⚡ What is Webhook Automation?

OctoDash Pro allows you to send real-time price alerts to webhook services like IFTTT, Zapier, Home Assistant, and more. When electricity prices cross your custom thresholds, OctoDash automatically sends a notification that can trigger actions in your smart home.

Examples: Turn on your dishwasher when prices drop below 5p/kWh, start charging your EV during negative pricing, or send alerts to Slack when prices spike.

🔌 Supported Platforms

🔗

IFTTT

Connect to 800+ services including Alexa, Google Home, Philips Hue, and smart plugs. Perfect for beginners.

⚙️

Zapier

Integrate with 5,000+ apps for advanced automation workflows. Great for business use cases.

🏠

Home Assistant

Full local control with powerful automation capabilities. Ideal for advanced users and privacy.

🔧

Custom Webhooks

Use any HTTP endpoint to receive alerts. Build your own integrations with Node-RED, n8n, or custom code.

📦 Webhook Payload Format

When a price alert is triggered, OctoDash sends a POST request with the following JSON payload:

{
  "alert_id": "alert_123",
  "alert_name": "Cheap Power",
  "alert_description": "Below 10p/kWh",
  "account": {
    "name": "Home",
    "id": "A-12345678"
  },
  "event_type": "alert_triggered",
  "trigger": {
    "condition": "below",
    "threshold_price": 10.0,
    "timing": "2_hours_before"
  },
  "pricing": {
    "current_price": 8.5,
    "unit": "p/kWh",
    "currency": "GBP"
  },
  "period": {
    "start": "2025-12-05T14:00:00Z",
    "end": "2025-12-05T14:30:00Z",
    "duration_minutes": 30
  },
  "duration_at_threshold": {
    "minutes": 60,
    "expected_end": "2025-12-05T15:00:00Z"
  },
  "timestamp": "2025-12-05T13:45:00Z",
  "app_version": "1.2.0+45"
}

📋 Field Reference

Field Type Description
event_type String Always "alert_triggered" for price alerts
alert_id String Unique ID for the alert
alert_name String Alert name set in the app
alert_description String Alert description set in the app
account.name String Property name for the alert
account.id String Account number for the selected property
trigger.condition String "below" or "above"
trigger.threshold_price Number Your configured price threshold
trigger.timing String "immediate", "30_minutes_before", "1_hour_before", etc.
pricing.current_price Number Current electricity price in p/kWh
pricing.unit String Always "p/kWh"
pricing.currency String Always "GBP"
period.start ISO 8601 When this price period starts (UTC)
period.end ISO 8601 When this price period ends (UTC)
period.duration_minutes Number Duration of a single price period
duration_at_threshold.minutes Number Total minutes at/under threshold
duration_at_threshold.expected_end ISO 8601 Expected end time for the threshold window
timestamp ISO 8601 When the alert was sent (UTC)
app_version String App version and build number

Note: When multiple properties exist, the selected property is included under the account field in the payload.

🎯 Example Automations

🔌 IFTTT - Turn On Smart Plug When Cheap

Trigger: Webhooks - Receive web request

Event name: price_alert

Action: Smart plug - Turn on

Filter: Use the JSON field pricing.current_price and trigger when it drops below 5.

Use case: Automatically turn on your dishwasher, washing machine, or EV charger when prices drop below 5p/kWh.

💬 Slack - Price Alert Notifications

Webhook URL: Your Slack incoming webhook

Use case: Get real-time price alerts in your team Slack channel. Useful for businesses managing high-power equipment.

🏡 Home Assistant - Advanced Automation

Configuration:

automation:
  - alias: "OctoDash Price Alert"
    trigger:
      - platform: webhook
        webhook_id: "octodash_price_alert"
    condition:
      - condition: template
        value_template: "{{ trigger.json.price.current < 5 }}"
    action:
      - service: switch.turn_on
        entity_id: switch.dishwasher
      - service: notify.mobile_app
        data:
          message: "Cheap electricity! {{ trigger.json.pricing.current_price }}p at {{ trigger.json.period.start }}"

Use case: Complex multi-device automation with conditions, delays, and notifications.

🚗 Tesla/EV Charging Automation

IFTTT Setup:

Trigger: Webhooks - price_alert

Filter: Only trigger if price is negative or below 3p

Action: Send command to smart EV charger or Tesla API

Use case: Start charging your electric vehicle during the cheapest or negative pricing periods.

💡 Philips Hue - Visual Price Indicators

Low Price (Green): When below 5p/kWh

Medium Price (Yellow): When 5-20p/kWh

High Price (Red): When above 20p/kWh

Use case: At-a-glance price awareness with your smart lights changing color based on current rates.

🚀 Getting Started

Step 1: Upgrade to OctoDash Pro

Webhook automation requires OctoDash Pro (£1.99/month). This includes unlimited webhooks, custom price thresholds, and alert history tracking.

Step 2: Get Your Webhook URL

For IFTTT:

  1. Go to IFTTT.com and create an account
  2. Create a new Applet with "Webhooks" as the trigger
  3. Set event name to: price_alert
  4. Copy your webhook URL (looks like: https://maker.ifttt.com/trigger/price_alert/with/key/YOUR_KEY)

For Home Assistant:

  1. Add a webhook automation in configuration.yaml
  2. Set webhook_id to: octodash_price_alert
  3. Your URL will be: http://your-ha-ip:8123/api/webhook/octodash_price_alert

Step 3: Configure OctoDash

  1. Open OctoDash → Settings → Notifications
  2. Paste your webhook URL
  3. Set your price thresholds (e.g., alert below 10p/kWh)
  4. Choose alert frequency (every time, once per day, etc.)
  5. Tap "Test Webhook" to verify it works
  6. Save and enjoy automated price alerts!

⚙️ Alert Timing & Frequency

🕐 When to Alert (Pro Users Only)

Choose exactly when you want to be notified before the price period starts:

At Start (0 minutes)

Alert when the threshold period begins. Perfect for immediate actions like turning on devices right when cheap rates start.

30 Minutes Before

Get advance warning to prepare. Example: Pre-heat your EV charger or queue up your washing machine.

1-2 Hours Before

Plan ahead for cheap periods. Great for scheduling dishwasher/dryer cycles or EV charging sessions.

Custom Timing

Set any value from 0 minutes to 12 hours before. Each 30-minute period can be individually targeted.

Note: Free users are limited to 2-hour advance alerts with a maximum of 3 alerts. Pro users get unlimited alerts with fully customizable timing.

🎨 Pro Tips

💡 Tip 1: Use Multiple Webhooks

Create separate IFTTT applets for different actions:

  • One for turning on devices when cheap
  • One for notifications when expensive
  • One for special negative pricing events

⚡ Tip 2: Set Strategic Thresholds

Based on historical Agile data:

  • Below 5p: Very cheap, perfect for non-essential loads
  • Below 0p: Negative pricing, use maximum power!
  • Above 25p: Expensive, reduce usage
  • Above 40p: Very expensive, critical alert

🔒 Tip 3: Test Before Deploying

Always use the "Test Webhook" button in OctoDash to verify your automation works before relying on it for important devices.

Ready to Automate Your Home?

Upgrade to OctoDash Pro and start saving money with intelligent automation