Octopus plug-in solar SELLS OUT in a fortnight as bills soar
Octopus forced to restock TWICE in under a month as households go crazy for plug-in solar
9 in 10 buyers go for a double panel to soak up more free rays, saving up to £150 a year on electricity bills
Comes as electricity prices are putting further pressure on households, with the price cap rising 4% today
London, 1st October 2026 – Bill-battered Brits are snapping up plug-in solar panels so fast that Octopus Energy has sold out, just weeks after the kits were made legal in the UK.
The supplier has had to restock for the SECOND time in less than four weeks to keep up with demand, after the first 500 kits were gone in just two weeks.
The government gave plug-in solar the green light at the end of August. Since then, thousands of households have been clamouring to get their hands on one from Octopus.
With no electrician or professional installation needed, customers can set it up themselves and start powering appliances like tellies, washing machines and laptops straight away.
It's ideal for renters and flat-dwellers, who can now get in on solar savings without needing a roof of their own – and even take their kit with them if they move.
Any power they don’t use can be sent back to the grid, with plug-in solar customers pocketing roughly £150 a year on Octopus’s Outgoing export tariff.*
The news comes as the energy price cap goes up by 4% today, piling further pressure on family budgets amid the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.**
Rebecca Dibb-Simkin, Chief Customer Officer at Octopus, said: "Plug-in solar is a cracking example of how smart, simple tech can help households knock a bit off their energy bills. We've been blown away by how quickly people have taken to it. It's flown off the shelves and we've had to restock, but fear not – there's more on the way."
Octopus’ plug-in solar bundles start at £450 for one panel or £650 for two panels, including mounting and everything customers need to set them up themselves.
The dual-panel setup is proving a hit, with 9 in 10 (89%) customers opting to size up and soak up even more free power.
As the only major energy supplier currently selling plug-in solar, Octopus customers are among the first in the country to experience the new technology – with kits landing on doorsteps this week.
The company is also gearing up to expand its plug-in offering, with its own Octopus ‘Nook Cube’ battery’ – due to launch in Q1 next year.
Customers interested in plug-in solar can find more info at this link.
-ENDS-
Notes to the editor:
* This is an estimated annual saving for a household using a two-panel plug-in solar system. Actual savings will vary depending on factors such as sunlight levels and household energy consumption.
Sources:
** Ofgem, the UK’s energy regulator, raised the energy price cap by 4% for the period from 1 October to 31 December 2026, August 2026
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About Octopus Energy Group
Octopus Energy is a global clean energy and technology business, driving the affordable, green energy system of the future. Under its own retail brand, Octopus delivers world-class customer service and cutting-edge energy products to 11 million households globally.
The company is driving the electrification of heat and transport through smart tariffs and innovative clean tech, with operations spanning 27 countries and the entire energy value chain. It operates a £8.5 billion renewables portfolio as well as thriving EV leasing, heat pump, and solar businesses.
Backed by pension funds, investors and energy giants, Octopus Energy Group businesses deliver cheaper, greener energy and cutting-edge tech to countries and customers worldwide. For more information, check out our website.