Octopus Energy - Can choosing Octopus Energy as your energy provider save you money on your electricity bills in Japan?

¥5000 Cashback - Available Now from Octopus Energy! Octopus Energy is currently offering a ¥5000 Cashback discount to anyone who applies for a new Octopus Energy account. The discount itself will be applied automatically to the 12th bill after the start of your contract.

Note: this offer is subject to change or end without prior notice. If you cancel before your 12th bill, you will not receive the discount.

Octopus Energy - Advantages and Disadvantages

Here, we delve a bit deeper into the advantages and disadvantages of Octopus Energy (as listed near the top of this article).

 Octopus Energy - Advantages

The following are the 4 main advantages of choosing Octopus Energy as your electricity provider.

 Cheaper per unit rates can save you money on your electricity bills

The per unit (kWh) rates of Octopus Energy’s electricity rate plans are set quite low in comparison to the major electric power companies. Therefore, if you currently using a pay-as-you-go standard metered electricity plan from your major regional provider, switching to Octopus Energy could very likely* save you money.

**Note: when fuel prices experience a marked rise, Octopus Energy’s fuel adjustment fee may also rise and thus the overall charges could be higher than the metered rates of the major electricity providers. This means that the savings that Octopus Energy typically offers through lower per unit (kWh) rates may not always be available, so make sure to monitor fuel prices along with the unit price of the fuel adjustment fee. You should also factor in the renewable energy fee (which is standard nationwide).

Not sure if you are using a standard metered plan or not…? The most common electricity rate plan across Japan for ordinary homes has long been the standard metered plan offered by the major regional providers, so if you have never changed provider before, it is highly likely that you are using this plan.

Here are some sample calculations of electricity bills to show you how much you could save by switching to Octopus Energy.

Octopus Energy: Potential Savings on Electricity Bills

Arranged by region (and major provider for that region). Click below on your region to reveal the drop-down table. All rates include tax.

Criteria for Comparison
・1 person household: contracted amperage = 30A, monthly electricity consumption = 200kWh
・2 person household: contracted amperage = 40A, monthly electricity consumption = 300kWh
・3-5 person household: contracted amperage = 50A, monthly electricity consumption = 450kWh
・All prices include tax. Fuel adjustment fee and renewable energy fee not included.

You can also visit the Octopus Energy website and conduct a simulation to estimate your actual electricity bills.

Compared with the other new alternative providers, Octopus Energy offers superior deals!

The above comparisons put Octopus Energy up against the traditional major regional providers, but even when compared with other new alternative electricity providers, Octopus Energy’s rates are highly competitive.

For example, for a 1 person household in the Kanto region, other new alternative providers tend to offer rates that are on average 2% lower than those of TEPCO, while Green Octopus beats TEPCO’s rates by approximately 4%. For a 3-5 person household in the same region, average savings with other alternative providers hover at around 7%, but Octopus once more offers greater savings at approximately 8% of TEPCO’s rates. Recently, the gap has narrowed a little due to the proliferation of plans that offer discounts for those who use more electricity, but overall it is clear that Octopus Energy’s rates still offer better savings than other new alternative electricity providers.

You should also note that fuel adjustment fees are generally the same among new alternative electricity providers (within the same area/region).

Criteria for Comparison
・1 person household: contracted amperage = 30A, monthly electricity consumption = 200kWh
・2 person household: contracted amperage = 40A, monthly electricity consumption = 300kWh
・3-5 person household: contracted amperage = 50A, monthly electricity consumption = 450kWh
・All prices include tax. Fuel adjustment fee and renewable energy fee not included.

 100% Renewable Energy

Octopus Energy’s Green Octopus plan makes use of Non-Fossil Fuel Certificates to provide 100% actual renewable energy.

Non-Fossil Fuel Certificates are issued to certify the generation of electricity using non-fossil fuel power sources (solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, biomass, etc.) that do not emit CO2. Electricity companies like Octopus Energy can then purchase these certificates from renewable energy generators to increase their renewable energy ratio.

Octopus Energy has used this system to balance its power supply to 100% renewable with virtually zero CO2 emissions, meaning that with Octopus you can save money while saving the environment at the same time.

 No Cancellation Fees

Green Octopus does have a 1-year minimum usage period, but since there are no cancellation fees, you can cancel your contract in principle without any extra penalty or fee to pay. If you try Octopus Energy but decide that it is not for you, you can go back to your original electric power company with no extra charges to pay.

This allows those who are nervous about a contract with a new alternative provider the chance to apply and try it out.

 A Company with a Proven Track Record of Reliability

While Octopus Energy only moved into the Japanese market in 2021, it is far from a brand new company. Octopus already operates in eight countries, including the UK, and has a proud track record of supplying electricity to over 3 million contracted customers.

In the UK, where the company has its origins, Octopus Energy is known for promoting renewable energy through its installation of charging stations at the Emirates Stadium, home of Arsenal FC of the English Premier League.

Another factor that gives customers confidence is that Octopus Energy operates within Japan as a joint venture with Tokyo Gas, a long-established major energy provider in the country.

 Octopus Energy - Disadvantages

The following are the 2 main disadvantages of choosing Octopus Energy as your electricity provider.

 No Combined Set Plans Available

Octopus Energy is only involved in the electricity market. It does not supply city gas, propane gas, internet connections, or other services.

There are many other new alternative utility companies that offer combined electricity and gas set plans (aka “bundles”), providing further discounts if you order electricity and gas from the same provider.

If you have already signed up for one of these combined set plans, switching to Octopus Energy as your electricity provider could lose you those combined set discounts and thus make your overall utility costs higher. It is important to calculate and compare before you decide to make the switch (use the Octopus Energy bill simulation to help you).

 Not Many Electricity Rate Plans to Choose From

Octopus Energy currently offers only two plans: Green Octopus and Standard Octopus*. There are no other plans available catering to those who use smaller amounts of electricity or those with all-electric homes.

However, the original Octopus Energy company in the UK does seem to offer a wider range of plans that cater to different homes and living situations, so it might not be too long before we start seeing more plans introduced in Japan too.

*Standard Octopus is a standard electricity rate plan that does not purchase Non-Fossil Fuel Certificates. While it is cheaper than the major traditional power companies, Green Octopus has lower rates.

Octopus Energy - Registration and Cancellation

So now that you have decided on Octopus Energy as your new provider, it’s time to get registered as a customer. This section explains the basics of registration, along with cancellation information for when it is time to say goodbye.

Registration

While it is technically possible to apply by yourself for a contract with Octopus Energy on the Octopus Energy website, if you cannot speak (and read) Japanese, it is going to be pretty tough!

Never fear, Selectra Japan is here! Just give us a call on  (03-4540-6687)at the Selectra Raku Raku Windowand one of our English-speaking operators will help you set up a contract with Octopus Energy.

If you are looking to switch from your current electricity provider to Octopus Energy, the following information will be required.

• Information required to switch to Octopus Energy
• Your current electricity provider (company name)
• Your supply point identification number
• Your customer number (contract number)
• Your full name (name on the contract)
• Your postal code and address
• Your telephone number and email address
• Your payment information (bank account/credit card information)

You can pay at convenience stores too! Unlike most other new alternative electricity providers, Octopus Energy allows customers to pay their electricity bills at most major convenience stores in Japan (FamilyMart, Lawson, Ministop, Seicomart).

You can also continue as an Octopus Energy customer even after you move house (as long as you are in a region covered by Octopus Energy and your new building accepts the provider). The following information is required.

• Information required to move house with Octopus Energy
• Your new home’s supply point identification number
• The date you want to start using electricity at your new home
• Your full name (name on the contract)
• Your postal code and address
• Your telephone number and email address
• Your payment information (bank account/credit card information)

Cancellation

If you are changing from Octopus Energy to another electric power company, you do not need to contact Octopus Energy at all to cancel service. Your new company will handle the cancellation procedure for you.

If you need to cancel because you are moving out of Japan or to a home in Japan that cannot receive Octopus Energy, it will be necessary to log in to your My Page on the Octopus Energy website and complete the cancellation procedure. Because this is currently only available in Japanese, you may want to contact Selectra Japan on 0120-164-006 (Selectra Raku Raku Window) so that we can guide you through the process in English.

Contacting Octopus Energy

Octopus Energy - FAQ