Tariff Guide – Octopus Energy

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. This guide covers the process for signing up to all the Octopus tariffs that our specialists recommend.

Please let us know once you’ve set these up, so we can adjust your battery settings to make everything as efficient as possible – saving you more money in the long run. We’ve explained all the sign-up steps below.

Octopus Energy logo and solar panels

If you have an electric vehicle

    Before your install

    1. Sign up for Octopus

    If you're not already an Octopus customer, we recommend switching to them in the weeks leading up to your install. That means you'll be ready to get your time-of-use tariff and export tariffs set up when the time comes.

    Start your sign up.

    2. Get a smart meter

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

    3. Sign up for your time-of-use tariff

    If you have an electric vehicle, you don't need to wait for your Sunsave install to sign up for an Octopus Go time-of-use tariff.

    (If you're not sure if your charger is compatible, tap the Intelligent Octopus Go link and follow the steps to find out.)

    4. Tell us when you’re on a time-of-use tariff

    When your time-of-use tariff is set up, let us know by email. This is really important, because we need to update your battery settings to work well with your new tariffs.

    After your install

    1. Wait for your export tariff documents

    Octopus 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.

    2. Sign up for your export tariff

    Once we’ve sent your export tariff pack, you can sign up for your export tariff. Here are the documents you’ll need:

    1. G99 DNO registration letter (in your export pack): This ‘G99’ letter is confirmation from your Distribution Network Operator (DNO) that we’ve carried out all the necessary grid applications for your solar and battery system.
    2. Flexi-Orb certificate (in your export pack): Flexi-Orb is a UKAS-accredited solar certification – this certificate confirms that your solar install meets their standards.
    3. Schematic diagram (in your export pack): This is an electrical circuit diagram for your solar and battery system.
    4. Proof of address: This could be a bank or council tax statement, or a utility bill.
    5. A photo of your smart meter: The photo needs to show the serial number, make, model and export reading.

    Sign up to Outgoing Octopus.

    Once you’re signed up, it may take a little while for export payments to arrive, but Octopus will pay you monthly (and backdate any missing payments to when you started exporting energy).

    If you don't have an electric vehicle

      Before your install

      1. Sign up for Octopus

      If you're not already an Octopus customer, we recommend switching to them in the weeks leading up to your install. That means you'll be ready to get your time-of-use tariff and export tariffs set up when the time comes.

      Start your sign up.

      2. Get a smart meter

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

      After your install

      1. Wait for your export tariff documents

      Octopus 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.

      2. Sign up for Octopus Flux

      With Flux, you only need to sign up for one tariff rather than two. Once we’ve sent your export tariff pack, you can sign up for Octopus Flux. Here are the documents you’ll need:

      1. G99 DNO registration letter (in your export pack): This ‘G99’ letter is confirmation from your Distribution Network Operator (DNO) that we’ve carried out all the necessary grid applications for your solar and battery system.
      2. Flexi-Orb certificate (in your export pack): Flexi-Orb is a UKAS-accredited solar certification – this certificate confirms that your solar install meets their standards.
      3. Schematic diagram (in your export pack): This is an electrical circuit diagram for your solar and battery system.
      4. Proof of address: This could be a bank or council tax statement, or a utility bill.
      5. A photo of your smart meter: The photo needs to show the serial number, make, model and export reading.

      Sign up to Octopus Flux.

      Once you’re signed up, it may take a little while for export payments to arrive, but Octopus will pay you monthly (and backdate any missing payments to when you started exporting energy).

      3. Tell us when you’ve switched to Octopus Flux

      When your tariff is set up, let us know by email. This is really important, because we need to update your battery settings to work well with your new tariffs.

      Other things to be aware of