Being on the right tariffs makes all the difference when it comes to generating the biggest savings from your solar and battery system.

There are 2 types of tariff you’ll need to sign up for once we’ve finished your install:

• Time-of-use: these tariffs charge you different prices for energy at different times of day, meaning you can fill your Sunsave battery with energy when it’s cheapest – overnight.
• Export: these tariffs let you sell excess energy back to the grid, topping up the savings you’re already making from solar.

We’ve recommended the best time-of-use and export tariffs for you in your Sunsave proposal. 

Your recommended time-of-use tariff: British Gas EV

Your recommended export tariff: British Gas Export and Earn Plus

Before your install

1. Sign up for British Gas around 2 weeks pre-install

If you're not already a British Gas customer, switch to them before your install. (If you're already a British Gas customer, you can contact customer service and ask them to switch you onto the EV tariff. But you'll unfortunately need to wait until 28 days after your install to do this!)

• In the sign-up process, tick the box that says you want an EV tariff (this is really important!). British Gas won't let you sign up for one straight away – you'll need to sign up for a different tariff first, and then British Gas will email you 2 weeks later to make the switch to the EV tariff.
• Pick a 'standard variable' tariff.

Start your sign up.

2. Switch to a variable Direct Debit

This means you'll only pay what you actually owe for energy each month, rather than a fixed monthly payment. Your new solar system means much cheaper bills, so there's no benefit to having credit piling up in your account!

You should be able to do it in the British Gas app, but call customer support if not.

3. Get a smart meter

You'll need a smart meter if you haven't got one already. British Gas will install one for you for free.

After your install

1. Head to your account to maximise your savings

Once your time-of-use tariff is set up, head to your account and follow the instructions to let us manage your battery and sign you up to the VPP. This is a key step to maximising your savings, so don't skip it!

2. Wait for your export tariff documents

British Gas will need some information before you can sign up for an export tariff. We’ll send you these documents as quickly as we can, usually within 1-2 weeks.

3. Sign up for your export tariff

Once we’ve sent your export tariff pack, you can sign up for your export tariff.

Sign up to British Gas Export and Earn Plus.

4. Head back to your account to let us know

When your export tariff is up and running, head to your account again to tell us you're all set. This is the final step to maximise your savings, so don't forget it!

It can take 4–6 weeks to start receiving export payments

Once you're set up, you’ll receive export payments every 3 months. British Gas will backdate your first payment to the first meter reading you sent them.

You'll receive separate export and VPP payments

British Gas won't just take off the value of your export payments from your energy bill. You'll pay your bill as normal by Direct Debit, and receive separate export payments into your account.

We'll also send your VPP payments separately, and these will arrive monthly around the 7th.