile Octopus worth it?
Agile can suit homes that can move larger loads away from expensive periods.
Best time to run a washing machine on Agile
The best washing-machine slot is a cheap usable window, not the single cheapest half-hour.
Best time to charge an EV
EV charging on Agile works best when you can use a long low-cost block away from peak periods.
Reminder
These guides are practical and estimate-focused. They are not personalised tariff advice, and they do not replace a full bill comparison.