Octopus Energy offers several export tariffs, but the differences are not always obvious from their names. Some pay the same rate whenever you export, some reward you for exporting at particular times, and others combine import and export pricing for homes with solar panels and battery storage.
The right option depends on more than the headline export rate. You also need to consider whether you have a home battery, when you can export electricity, which import tariff you use and how actively you want to manage your charging and discharging.
This guide compares each Octopus Energy export tariff, including how its rates work, what you need to join and the type of household it is likely to suit.
Octopus export tariffs at a glance
The Smart Export Guarantee, commonly known as SEG, is the government-backed scheme that ensures eligible households can be paid for renewable electricity exported to the grid.
Octopus has a basic SEG tariff for customers who want to keep their electricity import with another supplier. It also offers several other export tariffs with higher flat rates, time-based pricing or features designed around home battery storage.
The main options are:
- Octopus SEG
- Outgoing Octopus
- Prime Outgoing Octopus (launched June 2026)
- Agile Outgoing Octopus
- Octopus Flux
- Intelligent Octopus Flux
Current availability: Octopus Flux is open to new customers. Intelligent Octopus Flux is temporarily unavailable because of volatile energy prices.
Octopus SEG
Current rate: 4.1p per kWh
Pricing: Flat rate
Best for: Keeping your electricity import with another supplier
Battery required: No
Octopus SEG pays the same rate for every unit of renewable electricity you export, regardless of the time of day. Its main advantage is that you can receive export payments from Octopus without moving your electricity import tariff to them.
The rate on Octopus SEG considerably lower than Octopus’s other export tariffs, so it is unlikely to be the best option if your electricity is already supplied by Octopus. However, it could suit households that want to keep a competitive fixed, variable or EV tariff with another supplier while using Octopus for export payments.
Outgoing Octopus
Current rate: 12p per kWh
Pricing: Flat rate
Best for: Straightforward, predictable export payments
Battery required: No
Outgoing Octopus pays the same rate for every unit of electricity you export, regardless of the time of day. There are no higher or lower export windows to manage, making it one of the simplest Octopus export tariffs.
It could suit households that want a competitive flat rate without actively scheduling when they export. You can use it with or without a home battery, although other Octopus tariffs may be more rewarding if you can shift significant exports into particular periods.
Read the full Outgoing Octopus guide
Prime Outgoing Octopus
Rate: 16p per kWh from 4pm to 7pm and 9p per kWh at all other times
Pricing: Two fixed export rates
Best for: Battery owners who can shift exports into the evening
Battery required: No, but usually beneficial
Prime Outgoing Octopus pays a higher rate for electricity exported between 4pm and 7pm, when demand on the grid is typically greatest. Exports during the rest of the day receive the lower rate.
It could suit households with a battery that can store solar electricity during the day and export a significant amount during the three-hour peak period. It offers more predictability than Agile Outgoing because the rates and windows do not change each day.
However, households that export most of their electricity outside the peak window may earn more from the flat rate offered by Outgoing Octopus.
Prime Outgoing is a 12-month fixed-term tariff with no exit fees.
Read the full Prime Outgoing Octopus guide
Agile Outgoing Octopus
Rate: Changes every 30 minutes
Pricing: Linked to day-ahead wholesale prices
Best for: Battery owners willing to time their exports
Battery required: No, but usually beneficial
Agile Outgoing pays a different export rate every half hour based on wholesale electricity prices. Rates can rise when electricity demand is high and fall when renewable generation is plentiful, so the amount you earn depends on when you export.
It is most likely to suit households with a battery that can store electricity and export it during higher-paying periods. Without a battery, much of your solar generation may be exported during the middle of the day, when Agile rates can be lower.
Agile Outgoing offers more earning potential at certain times, but payments are less predictable and making the most of it requires more active management.
Read the full Agile Outgoing Octopus guide
Octopus Flux
Rate: Three time-based import and export rates
Pricing: Off-peak, daytime and peak
Best for: Solar and battery owners happy to manage their own schedule
Battery required: Yes
Octopus Flux combines your electricity import and export prices into one tariff. It offers cheaper electricity from 2am to 5am and its highest export rate from 4pm to 7pm, with standard rates during the rest of the day.
The idea is to charge your battery cheaply overnight, use your stored electricity and solar generation during the day, then export spare energy during the higher-paying evening period.
Unlike Intelligent Octopus Flux, Octopus does not control your battery. You must schedule charging and discharging yourself, but the tariff works with all solar and battery systems.
Read the full Octopus Flux guide
Intelligent Octopus Flux
Rate: Two time-based import and export rates
Pricing: Off-peak and peak
Best for: Compatible battery owners who want automatic optimisation
Battery required: Yes
Intelligent Octopus Flux is a combined import and export tariff for homes with solar panels and a compatible battery. Import and export rates match, with a higher rate from 4pm to 7pm and a lower rate during the rest of the day.
Octopus connects directly to your battery and automatically controls when it charges and discharges. This removes the need to manage a schedule yourself and aims to export stored electricity when it is most valuable.
It could suit households with compatible equipment that want a hands-off alternative to standard Octopus Flux. However, the tariff is currently unavailable to new customers.
Read the full Intelligent Octopus Flux guide
Which Octopus export tariff is right for you?
There is no single Octopus export tariff that will be best for every household. The right starting point depends on whether you have a battery, when you can export electricity and how actively you want to manage it.
Solar panels without a battery
Start with Outgoing Octopus.
Its flat rate makes it the simplest and most predictable option. You receive the same amount whenever your excess solar electricity is exported, without needing to follow prices or change when you use energy.
Solar panels without a battery, but your electricity comes from another supplier
Consider Octopus SEG.
Octopus SEG pays a lower flat rate, but it allows you to keep your electricity import tariff with another supplier. It is mainly relevant when you want Octopus to handle your export payments without moving your home electricity supply to them.
Solar panels and a battery, with predictable evening exports
Consider Prime Outgoing Octopus.
Prime Outgoing offers a higher fixed rate from 4pm to 7pm and a lower rate during the rest of the day. It could suit households that can regularly store solar electricity and export a significant amount during the evening window, but do not want to follow changing half-hourly prices.
Solar panels and a battery, with active price management
Consider Agile Outgoing Octopus.
Agile Outgoing follows day-ahead wholesale prices, with a different export rate every half hour. It is most likely to suit households willing to monitor prices and adjust their battery schedule to target higher-paying periods.
Solar panels and any home battery, with manual scheduling
Consider Octopus Flux.
Octopus Flux combines three import and export rate periods. You manage the battery schedule yourself, charging during the cheaper overnight window and exporting during the higher-paying evening window. It works with all solar and battery systems.
Solar panels and a compatible battery, with automatic scheduling
Consider Intelligent Octopus Flux.
Octopus connects directly to your battery and manages its charging and discharging for you. It is the most hands-off option, but you need compatible equipment.
As of 14 July 2026, Intelligent Octopus Flux is temporarily unavailable to new customers. Standard Octopus Flux remains available.
Do not compare export rates in isolation
The tariff with the highest headline export rate will not necessarily leave you with the lowest overall electricity bill.
For Outgoing Octopus, Prime Outgoing and Agile Outgoing, the main comparison is how much you export and when those exports happen. With Octopus Flux and Intelligent Octopus Flux, you also need to consider the tariff’s import rates because they replace your existing import tariff.
Your results will depend on:
- How much electricity your solar panels generate
- How much you use directly in your home
- The size and usable capacity of your battery
- How much you can export between 4pm and 7pm
- How much electricity you import at peak times
- Battery charging and conversion losses
- Whether you also need a specialist tariff for an EV or another technology
This is why I would not name one tariff as the overall winner. Outgoing Octopus may produce a better result for one battery owner, while Prime Outgoing, Agile Outgoing or Flux could be better for another.
How do Octopus export tariffs compare with other suppliers?
Octopus offers some competitive export options, particularly for households that have a battery or can control when they export. However, it is not automatically the best supplier for every solar household.
Some suppliers offer attractive flat export rates to their import customers, while others let you use their export tariff without moving your electricity supply. When comparing suppliers, look at your import and export tariffs together rather than choosing solely on the advertised export rate.
Do you need to buy your electricity from Octopus?
That depends on the export tariff:
- Octopus SEG: You can keep your electricity import with another supplier.
- Outgoing Octopus, Prime Outgoing and Agile Outgoing: You need a compatible Octopus import tariff.
- Octopus Flux and Intelligent Octopus Flux: These are combined import and export tariffs, so Octopus supplies your electricity as part of the tariff.
Octopus SEG is therefore the main option for households that want export payments from Octopus without switching their electricity import.
How to join an Octopus export tariff
The exact process depends on the tariff and whether Octopus already supplies your electricity, but the main steps are:
1. Check your installation documents
You will usually need an MCS or Flexi-Orb certificate for your solar installation, together with confirmation that the installation has been approved or registered with your Distribution Network Operator.
Octopus has a separate application route for some installations without standard certification, although additional checks and a fee may apply.
2. Check your smart meter
Octopus export tariffs require a meter capable of recording exported electricity. Its smart tariffs also require Octopus to receive half-hourly readings from the meter.
3. Switch your electricity import where necessary
You do not need to move your import supply for Octopus SEG. For the other export tariffs, you will need to be on a compatible Octopus import tariff or move onto the combined Flux tariff.
4. Apply for the export tariff
You can then submit your export application and provide the requested installation documents.
If your property does not already have an export MPAN, Octopus can request one from your Distribution Network Operator. Octopus currently estimates that creating the MPAN takes around one to four weeks, followed by approximately five days to enrol it. Actual times can vary.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a battery for an Octopus export tariff?
No. Octopus SEG, Outgoing Octopus, Prime Outgoing and Agile Outgoing do not require a home battery.
A battery is required for Octopus Flux and Intelligent Octopus Flux. Prime Outgoing and Agile Outgoing may also be easier to benefit from with a battery because you can control when stored electricity is exported.
Is Prime Outgoing better than Outgoing Octopus?
It depends on when you export.
Prime Outgoing pays more from 4pm to 7pm but less during the rest of the day. It is more likely to be worthwhile when you can move a substantial share of your exports into the evening window. Outgoing Octopus may be better when most of your electricity is exported earlier in the day.
Is Agile Outgoing worthwhile without a battery?
It is possible to use Agile Outgoing without a battery, but it may be harder to benefit from its higher rates. Solar-only households often export most during bright daytime periods, when wholesale export prices can be lower.
Outgoing Octopus may be a more predictable alternative if you cannot control when you export.
Can I switch between Octopus export tariffs?
You can normally change export tariffs when you continue to meet the eligibility and import-tariff requirements. However, not every export tariff is compatible with every Octopus import tariff, and some tariffs may be temporarily unavailable.
Outgoing, Prime Outgoing and Agile Outgoing currently have no exit fees. Octopus Flux and Intelligent Octopus Flux also have no exit fees or fixed tie-ins.
Which Octopus export tariff should you choose?
For most solar-only households, Outgoing Octopus is the clearest place to start because it offers a straightforward flat rate.
With a battery, the decision depends on how you want it managed:
- Choose Prime Outgoing for predictable rates and planned evening exports.
- Consider Agile Outgoing if you are comfortable following half-hourly prices.
- Look at Octopus Flux if you want a combined import and export tariff and are happy to schedule your battery manually.
- Consider Intelligent Octopus Flux when it becomes available if your battery is compatible and you want Octopus to manage it automatically.
Choose Octopus SEG when you want to keep your electricity import with another supplier.
These are starting points rather than universal recommendations. Before switching, compare the current regional rates, tariff compatibility and likely import costs for your own home.