Octopus Agile Outgoing is a variable export tariff for households with solar panels or another eligible renewable generation system. Instead of paying one fixed rate for every unit exported, it uses half-hourly export prices linked to the wholesale electricity market.
This means your export rate can change throughout the day. Agile Outgoing may suit households that can choose when to export, especially those with a home battery, but it is less predictable than a flat-rate tariff such as Outgoing Octopus.
This page explains how Octopus Agile Outgoing works, who can join, who it suits and how to switch to the tariff.
Octopus Agile Outgoing prices
Agile Outgoing prices change every half hour, so any fixed rate shown here would quickly become outdated.
Use our Octopus Agile Outgoing pricing dashboard to view live export prices in your area and explore historical pricing trends.
What is Octopus Agile Outgoing?
Octopus Agile Outgoing is a variable export tariff for households with solar panels or another eligible renewable generation system. It pays you for electricity you export to the grid, with the export rate changing every half hour based on wholesale electricity prices.
Unlike Octopus Outgoing Fixed, where every exported kWh is paid at the same flat rate, Agile Outgoing can pay more or less depending on when your electricity is exported. This makes it more variable, but potentially more useful for households that can control export timing, especially with a home battery.
You need a compatible smart meter so Octopus can record your half-hourly export readings. Without half-hourly export data, the tariff cannot be billed correctly.
How does Octopus Agile Outgoing work?
Octopus Agile Outgoing uses 48 half-hourly export rates each day. Each rate applies to a different 30-minute period, so the amount you are paid for exported electricity depends on when it leaves your property.
The rates are linked to the day-ahead wholesale electricity market and are normally published in advance. Once the next day’s prices are available, you can see what each half-hour export period will pay before it begins.
If you have a home battery, this may allow you to choose whether to store electricity for later export rather than sending it to the grid immediately.
Why do Agile Outgoing rates change?
Agile Outgoing rates move because they follow the wholesale electricity market. Export prices are usually higher when the grid needs electricity and lower when there is plenty of generation available.
In practice, rates often rise during the early evening, when demand is higher and solar generation is falling. They can be lower overnight or during sunny, low-demand periods when electricity is easier for the grid to absorb.
Can Agile Outgoing prices go negative?
No. Agile Outgoing has a floor of 0p per kWh, so you should not be charged for exporting electricity. If wholesale export prices fall very low, your export rate may drop to 0p for a half-hour period, but it should not go below that.
Who is Octopus Agile Outgoing best for?
Octopus Agile Outgoing is most likely to suit households that can choose when electricity is exported, rather than simply exporting surplus solar whenever it is generated.
It may work particularly well for:
- Homes with solar panels and a battery that can store daytime generation and export when rates are higher
- Households with a battery management system, Home Assistant setup or other automation that can respond to published export prices
- Larger solar systems where surplus generation is high enough for export income to make a meaningful difference
- Existing Octopus Agile customers who are already comfortable checking half-hourly prices and managing electricity use around them
- Households willing to accept variable export payments in exchange for the chance of higher rates at certain times
The strongest fit is usually a solar and battery setup where the battery can charge from daytime generation and discharge to the grid during higher-value export periods. Without a battery or some control over export timing, the benefit over a fixed export tariff may be more limited.
If you have solar panels and a home battery, it may also be worth comparing Agile Outgoing with Octopus Flux and Intelligent Octopus Flux, as both of these tariffs are also designed around time-of-use import and export pricing.
Who should avoid Octopus Agile Outgoing?
Octopus Agile Outgoing is unlikely to suit households that cannot control when electricity is exported.
It may be a poor fit for:
- Solar-only homes without a battery, where surplus electricity is exported whenever the panels are generating
- Households that export most of their electricity during the middle of the day, when Agile Outgoing rates may be lower
- People who want simple, predictable export payments without checking prices or managing export timing
- Homes without automation, battery scheduling or another practical way to respond to higher-value export periods
- Households that would prefer the certainty of a flat export rate, such as Outgoing Octopus
Without a battery, Agile Outgoing can be harder to make work well because you may end up exporting at lower-value times and missing higher-value evening periods. In that case, a fixed export tariff may be simpler and more predictable.
Eligibility
To be eligible for Octopus Agile Outgoing, you will need:
- To be an Octopus Energy electricity import customer, or switch to Octopus first
- A solar PV system or another eligible renewable generation system
- A compatible smart meter that can record and send half-hourly export readings
- An export MPAN registered for your property
- Octopus to become your registered export supplier
- The relevant installation and grid connection documents, such as an MCS or Flexi-Orb certificate and DNO approval or notification
If you do not yet have an export MPAN, Octopus can usually apply for one on your behalf. You do not need a home battery to join Agile Outgoing, although having one can give you more control over when electricity is exported.
How to switch to Octopus Agile Outgoing
If you’re already with Octopus
If you already have your electricity import with Octopus, you can apply for Agile Outgoing once your export setup is ready.
You will usually need a compatible smart meter that can send half-hourly export readings, an export MPAN and the relevant generation documents, such as your MCS or Flexi-Orb certificate and DNO approval or notification.
If you do not yet have an export MPAN, Octopus can usually apply for one on your behalf. The setup can take a few weeks while Octopus checks your documents, creates or transfers the export MPAN and confirms that export readings are being received correctly.
If you’re switching to Octopus
If your electricity import is currently with another supplier, you will normally need to switch your import supply to Octopus first.
New customers are usually placed on Flexible Octopus while the supply transfer and smart meter setup are completed. Once your Octopus account is active, your meter is working correctly and your export documents are ready, you can apply for Agile Outgoing.
Find out more about switching to Octopus Energy and receiving £50 credit.
Octopus Agile Outgoing FAQs
Do I need solar panels for Octopus Agile Outgoing?
You need an eligible renewable generation system that exports electricity to the grid. For most households, that means solar panels.
You will usually need the correct installation documents, such as an MCS or Flexi-Orb certificate and DNO approval or notification, so Octopus can register the export side of your account.
Do I need a battery to make Agile Outgoing worthwhile?
A battery is not required, but it can make Agile Outgoing much more useful.
Without a battery, solar exports usually happen when your panels are generating, which is often during the middle of the day. Agile Outgoing rates may be lower during those periods. A battery gives you more control, because you can store solar generation and export later when rates are higher.
Solar-only households may find a fixed export tariff simpler and more predictable.
Can I have Agile Outgoing without being an Octopus import customer?
In most cases, you need your electricity import supply to be with Octopus before you can join Agile Outgoing.
If your import supply is with another supplier, you will normally need to switch to Octopus first, then apply for Agile Outgoing once your account, smart meter and export setup are ready.
When are next-day Agile Outgoing rates published?
Agile Outgoing rates are published in advance, usually the day before they apply.
Once the next day’s 48 half-hourly prices are available, you can see what each export period will pay before deciding when to export electricity.
What time of day does Agile Outgoing usually pay the most?
Agile Outgoing rates are often higher when demand on the grid is stronger, especially during early evening periods when solar generation is falling and household electricity use is rising.
They can be lower overnight or during sunny, low-demand periods when there is plenty of electricity available. The exact pattern changes each day, so it is worth checking the live prices before relying on a particular window.
Is Agile Outgoing better than Outgoing Fixed?
It depends on your setup.
Agile Outgoing may work better if you have a battery, automation or another way to control when electricity is exported. Outgoing Fixed is likely to suit households that want a simpler flat export rate without checking half-hourly prices.
If your solar exports happen automatically whenever the sun is shining, a fixed export tariff may be easier to manage.
Are there exit fees on Octopus Agile Outgoing?
Octopus export tariffs do not usually have exit fees, so you can normally switch to another export option later if your setup or priorities change.
Always check the current tariff terms before switching, especially if you plan to move between smart tariffs or return to a tariff later.
Can Agile Outgoing rates go negative?
No. Agile Outgoing has a floor of 0p per kWh, so you should not be charged for exporting electricity.
If export prices fall very low, your rate may drop to 0p for a half-hour period, but it should not go below that. This is different from the import version of Octopus Agile, where prices can sometimes go negative.