From Quote to First Bill: What Happens After You Use an Octopus Energy Referral Code?
You’ve clicked a friend’s Octopus Energy referral link, you’ve seen the promise of bill credit, and now you’re wondering: what actually happens next?
This guide walks you through the whole journey — from getting your quote, to your first bill, to the moment your referral credit lands in your account. It’s written for UK customers and perfect for readers coming via octopus50.co.uk.
Whenever you’re ready to start, you can use this referral link:
➡️ Octopus Energy referral link – melon-crane-917
1. The Journey at a Glance
Here’s the typical sequence after you use an Octopus Energy referral code:
- Click the referral link – this tags your sign-up so you qualify for the bonus.
- Get a personalised quote – enter your postcode and usage to see estimated monthly costs.
- Choose a tariff and payment date – pick between variable/fixed or smart tariffs, and set your Direct Debit date.
- Fill in a short sign-up form – name, address, contact details, bank details; it usually takes around 5 minutes.
- Cooling-off period & switch – you enter a 14-day cooling-off period while Octopus handles the switch in the background.
- Submit opening meter readings – around a few days before your start date, you’ll be asked for readings (or they’ll come from your smart meter).
- Supply starts & first Direct Debit is taken – on your switchover date, Octopus takes over your supply and your first payment.
- Your first bill is generated – you get a clear statement in your online dashboard/app.
- Referral credit is applied – after the switch completes and your first payment has gone through, both you and your referrer get your referral credit as account credit.
Now let’s break that down in more detail.
2. Step One: Using the Referral Link or Code Properly
When a friend shares their Octopus Energy “refer-a-friend” link with you, it usually looks like:
For octopus50.co.uk, the featured link is:
This unique link does two important things:
- It tells Octopus who referred you, so you both qualify for the referral bonus (commonly £50 bill credit each, though offers can change over time).
- It automatically connects your new account to that referral when you sign up on the official Octopus site.
A couple of simple but important tips:
- Always sign up via the referral journey – don’t switch to a separate comparison site mid-way, or the referral tracking can be lost.
- Check the offer text on the page you land on – Octopus will clearly show the current referral reward during the sign-up journey.
On octopus50.co.uk, you’d simply click the featured Octopus Energy referral link (melon-crane-917) and then follow the steps on the Octopus website.
3. Step Two: Getting Your Quote
Once you’ve followed the referral link, you’ll be taken to a quote page on Octopus Energy’s site.
You’ll usually be asked for:
- Postcode
- Type of home (flat, house, etc.)
- Number of bedrooms or occupants
- Current supplier and tariff (if you know it)
- Your typical usage – ideally from a recent bill, or you can estimate
Octopus uses this to:
- Estimate your annual kWh usage
- Show you a projected monthly Direct Debit amount for each tariff
The quote is just a starting estimate. Once you’re on supply and Octopus sees your real usage (often via smart meter data), they’ll fine-tune things.
Tip: For the most accurate quote, grab your latest gas and electricity bill before you start. It makes the monthly cost estimate much closer to reality.
4. Step Three: Choosing Your Tariff and Payment Preferences
On the results page, you’ll see one or more tariffs, for example:
- A standard variable tariff
- A fixed tariff (if available)
- Possibly smart tariffs like Agile, Go, or Tracker if you have (or will get) a smart meter
You’ll also:
- Pick a Direct Debit date that works for you
- See the unit rate (p/kWh) and standing charge (p/day) clearly laid out
- See an estimated monthly payment, based on your quoted annual usage
At this point, the referral is already attached in the background. You don’t normally need to re-enter the code; just make sure you haven’t navigated away to a different site.
5. Step Four: Completing the Sign-Up Form
Happy with the quote? Next comes the actual registration.
Octopus will ask for:
- Full name
- Email address and phone number
- Supply address
- Current supplier
- Bank details for Direct Debit
- A preferred start date (often the earliest possible, or when your current fix ends)
The form is short and mostly multiple choice. It typically takes around 5 minutes to complete.
Once you submit:
- You’ll get a confirmation email summarising your chosen tariff and start date
- You’ll see messages about your cooling-off period and estimated switch date
6. Step Five: Cooling-Off Period & What Happens Behind the Scenes
After sign-up, you enter a 14-day cooling-off period. During this time:
- Your energy supply continues as normal with your current provider
- Octopus starts the formal process of taking over your gas and/or electricity supply
- You can change your mind and cancel the switch without penalty if you decide Octopus isn’t right for you yet
In the background, Octopus will:
- Contact your old supplier to tell them you’re moving
- Confirm the switch date (under the newer, faster switching arrangements, this can be relatively quick)
- Check your meter details (including whether you have a smart meter and if it can be read remotely)
Good to know: There’s no interruption to your gas or electricity during a switch. It’s the same pipes and wires – just a different company handling your billing and customer service.
7. Step Six: Sending Opening Meter Readings
A few days before your switch date, Octopus will ask you for opening meter readings.
These readings are important because they:
- Mark the official handover point between your old supplier and Octopus
- Are used by your old supplier to calculate your final bill
- Are used by Octopus as the starting point for your new account
If you have a smart meter, Octopus may be able to take readings automatically, but they sometimes still ask for manual readings at the start just to be sure everything is aligned.
8. Step Seven: Your Supply Starts & First Direct Debit
On your switchover date:
- Octopus officially becomes your energy supplier
- Your old supplier steps back and will later send your final bill using the closing readings
- Octopus takes your first Direct Debit payment, usually on the switchover date you chose or shortly afterwards
Why the first payment comes straight away:
- Octopus calculates your expected energy costs for the next 12 months
- They divide that by 12 so you pay a flat monthly amount, smoothing costs between summer and winter
- Starting with a bit of credit on your account helps avoid sudden jumps during colder months when usage naturally rises
Around 4–6 weeks after you join, Octopus often does a first account check to see if your monthly payment still looks sensible now they’ve seen some actual usage data. They may suggest increasing or decreasing your Direct Debit if needed.
9. Step Eight: Your First Octopus Energy Bill
Your first full bill usually appears after your first complete billing cycle (roughly one month after your supply start date).
On that first bill you’ll see:
- Your opening meter readings
- Your closing meter readings for the billing period
- The unit rates and standing charges for electricity and/or gas
- How much energy you used (kWh) and the cost
- Your Direct Debit payment and your new account balance
You can view all of this:
- In your online account dashboard
- In the Octopus Energy app, which shows detailed usage graphs and your account balance
If your usage was lower than expected, you might be in credit. If it was higher, your account might be in debit and Octopus may suggest adjusting your monthly payment.
10. When Do You Actually Get Your Referral Credit?
This is the big question for anyone coming via octopus50.co.uk.
With the standard Octopus “refer-a-friend” scheme:
- You must complete the switch using the referral link
- Your first month’s Direct Debit needs to be successfully taken
- Then Octopus adds the referral bonus (commonly £50 account credit each) to both your account and your friend’s
You’ll see it in your account as a line like:
+£50 from Octopus Energy – Referral reward
A few key points:
- The bonus is account credit, not a cash payment to your bank
- It’s used automatically to reduce your future bills
- Referral amounts and terms can change over time, so always check the current offer on the referral landing page when you sign up
If you’ve gone through the whole process and still don’t see your credit after a reasonable time:
- Double-check you really signed up via a referral link, such as
https://share.octopus.energy/melon-crane-917 (not via a comparison site). - Check that your first Direct Debit has actually gone out.
- If both are true, contact Octopus support with the name or email of the friend who referred you, and they can manually investigate.
11. Common Questions After Using a Referral Code
Do I need to contact my old supplier?
Usually, no. Octopus tells your old supplier that you’re switching and handles the technical side. You normally only need to:
- Provide meter readings when asked
- Pay your final bill (or receive a refund if you were in credit) from your old supplier
Should I cancel my old Direct Debit?
Most suppliers recommend not cancelling your old Direct Debit until after your final bill has been produced and paid, to avoid delays or missed payments. Your old supplier will usually cancel it once everything is settled.
Can I switch tariff later and keep the referral credit?
Yes. Once the referral credit has been added to your account, it’s just credit on your balance. Changing tariffs later doesn’t normally affect it.
Can existing Octopus customers use a referral code?
No – referral bonuses are typically only for new customers joining Octopus. Existing customers can, however, use their own referral link to invite others and earn bonuses that way.
12. Quick Checklist: What to Have Ready Before You Start
To make your switch smooth and to ensure your referral bonus tracks correctly, have:
- ✅ Your Octopus Energy referral link
(for example https://share.octopus.energy/melon-crane-917) - ✅ A recent energy bill from your current supplier
- ✅ Your bank details for Direct Debit
- ✅ Your email address and mobile number
- ✅ A few minutes spare to go through the quote and sign-up pages
13. Ready to Start?
Using an Octopus Energy referral code is essentially the same as a normal switch – you just get extra bill credit on top. The steps are straightforward:
- Follow the referral link
- Get your quote & sign up
- Let Octopus handle the switch
- Wait for your first payment and bill
- Enjoy seeing that referral credit knock money off your energy costs
If you’re ready, you can use the referral link below to begin your switch:
👉 Sign up to Octopus Energy with the melon-crane-917 referral link
You’ll be supporting the recommender and giving yourself a welcome boost on your energy account at the same time.