Choosing a fixed-rate tariff means we buy your energy 

 the moment you sign up. This allows us to guarantee your price until a set date, no matter what happens in the market between now and then. If you leave the tariff early, we are left with energy we’ve already paid for 

if market prices have dropped, selling that energy back leaves us with a loss. Most suppliers use exit fees to recoup some of that cost.

Historically, we usually haven't put exit fees on our tariffs, preferring to absorb these costs ourselves to give you total flexibility.  But occasionally, when prices get really volatile, we’ve had to introduce them so we can continue to offer you the lowest possible fixed rates. The first time was 

in 2022, amid the energy crisis triggered by the war in Ukraine

; the second came in March 2026, when prices soared during conflict involving Iran and the wider Middle East. 

Exit fees ensure we don't have to "price in" the risk of people leaving, which ultimately keeps your unit rates cheaper. In short, exit fees aren't there to trap you: they are a tool that allows us to offer cheaper long-term price certainty in an unpredictable market.

Why do some fixed tariffs have exit fees?

Why do some tariffs have exit fees?

If this is enabled and you are still running into issues, try our quick checks below:  

Why is my Intelligent smart charging not working? 

From March 2 2026, BMW will no longer let us set your charging preferences for you. So, 

you now set your charging preferences directly in your BMW or Mini app. 

If you’re using a recent version of the Octopus app (v 4.116 or greater), we’ll link you directly to the BMW/Mini app from where you’d normally find your charging preferences (and 

if you have an Intelligent Octopus Go compatible charger,

If you’ve already set your charging preferences in either app, you’re all set

 and they will carry on automatically. If you haven’t set them yet, they will be set to a default of 80% charge by 8am daily.

If you try to update your preferences in the Octopus app after March 2, 2026, 

 We’ll use your previous settings until we receive updated ones from the BMW or Mini app.

How to set preferences in your BMW or Mini app

When you open the Octopus Energy app and review your device, you’ll now see a pink button that says ‘

 Tap this and it will redirect you to your myBMW / Mini app. 

How do I set my charging preferences for my BMW / Mini with Intelligent Octopus Go?

How do I set my charging preferences for my BMW / Mini with Intelligent Octopus Go 

Outgoing Octopus export prices will fall to 12p/kWh from March 1st 2026. 

This is our first change in export rates since 2022, when wholesale costs rose sharply following the invasion of Ukraine. We were swift to increase our rates, firstly to 7.5p / kWh in February, and then again to 15 p / kWh in September — and our 

Outgoing Octopus rates have remained at this level ever since.

However, wholesale energy costs fell significantly in 2023, and have been reasonably settled since April 2024, either rising or falling a few percent every quarter, with policy and network costs — which aren’t applied to export payments — generally rising.

We will continue be slow to lower export rates and quick to raise them – and to work for a fairer, cleaner energy system that delivers value to those investing in solar export and innovation in the energy system.

Wondering why export prices are so much lower than import?

There’s a few factors at play: import tariffs are subject to a lot of levies and charges — which you don’t get back when you export. Then, with no standing charges on export tariffs, the fixed costs of administering and maintaining the tariff have to come off the unit rate.

Additionally, single rate export tariffs don’t benefit at all from dynamic pricing — so the majority of the energy is exported at times when there’s abundant supply from tens of thousands of other homes and industrial scale solar farms, and generally low demand for electricity.

Why are Outgoing Octopus export prices changing from March 1 2026

Why are Outgoing Octopus export prices changing on March 1st 2026?

 to see how our energy prices compare to other suppliers. It’s quick and easy to do!

We're proud to offer some of the cheapest prices and best energy deals on the market. Millions of customers are currently saving on our industry-leading smart tariffs and fantastic fixed deals – and we’re the only supplier to have never charged the full Ofgem energy price cap! But if our prices aren’t enough to persuade you, our award-winning customer service speaks for itself. 

Just have a read of these Trustpilot reviews

Which energy suppliers are cheapest in the UK?

What if I can't see the option to move tariff?

You'll be able to see this option if you're on a variable tariff (like 

), or if you're on a fixed tariff and within 45 days of the end of your contract. 

If you have any questions or can't see the option, 

The decision has to be yours, but we've got more info to help you decide what's best on our blog: 

How do I change tariffs?

How can I move to a fixed tariff?

what to do if your test charge for Intelligent Octopus Go doesn't work

The app will display reasons for a failed test charge. Check out 

this guide with tips on how to get set up for a successful charge

What do I do if my test charge for Intelligent Octopus Go doesn't work?

how to set up and use Intelligent Octopus Go

Switch to Intelligent Octopus Go from an existing Octopus tariff 

 and connect your EV to complete your signup in our mobile app.

How do I set up and use Intelligent Octopus Go?

Intelligent Octopus Go is the UK's most popular EV tariff. It gives you access to a super low price between 11:30pm - 5:30am for your whole home, plus it smart-charges your car at the cheapest and greenest times overnight. Occasionally we'll smart charge your car outside of the off-peak window but don't worry, all smart charging is billed at the off-peak rate.

, plus, check prices in your area and make sure your car or charger works with Intelligent charging.

Intelligent Octopus Go pairs directly with your car or charger and automatically finds the best time to charge.  Simply use the app to tell us when you need the car charged and how much charge you need and we’ll make sure it’s ready to roll.

 if you have any questions. We’re expanding the cars, chargers, and operating systems compatible with Intelligent Octopus Go all the time.

How does Intelligent Octopus Go work and how can I join?

How does Intelligent Octopus Go work and how do I join?

We've made a handy table to help you work out which export tariffs are compatible with each of our import tariffs. Don't have solar and battery storage yet? Our Octopus engineers can install 

Find out more and sign up to different export tariffs below:

Which export tariff can I combine with my import tariff?

Previously, you couldn’t be on Outgoing Octopus and Octopus Go, or Outgoing Octopus and Intelligent Octopus Go at the same time – you could only benefit from our Smart Export Guarantee rate of 4.1p/kWh.

Now, both Outgoing and Agile Outgoing are compatible with Octopus Go and Intelligent Octopus Go - 

Can I still export my energy if I’m on an EV tariff?

It’s a completely fair question. It can feel like a raw deal to see a gap between what you pay for a unit of power and what you get back for exporting…a unit of power! 

But there are good reasons. Let’s break them down.

The main reason for the difference is out of our hands. Think of it like ordering sushi on a takeaway app 

Your import rate is loaded with these "delivery fees", such as government levies, taxes and the cost of maintaining and upgrading the National Grid. When you export, you’re selling the raw energy, free of those costs.

We don’t charge a daily standing charge for export tariffs. Instead, we absorb the administrative costs of managing your payments into the unit rate itself.

Finally, there is a timing factor. Single-rate export tariffs offer a flat

 price for your power. Because most solar energy is produced in the middle of the day — when the grid is flooded with solar from everyone else  and not as many people are using power — the wholesale price of that electricity is lower, which brings the average price down.

If you have a battery, you can unlock even more value. Smart tariffs like 

let you store that cheap solar energy and sell it during peak hours when the rates are much higher (and ease the strain on the grid at the same time). 

Why do I get paid less for exporting electricity than I pay for importing electricity?

Why do I get paid less for export than I pay for import?

 is one of our cutting edge beta smart tariffs. Built with fairness in mind, it features energy prices that change daily based on the wholesale cost of energy (i.e what we pay for it).

Whether you’re brand new to Octopus, or you’re already a customer of ours, head to our Octopus Tracker page below to sign up and get all the information you'll need. You'll need to have a smart meter to sign up.

What is Octopus Tracker, and how do I join?

Smart Export Guarantee is one of our export tariffs, reserved for customers who do not want their electricity supplied by Octopus Energy or who also want to benefit from any of our smart EV tariffs at the same time as being paid for their export electricity. If you want to sign up to Octopus SEG with no Octopus import tariff, you can sign up 

 for more information or browse all of our available export tariffs 

Good to know: Octopus is one of the rare suppliers who offer other export tariffs to customers without an MCS certificate. 

Find out more about exporting without an MCS here.

If you’re looking to export anything other than energy generated by solar PV, you should get in touch with 

 as you will likely not have an MCS certificate - which contains the details we would usually use to sign you up.

What is the Smart Export Guarantee Tariff, and how do I join?

 tariff enables you to get paid for any excess solar energy you don’t use and export to the grid. It’s perfect for homes with solar panels, battery storage or any other way of sharing energy back to the grid.

The tariff comes in two forms: variable and agile. On our variable tariff, Outgoing Octopus,  you’ll earn a flat rate of 12p/kWh for every unit you export. The rate we pay is variable, which means it can fluctuate with the wholesale market, but we’ll always give you notice of any changes.

On Outgoing Agile, your half-hourly rate changes as it’s matched with wholesale prices agreed the day before. 

Whether you’re brand new to Octopus, or you’re already a customer of ours, head to our Outgoing Octopus page below to sign up and get all the information you'll need.

If you don’t have a suitable smart meter yet, you can still sign up for an Outgoing tariff and we’ll get in contact with you to arrange a smart meter installation as soon as possible.

There may be times when we can’t install your smart meter right away. This is generally due to WAN coverage in your area or engineer availability. 

What is Outgoing Octopus, and how do I join?

 is one of our beta smart tariffs, specifically designed to help electric vehicle drivers charge up on greener, cheaper power overnight.

Octopus Go customers get super cheap electricity every night, so they can charge up their EV for a tenth of the price of a traditional car (and keep charging costs as low as 3p per mile!)

Whether you’re brand new to Octopus, or you’re already a customer of ours, head to our Octopus Go page below to sign up and get all the information you'll need:

What is Octopus Go, and how do I join?

Flexible Octopus is a variable tariff, which means the price you pay for your energy (i.e. the unit rates and standing charge) can rise and fall with wholesale energy prices.

We'll always give reasonable notice of any changes to the pricing of flexible tariffs.

You can switch tariffs at any time - just 

There are no fees for switching from a flexible tariff to another tariff, and no lock-ins or exit penalties if you decide to switch away from Octopus.

We offer super competitive rates on both our fixed and flexible tariffs, but there might be one that suits you better. We've got more info to help you decide on our blog:

 Should I go for a fixed or flexible tariff?

What is a flexible tariff?

On a fixed tariff, your unit rates and standing charge won't change for the duration of your contract. 

Your monthly Direct Debit amount isn't fixed

. It's our best guess at the amount you should be paying to cover your energy charges, based on how much energy we reckon you'll use. If you're using more or less energy than we thought, and you start building up too much credit or debt, you can edit your 

We'll check in every so often, too, to make sure your monthly payment is about right to cover the cost of the energy you're using.

At the end of your fixed tariff we'll give reasonable notice of your options. If you don't let us know your preference, we'll move you onto a flexible tariff.

What is a fixed tariff?

An ‘Economy 7’ setup (also known as eco 7, two rate, or peak / offpeak tariff) has two different energy prices per day – a day rate, and a 7 hour long cheaper rate overnight. This means you pay less for any energy you use at night (usually between 12:00am and 7:00am) and more for energy used during the day (usually between 7:00am and 12:00am).

Originally designed to benefit homes with storage heaters that would heat up overnight, the tariff can also be useful for anyone who uses lots of power during the night.

Unsure how to read your meter? Try reading 

our comprehensive guide to taking readings

 from various types of electricity and gas meters here.

I’ve got an Economy 7 meter - how do I know which reading is which?

It’s important to get this right as mixing up day and night readings can lead to inaccurate bills. Older electricity meters usually have labels for each register. If your meter doesn’t then don’t worry: there’s a simple test to find out which reading is peak and off-peak.

Take a reading after 8.30am but before 11pm, then another reading 1 hour later. If you’re able, try to make sure you’re using electricity during this period; turn on some lights or boil the kettle a few times. When you look at the second reading, whichever register has recorded usage will be your peak reading.

If your readings have got mixed up at any point, don’t worry! As long as we can confirm which reading is which, we’ll be able to get everything fixed.

My meter only has one reading, why are you asking me for two?

 and you’re sure there’s no second reading, please do get in touch. We might have received incorrect info from the industry database used by energy companies and need to correct it.

The best thing to do is take a clear photo of your meter and 

. We’ll check what’s going on and get everything fixed.

What happens to my Economy Seven (E7) tariff when I have a smart meter installed?

Your smart meter will have a fixed off-peak 7 hour period from 00:30 to 07:30. This time period takes place according to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), so during British Summer Time (BST) the 7 hour period will take place between 01:30 and 08:30. This may differ from your existing off-peak period on your current non-smart meter.

What is an Economy 7 meter and tariff?

 is one of our beta smart tariffs, offering customers electricity prices that change every half an hour, based on the wholesale price of energy.

Why? Outside of daily energy ‘rush hours’ (usually between 4pm and 7pm, when everyone’s generally using a lot of power, i.e. dinner time) 

wholesale energy tends to be a lot cheaper

 (and greener – a much higher % coming from renewable sources).

On Agile, if you can shift when you use power outside of these busy times, you can access cheap ‘off-peak’ prices and potentially save some cash, while using the greenest electrons available and reducing strain on the energy grid.

Agile is perfect for people with electric cars, heat pumps, home batteries and any other big energy-intensive appliances.

We wrote this report when we first released Agile Octopus, so the cap, rates and standing charges mentioned have now been updated to reflect market changes.

Whether you’re brand new to Octopus, or you’re already a customer of ours, head to our Agile Octopus page below to sign up and get all the information you need:

You’ll first need a smart meter we can get half-hourly meter readings from (either a second generation ‘SMETS2’ meter or a first generation ‘SMETS1’ meter made by Secure). 

Here’s how to work out what type of meter you have.

If you don’t have a suitable smart meter yet, you can still sign up for Agile and we’ll get in contact with you to arrange a smart meter installation as soon as possible.

Please note, there may be times when we can’t install your smart meter right away. This is generally due to local Covid restrictions, WAN coverage in your area, and engineer availability. To find out more, we've written a blog explaining 

why we can’t always give an exact timeframe for your smart meter installation

 What is Agile Octopus, and how do I join?

We pass savings to customers however we can, and different methods of payment are more expensive for us to manage. 

Not having a Direct Debit (and instead Paying on Receipt of your Bill) costs us more in admin and managing your account. We don't think it's fair to make everyone cover that extra cost, so we sometimes have cheaper rates for those who choose to pay by Direct Debit. 

Because we operate a lean and efficient business you’ll still get a great price if you choose to pay a different way.

Why are tariffs sometimes cheaper if I pay by Direct Debit?

The government's Feed-in tariff programme ended for new solar PV installations on April 1st 2019. We have a successor to the Feed-in tariff: 

, the UK's first smart export tariff. For existing installations you can still switch your Feed-In-Tariff to us, as we are a mandatory FiT provider.

On Outgoing Octopus, we pay you for the energy you feed back to the grid, either at a flat unit price, or dynamically priced in half-hour blocks depending on the wholesale price of energy at that time.

Do you offer Feed-in Tariffs?

, you'll pay 2 rates for your electricity usage:

Economy 7 is available for both traditional and smart meters. If you're not sure whether you're being charged 2 rates for your usage, check on page 2 of your statement, under ‘About your tariff’.

If you have an Economy 7 meter and you’re on an Economy 7 tariff, but you don’t use a lot of electricity during your off-peak hours, you might benefit from switching to a standard 1-rate tariff. If you’d like to switch, 

Or, if you like the sound of on- and off-peak rates but you don't have an Economy 7 meter, you can also 

Tariffs

What can we help you with?