Morning. For a long time DESS, using an API from Octopus Energy, the system was happily checking the half hour prices of electricity for the Agile tariff I was on. When I switched tariff to a non dynamic tariff (Octopus Go) I switched it off because basically I only needed to charge during the cheap hours. Over the weekend I flipped back to Agile and reactivated DESS but Victron didn’t reflect the changes in prices. I reset the API, to no avail. Since then I’ve switched back, and today gone back to Agile again. DESS is still not updating the prices, despite resetting the API. I know the new API is working as my Octo-App is showing the change of tariff and the new price slots, so it’s definitely a Victron thing. Is there a way of forcing DESS to reset itself?
Hi there,
Thanks for reaching out! I wanted to let you know that this is a known issue on our side. To avoid overwhelming the Octopus API, we only refresh Octopus contract details for users once their current contract has expired.
However, we’ve noticed that in some cases, users switch contracts before the old one officially ends. When that happens, the new pricing isn’t immediately reflected in the app.
We’re looking into a simple improvement: adding a “Force update my Octopus prices” button for users. This would give you the ability to refresh your prices manually, without needing to wait for an automatic update. We believe this would offer a quick fix while keeping things smooth on both sides.
It isn’t in progress yet, so I cannot tell you when this button will be there.
Ah yes, that would explain it. For context, Octopus allow us to swap and change between ‘smart’ tariffs as much as we like, it seems. This is probably quite unusual, but it does mean some of us are swapping pretty regularly between the dynamically priced ‘Agile’ tariff and the more conventional cheap rate/expensive rate two slotted ‘Go’ tariff. (This is my second flip this week, for example.). I don’t need smart charging on the ‘Go’ tariff as I simply need the battery to be full each night: it’s the dynamic slots where DESS is cleverer than me. Another button needn’t be necessary, just forcing a price update or API refresh when toggling the DESS on and off would be enough, and probably easier to code too. In the meantime, is there another way of resetting DESS? Maybe a reboot, perhaps?
We are with Octopus and have switched between tariffs too before the official end date of the contract periods.
I’ve requested several times and also agreed by other Octopus customers that we really could do with having a simple button for export within VRM.
We often get short notice “Savings Sessions” whereby it’s lucrative to export to the grid.
In earlier versions of Dyness you guys had dedicated “Buy” & “Sell” buttons, but you’ve since removed these and now only have an auto option in the Dyness menu.
I regularly used the “Sell” button to export for the Savings Sessions periods, but now I have to revert to the tedious process of changing the grid setpoint to instigate export.
We also get free electric sessions at short notice too, but I can easily use the SOC slider to force a charge import.
Please, please please can we have a simple discharge export button back again.