Question 1

How do I qualify for this deal?

Accepted Answer

If you are a professional in the healthcare industry then you qualify for this exclusive deal.

You don’t need to use your work email address if you don’t want to.

Simply go to mymothertree.com/nhs (https://www.mymothertree.com/nhs)to access the deal.

Question 2

What is the healthcare Big Green exclusive energy deal?

Accepted Answer

This exclusive deal is an energy deal negotiated by switching experts MotherTree. The deal has been agreed with Octopus Energy and is offered on an exclusive basis to healthcare professionals.

Question 3

How does switching supplier work?

Accepted Answer

Switching to Octopus Energy is really easy.

Step 1: Get a quote
First you’ll need to get a quote - Octopus will share their best price with you, and let you know roughly how much you’d need to pay per month based on how much energy you tell Octopus you typically use.

Make sure you go through mymothertree.com/nhs (https://www.mymothertree.com/nhs)to access the deal.

Getting a quote involves answering four quick questions, three of which are multiple choice.
You will receive an email from Mothertree containing a link to the Octopus website to get your quote.

Step 2: Sign up
Once you’ve got a quote, you’ll be able to continue through the Octopus site to sign up. Octopus just need a few important details to finish setting up your account. This shouldn’t take more than 5 minutes.
Within 60 seconds of signing up, Octopus CEO, Greg will send you a welcome by email.
At this point your 14 day ‘cooling off’ period kicks in, so if you change your mind, just let Octopus know and it'll be like you never left your current supplier.

That’s it! Octopus will do the rest.

Once you've signed up, Octopus will usually switch you over within 3 working days. But your job’s done — Octopus will handle everything from there on in, including telling your old supplier, and will keep you updated along the way.

After that, Octopus Energy will officially be your energy supplier.

Question 4

Do I need to use my healthcare email to access the deal?

Accepted Answer

No - you can use a personal email address if you prefer.

Question 5

What happens if I leave the NHS, will I keep the deal?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Provided you switch to Octopus via mymothertree.com/nhs (https://www.mymothertree.com/nhs)then you can keep the deal.

Question 6

When will I get the £50 energy credit?

Accepted Answer

The £50 energy credit is applied to your Octopus Energy account, provided that you have first become an Octopus Energy customer signed up to the Octopus Fixed tariff, and the first direct debit payment has been taken on your Octopus account.

Question 7

How is the £50 energy credit applied?

Accepted Answer

The £50 energy credit is applied to your Octopus Energy account, provided that you have first become an Octopus Energy customer signed up to the Octopus Fixed tariff, and the first payment has been taken on your Octopus account.

You must sign up to Octopus Energy via a referral link provided by Mother Tree. You will not be eligible for the Offer if you sign up via a third party like a price comparison site.

To benefit from this offer, you'll need to be a new or existing customer of Octopus Energy. Existing Octopus Energy customers will not be entitled to the offer if they have already claimed a switching offer, such as a refer a friend credit.

This offer is subject to change and may be withdrawn without notice.

You should consider your current tariff and compare this to the quote you receive under this deal; each household’s circumstances will differ.

Question 8

How long will it take to change energy supplier?

Accepted Answer

Octopus have worked hard to make the switching process as quick and painless as it can be. Octopus will usually switch you over within 3 working days of you signing up and are covered by the Energy Switch Guarantee.(https://octopus.energy/blog/what-energy-switch-guarantee-means-you/)

Question 9

Do I need to contact my old supplier to let them know I’m switching?

Accepted Answer

No need! Octopus will work directly with your old supplier to let them know about your switch.

Once your switch is underway Octopus will ask you for meter readings. They'll use these to agree the exact point at which they’ll start billing you for your energy, and your old supplier will stop (so you don't end up paying for the same energy twice).

Your old supplier will then send out your final bill to close your account (or let you have any credit back) — sometimes this process can take up to 6 weeks.

The one thing Octopus can't do is cancel your old Direct Debit — that's between your bank and your old supplier — but they do recommend you organise this as soon as you've settled up your final bill with them to make sure no further payments are taken.

Question 10

Will I be charged cancellation fees by my current supplier?

Accepted Answer

Some suppliers will charge you an exit fee for leaving your contract early but an important note on this — if you apply to leave your old supplier within 49 days of the end of your contract, they are not allowed to charge you any exit fees.

You can see a more detailed explanation on the energy regulator OFGEM's website.(https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/press-releases/tougher-rules-fixed-term-energy-deals-come-force-ofgem%E2%80%99s-retail-market-reforms-begin-bite) The bit you need to know is highlighted below:
"Suppliers will be required to notify customers that their current fixed-term is coming to an end between 42 and 49 days before the contract ends.

Between this notification period and the end of the fixed term contract, suppliers will be banned from charging a termination fee should the customer decide to switch."

If you do think you're still liable for an exit fee, then let Octopus know — you can defer your switch to Octopus by up to a month — just drop a line to hello@octopus.energy (mailto:hello@octopus.energy)

Question 11

What happens if I have a smart meter?

Accepted Answer

Octopus can connect to any SMETS2 smart meter and some SMETS1 smart meters (such as those made by the brand Secure™). Octopus will automatically try to connect after you've switched but may still ask you to send your first set of meter readings manually.

If Octopus are unable to connect to your SMETS1 meter, it will become "dumb" and work like a normal meter so you'll need to give Octopus manual meter readings. Across the industry, SMETS1 meters are in the process of being upgraded to stay smart when you switch supplier.

Octopus will be in contact to let you know when they’re making your meter smart again.

Question 12

I rent my home. Can I still switch?

Accepted Answer

Probably. The golden rule to remember is that if you’re responsible for paying your energy bills, you can switch (some landlords may include clauses in their tenancy agreements forbidding this, but this is not allowed by law).

You can read the government’s guidance for tenants here.(https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/consumers/household-gas-and-electricity-guide/how-switch-energy-supplier-and-shop-better-deal/how-switch-energy-supplier-if-you-re-tenant)

Even if your landlord pays the energy bills, why not tell them that they could also switch and help the planet - and even save money in the process?

Question 13

I’m on a prepayment meter. Can I still benefit from switching?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Octopus currently support both smart and traditional prepayment meters for electricity and gas.

Just make sure you use the link: mymothertree.com/nhs (https://www.mymothertree.com/nhs)to access the deal.

Your choice of tariffs will be more limited and the annual savings will be significantly less than for other meter types. It is still worth considering switching though, as you will be able to guarantee that your electricity comes from renewable sources which are kinder to the environment.

You will still qualify for the £50 energy credit.

Question 14

I’m on an economy 7 meter, can I still benefit from switching?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Octopus supports economy 7 and other time based variations such as economy 10 meters.

Just make sure you use the link: mymothertree.com/nhs (https://www.mymothertree.com/nhs)to access the deal.

Your choice of tariffs will be more limited and the annual savings will be different to other meter types. It is still worth considering switching though, as you will be able to guarantee that your electricity comes from renewable sources which are kinder to the environment.

You will still qualify for the £50 energy credit.

Question 15

Can I switch my gas too?

Accepted Answer

If you're a dual fuel customer, Octopus can supply you gas too, of course. Just choose one of their standard gas tariffs, when you get your quote.

Question 16

I’m on an economy 7 meter, can I still benefit from switching?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Octopus supports economy 7 and other time based variations such as economy 10 meters.

Just make sure you use the link: mymothertree.com/nhs (https://www.mymothertree.com/nhs)to access the deal.

Your choice of tariffs will be more limited and the annual savings will be different to other meter types. It is still worth considering switching though, as you will be able to guarantee that your electricity comes from renewable sources which are kinder to the environment.

You will still qualify for the £50 energy credit.

Question 17

Can I switch my gas too?

Accepted Answer

If you're a dual fuel customer, Octopus can supply you gas too, of course. Just choose one of their standard gas tariffs, when you get your quote.

Question 18

I have solar panels, can I switch and keep my Feed-In-Tariff?

Accepted Answer

The government's Feed-in tariff programme ended for new solar PV installations on April 1st 2019. Octopus’ successor to the Feed-in tariff is called Outgoing Octopus, the UK's first smart export tariff. For existing installations, you can still switch your Feed-In-Tariff to Octopus, as they are a mandatory FiT provider.

On Outgoing Octopus, they pay you for the energy you feed back to the grid, either at a flat unit price or dynamically priced in half-hour blocks depending on the wholesale price of energy at that time.

Question 19

Is there a risk I’ll lose power when I switch?

Accepted Answer

No. Octopus manage the process to make sure there is no risk to your energy supply. They represent over 6m homes in the UK, are rated 5 stars on TrustPilot and make sure that switching processes are as smooth as possible.

Frequently asked questions

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