What are negative electricity prices and why do they happen?
Independent site. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to Octopus Energy Ltd. This guide is based on Octopus's own public documentation and the live data shown, which we link below. Tariff terms change, so always check Octopus's current terms for your own situation. This is general information, not financial or energy-switching advice.
Sometimes the wholesale price of electricity in Great Britain falls below zero. In Octopus's words, suppliers are then paid to take electricity off the grid, and some smart tariffs pass this on so that customers are paid to use electricity. Here is why it happens and what it means for you.
Why prices go negative
- Supply and demand must match every second. NESO, the body that balances the national grid, watches demand continuously and has generators adjust to meet it.
- Too much supply for the demand. NESO explained one windy weekend that a surplus of wind power was what produced negative prices: more electricity was being generated than customers needed, and the surplus had to go somewhere.
- Not every generator can or will switch off quickly. Industry analysis, for example from SQE Energy, points out that government support schemes for renewable generation can make it worthwhile for some generators to keep producing even when market prices dip below zero. Rules have changed over time, so this is only part of the picture.
It tends to happen on windy or sunny days when demand is low, such as weekends and bank holidays, though it can happen at other times.
How you can be paid to use electricity
Ordinary fixed-price customers never see this. Customers on a half-hourly tariff can. Octopus calls its version plunge pricing on Agile: when the price drops below zero, you are paid for each unit you use in that half hour. NESO's explanation is that using this excess energy in homes and batteries helps it balance the grid and avoids wasting renewable power. See what Agile is and how it works.
Where it is showing up right now
This table counts the half-hours below zero in the Agile data we have cached for each region:
| Region | Negative half-hours today | Negative half-hours tomorrow | Lowest price (today + tomorrow) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern England A | 31 | not out yet | -7.54p 01:00 BST |
| East Midlands B | 31 | not out yet | -7.34p 01:00 BST |
| London C | 31 | not out yet | -7.34p 01:00 BST |
| Merseyside & North Wales D | 31 | not out yet | -7.74p 01:00 BST |
| West Midlands E | 31 | not out yet | -7.54p 01:00 BST |
| North East England F | 31 | not out yet | -7.54p 01:00 BST |
| North West England G | 31 | not out yet | -7.54p 01:00 BST |
| Southern England H | 31 | not out yet | -7.54p 01:00 BST |
| South East England J | 31 | not out yet | -7.74p 01:00 BST |
| South Wales K | 31 | not out yet | -7.74p 01:00 BST |
| South West England L | 31 | not out yet | -7.94p 01:00 BST |
| Yorkshire M | 31 | not out yet | -7.34p 01:00 BST |
| South Scotland N | 31 | not out yet | -7.54p 01:00 BST |
| North Scotland P | 31 | not out yet | -8.14p 01:00 BST |
Live data as of 25 Oct, 02:27 GMT. Prices in pence per kWh including VAT where Octopus publishes it; standing charges are not included. Times are UK local time.
What to do when prices go negative
- Charge an electric car or a home battery. See the EV charging guide.
- Do jobs you would do anyway, but only when you are awake and at home. Fire services advise against leaving washing machines, tumble dryers and dishwashers running overnight or while you are out. See the washing machine and dishwasher guide.
Things to keep in mind
- You are paid for the electricity you use in those half hours. You still pay the daily standing charge, and prices outside those half hours can be high.
- Negative prices are a bonus, not a reason to use electricity you do not need. The benefit is biggest when you move use you would have done anyway.
- Whether you can benefit depends on having a smart meter and a half-hourly tariff such as Agile. A fixed or Tracker tariff does not pass negative half-hour prices on.
See your region's prices, including any negative slots
More guides
- What is Octopus Agile and how does it work? – Half-hourly prices, the 4pm update, plunge pricing and who Agile actually suits.
- Octopus Tracker explained – One price a day, where it comes from, the formula, the cap and the 12-month term.
- Cheapest time to charge an electric car in the UK – Live cheapest 4-hour charging windows by region, and how to work out what a charge costs.
- Cheapest time to run a washing machine or dishwasher – Live cheapest windows while you're awake and at home, plus the fire-safety advice you should know.
- Agile vs Tracker: which is cheaper? – An honest comparison, with today's Agile and Tracker prices side by side.
Sources
- NESO: The weekend of free electricity?
- NESO: Electricity markets explained
- Octopus Energy: Agile Octopus
- SQE Energy: Going negative (industry analysis)
- Live prices: Octopus Energy public API, cached by this site and refreshed every 15 minutes.
Last reviewed 2026-10-24. Found something out of date? Octopus's tariff terms and prices change, so treat their own pages as the final word.