Octopus Energy has revealed it has started offering customers working from home the use of a battery to power their wifi during smart meter installations.
The large retailer, which recently surpassed 2 million customers, said it has seen a number of customers cancel their installation appointments as they did not want their wifi to be switched off during the process.
Octopus said that while not every customer who cancels their appointment gives a reason, 12 per cent who did said it was due to them not wanting their wifi to be switched off. Last week a total of 50 customers cancelled for that specific reason.
On Twitter Octopus chief executive Greg Jackson shared a review of a smart meter installation left by a customer who was impressed with the new service.
Customers have been cancelling smart meter installs in lockdown because they can’t stop working for an hour or two with no internet when the power’s off.
So we’re rolling out big batteries to power your wifi router during installs…
It’s going down well…. pic.twitter.com/imP2OGDKMd
— Greg Jackson (@g__j) March 2, 2021
A spokesperson has also confirmed that by the end of the current week, all engineers will bring battery packs along to their installation appointments to ensure that customers have wifi access during installations.
Ionity
Elsewhere, Octopus has also announced it has “opened the door” to electric vehicle (EV) charging in mainland Europe on its Electric Juice Network (EJN) with the addition of pan-European charging network Ionity.
Ionity is a joint venture of BMW Group, Ford Motor Company, Hyundai Motor Group, Mercedes Benz AG, and Volkswagen Group with Audi and Porsche.
The network currently has 13 active charging stations in the UK and is building three more.
The inclusion of Ionity will see more 350kW ultra-rapid chargers in key motorway service stations across the UK, as well as 335 charging locations across 24 countries, join the EJN.
Ionity uses the Combined Charging System (CCS), a widespread European charging standard, in which the charger automatically optimises its charging power to the maximum a specific model can handle, therefore always providing the fastest charging time possible.
Octopus added Ionity’s ultra-rapid chargers can charge an EV with a 50 kWh battery from 20 per cent to 80 per cent in less than ten minutes.
Additionally, Octopus Energy will provide a 5 per cent discount for EJN customers who use Ionity charging points.
Pia Bretschneider, Ionity’s country manager, UK and Ireland, said: “Next to the development of a reliable high-power charging network, easy access and a comfortable charging experience play a big role in the adaptation of e-mobility.
“We are therefore very pleased about the partnership with EJN and their decision to offer their customers access to our high-power charging network. With this we can contribute to promoting greener transportation in the UK and increase the number of electric cars in the country”
Zoisa North-Bond, director at Octopus Energy, said: “More partners coming on board to EJN makes it easier for petrol car drivers to consider EVs and simplifies the whole process for current EV drivers.
“Ionity joining is a fantastic milestone and gives EJN users more flexibility, opens up easier long-distance travel and begins bringing our mainland Europe charging coverage to life, so I’m thrilled that they’ve joined the Electric Juice Network.”