FAQs about Outgoing Octopus

It sounds simple – just start reading the meter data and calculate a credit to go on your statement. As the first supplier to offer a smart export tariff, we know there’s a little more to it than that.

There are four main steps to getting you onto Outgoing:

1. Check the FiT register. As it’s not possible to receive both FiT export payments AND measured export we always check the national FiT register to see what you’ve already got. This is a manual step where we look at your account with us and search for your address on Ofgem’s FiT register. If this shows you’re already on a FiT then we work with you on the options such as ceasing the Export part of FiT; this requires us to update the FiT register manually.
   
2. Check we have the right documentation. Aligned with the new Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) we need a copy of the MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) certificate, the DNO (Distribution Network Operator) Notification form and the DNOs response. For older installs we’re seeing a high level that haven’t been notified to the DNO which can cause several weeks’ delay and frustration.
   
3. Use the industry systems to request a new, extra, identity for the meter called the Export MPAN. This is another system that we log on to and manually enter all the details. Responses take between 2 days and 2 weeks. If the DNO notification isn’t recorded the request gets rejected, or if the equipment installed is not compliant it gets rejected.
   
4. Set up our billing system with the new Export MPAN, preferred tariff and (where relevant) line up the FiT Export end date. Typically it takes 2 to 4 days for the different industry systems that our platform connects to to complete everything.

In addition, as export requires a smart meter, we'll arrange the install in parallel for anyone that doesn't already have a supported smart meter. Typically we aim to install smart meters within one to two months. Once the meter is installed, typically it takes up to 10 days for the various industry systems to catch up and for our platform to start to receive half-hourly data.

We haven’t put a limit on this. Export via any source capable of feeding energy back to the grid. So that’s not just solar PV…

YOU CAN: get a micro-wind turbine installed, charge up home batteries when energy’s cheapest to feed back into the grid later, or (if you’ve managed to get your hands on a vehicle-to-grid charger) use your electric car’s spare battery

YOU CAN'T: build a home-brew nuclear power station, or run a cable from your neighbour’s house and jack up their bill by sending their electricity back to the grid. That’s just not cricket.

Outgoing Octopus is best for homes with significant renewable generation, but you don’t HAVE to be generating energy to benefit.

Join Outgoing Octopus and use home batteries (or your EV battery, if you've got hold of a vehicle-to-grid charger...) to take advantage of low consumption prices on our Agile tariff and high export rates on Outgoing Octopus. It’s a balancing act.

Store electricity at times of the day when the Agile prices are super low or even negative (on December 8 2018 Agile dropped to -2.31p per kWh). Then export from your battery when energy on the grid is most in demand, and most expensive. Not only are you powering your home with cheaper stored energy, but supporting the grid when energy is in high demand, and making money off anything extra you export.

If you’re exporting more energy than you’re using, you might even get your Octopus bill into credit. And we’ll even refund the cash if you wish. It’s worth remembering, though, your home will consume battery discharge first before sending the surplus to the grid).

The Agile-like Outgoing payment is calculated from the day-ahead wholesale prices, Balancing Services Use of System (BSUoS), Generator Distribution Use of System (GDUoS) and Transmission Network Use Of System (TNUoS) per UK region.
The formal calculation is: 

Agile Export rate = M * APX + B + C

Where: M is a multiplier to include line losses, imbalance, trading charges, Octopus margin

APX is the APX day-ahead 30-minute wholesale price converted to p/kWh

B is the time of day independent benefits and is based on BSUoS and GDUoS

C is the time of day dependent (peak) benefits and is based on TNUoS.  (C only applies from 4-7pm)

Check out sample half-hourly Outgoing prices by region for the whole of 2018 here

The table below shows the set of regional coefficients for M, B & C.  APX is published for the day-ahead at around 4.00pm for the next 11.00pm to 11.00pm slot.

Yes. Our open Agile API already provides access to the Outgoing Octopus tariff! Drop us a line via agile@octopus.energy to find out more.

There’s no limit to the export rate set on our tariff, or on your smart meter, and the total electricity you export per month isn’t limited.

However, your home supply system won’t be able to handle exporting energy beyond a certain point. Your solar panel installer will have ensured their maximum output will be within the limit of the breaker in your home (usually between 40 and 100 amps).

On Agile, our Plunge Pricing means we pay you to use electricity when wholesale rates are negative. You might think we would charge you to export energy when this happens – any primary school student would tell you two negatives make a positive. Well, we’ve broken the maths and don’t believe you should be penalised when this happens. So when wholesale rates drop below zero the Outgoing Octopus rate will stop just above zero. While it’s a shame not to be credited for your export, you can still feel good about doing something for the environment by sharing your clean, green solar energy with the world.

Your smart meter will measure the import and export values and report these in 30-minute blocks. So if for example you consume 1kWh from 09:00 to 09:15 then at 09:15 you start exporting (the clouds clear and it’s a warm sunny day, for instance) and export 2kWh from 09:16 to 09:30 then your bill will show both 1kWh consumption and 2kWh export in the 9:00 to 9:30 period. Your export amount is not deducted from the consumption amount.

The flow of electricity into your home (consumption) and from your home (export) are measured separately by your smart meter. There are separate ‘import’ and ‘export’ registers, so your meter doesn’t run backwards when it’s exporting!

This means we track your consumption readings separate to your export ones. We take both measurements from the smart meter and bill (or credit) your account based on each.

You’ll be able to see on your meter’s in-home display when you’re exporting, and the amount exported.

Your existing consumption tariff is unaffected when you apply for Outgoing Octopus. There’s no exit fees so you can decide not to continue with Outgoing Octopus.

Your solar management system utilises CT (current transformer) clamps that measure the flow of electricity through the wires they are attached to. The placement of these clamps (before or after the inverter, or around the battery connections) can significantly influence the readings due to the direction and type of energy flow they capture.

Therefore, it's important to consider the conversion of electricity from DC (Direct Current) to AC (Alternating Current) by the inverter. This process is not 100% efficient, and small discrepancies can occur, particularly when energy is converted as your battery discharges. Such losses are normal and expected.

Smart meter's are unable to read your solar production, it reads your solar export to the grid.

Smart meters provide a precise measurement of the electricity you import from and export to the grid. Smart meters are calibrated to record "Net Generation" . Measured in this way, the reported generation on your bill and this can often differ from your total production. Smart meters are engineered with sensors to accurately reflect both the incoming and outgoing energy, making it a reliable device for monitoring your overall energy exchanges with the grid directly.

When utilising third party (Inverter) app data, just check that these are smart meter readings and not estimated - that can happen from time to time.

All electricity meters are calibrated and have to be within tolerance to be in service.

You can be on any standard import tariff (like Flexible Octopus) with Outgoing Octopus, but only certain smart tariffs.

Here's the full list of Outgoing-compatible import tariffs

Looking to keep your existing supplier and just switch your export to Octopus? No problem – export only customers can earn 4.1p/kWh for every unit they export. Email seg@octopus.energy to find out more.

Unlike all regular consumption tariffs at Octopus, Outgoing Octopus doesn’t have an equivalent daily standing charge. This means whether you manage to take advantage of export or not, you won’t see any extra charges on your bill.

Switching away will be just the same as if you’re just on one of our consumption tariffs. We’ll work out a final bill based on closing export and consumption readings. If your final balance is in credit, we’ll refund it. Your new supplier will let you know if they are able to provide any equivalent export tariff.

Under FiT you cannot change your export during the first 12 months and after that, can only change once every 12 months.

We’re rolling out 3-phase and split-phase smart meters in 2020 once we’ve completed testing these meters with our billing system and the DCC smart meter infrastructure.

Under FiT guidelines, you get paid for being a generator, and paid for whatever you export.

You won’t be able to receive FiT export payments whilst also being on the Outgoing Octopus tariff. However, you will still be able to receive your generation payments. When you sign up to the Outgoing Octopus, you will be required to opt out of your deemed export payments from your existing FiT supplier (but there’s no requirement to switch your FiT contract to Octopus.)

For new installations (that is, after the FiT closure date of 1/4/2019) we’ll still require a copy of your Microgeneration Certificate Scheme (MSC) certification in order to get you onto the tariff.

Under the Feed-in-Tariff scheme, installations needed to have a Microgeneration Certificate administered by the Microgeneration Certificate Scheme (MCS).

We will still require your renewable energy generation to be installed by a MCS approved installer and to provide us with the MCS certificate.

We also advise that solar micro-gen is installed according to the Renewable Energy Code of Conduct (RECC).

The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) is the new scheme that came into force on 1st January 2020 and requires energy suppliers to purchase exported electricity. Fortunately, we’ve been doing that ever since our outgoingOctopus launch.

You can read more about the Smart Export Guarantee on Ofgem's website.

Your energy statement will have your consumption information, just the same as you’re used to seeing.

It'll separately show the half-hourly breakdown of your export for the month. Don’t worry. We’ll give you all the detail you need to keep on top of your bills.

50% Deemed was one option under FiT for getting paid for your export. This is often the case where an export meter wasn’t fitted and so it is was assumed that 50% of the solar energy generated would be exported (the other 50% being consumed). This is calculated from the installed potential output of the solar panels at the time of install. You may find you are still better off keeping the Deemed 50% than switching to Outgoing Octopus - for example if in fact you are exporting only 20%, or if the solar panels aren’t optimally oriented to supply the potential output or have deteriorated over several years. As the FiT Export rate is now 5.38pence and our flat rate is 15 pence then you are better off with Outgoing Octopus if (average over the year) you export more than around 50% of the installed capability.

FiT payments are both Generation and Export. Outgoing Octopus replaces the Export payment. But we are also able to manage your Generation FiT payment too for any FiT prior to the 1st April 2019 cut off date. Transferring your FiT Generation payment is optional and not dependent on being an Octopus customer for your regular consumption tariff. You are also free to continue to use your existing FiT Generation supplier even if you use Octopus for your regular consumption and Outgoing Octopus for FiT Export payment.

Yes, our Octopus experts can design and install a system for you.