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Intelligent Octopus Flux.

Take the hassle out of exporting excess energy from your home battery with the Intelligent Octopus Flux tariff. Launched on the 19th of July 2023 this brand new Octopus tariff takes solar and battery storage to the next level. Intelligent Flux is aΒ  next-generation tariff that uses Octopus’Β  Kraken software to optimise your home battery and solar panels. With a little Octo magic, your virtual home power station will help the stability of the National Grid, whilst also providing smarter, cheaper greener energy for your home. 🌍

With energy costs rising we are all looking at ways to reduce our energy bills. During the sunnier months when solar panels really come into their own, you can maximise your return if you have excess energy.

Intelligent Octopus Flux avoids the need for customers to configure their own hardware to get the best deal. This is great if you don’t have the time or if you are less tech-savvy. Octopus will choose the discharge time that is right for the grid potentially avoiding short-term use of fossil fuels to fill the gaps.

We’ll export the energy you have stored when you’ll make the best return. So you’ll always get the best deal on the sunshine you have stored β˜€οΈ – Octopus Energy.

Am I eligible to move to Intelligent Octopus Flux?

To switch to Intelligent Octopus Flux you will need to be an Octopus Energy customer with both solar PV and a home battery. Your solar and battery don’t need to be installed by Octopus Energy but if you want a quote you can use this online form.

You’ll need to have:

  • A smart meter which provides Octopus with half-hourly readings.
  • A copy of the MCS document for your solar system.
  • Confirmation your local energy network was notified of your installation. *

* This will be a letter or email you got from your energy network after they were notified by your solar installer.

 

If you receive Feed-in-Tariff payments from Octopus or another supplier, they’ll also need a copy of your (Microgeneration Certificate Scheme) MCS certificate.

The Intelligent Octopus Flux tariff is a beta tariff, and at the moment you will need both solar panels and a GivEnergy battery to qualify for this tariff but hopefully, Octopus will add more batteries soon.Β  You can vote if you want your battery to be considered by Octopus.

How much will I pay for importing and exporting electricity on the Intelligent Octopus Flux tariff?

Intelligent Octopus Flux covers both import and export. Unlike its sister tariff Octopus Flux, the intelligent versions of the Octopus Flux tariff not only decide when to sell your energy but also allow you to import electricity at a cheaper rate. So you work less for more with the Intelligent Octopus Flux tariff, which sounds like a very cunning plan indeed.

Intelligent Octopus Flux Import / Export Rates.

New prices from 1st of October 2023.

  • Off-peak (21 hours): 24.70 p/kWh (10% below the Flexible Octopus Tariff.)
  • Peak (4 pm – 7 pm): Β 32.94 p/kWh (Above Flexible Octopus for 3 hours.)

The Octopus Flexible Tariff is the Octopus default tariff that is in line with the Energy Price Cap. For 21 hours of the day, Intelligent Octopus Flux is 10% below this for both import and export. I think that’s a very impressive export rate even before the boost between 4 pm and 7 pm!

Intelligent Octopus Flux Tariff

  • On the Octopus Flux Tariff, you can have any home battery set up.
  • On the Octopus Flux Tariff, you control import and export times via your home battery.
  • On the Intelligent Octopus Flux Tariff, you will need a GivEnergy battery.Β  (More batteries will be added to the list soon.)
  • On the Intelligent Octopus Flux Tariff Octopus optimises your import and export times using their Kraken software. You just watch the magic happen on the Octopus App.

In comparison, you can see the current rates for the Octopus Flux Tariff below.

I am taking a wild guess that Octopus may export your electricty at other times if the grid needs it and I am guessing you would get the peak rate for that too. This means that your peak export rate window could be longer than 3 hours, which would be amazing! (This is a hunch as to what might happen. I am going to chat with Alex Schoch, Head of Flexibility at Octopus next week so I will be able to find out if I am correct.)

Β β€œOctopus Energy continues to unlock a grid system that is green, cheap and easy for customers. Next generation smart tariffs like Intelligent Octopus Flux optimise energy tech in people’s homes – passing on savings to customers while stopping the need for dirty fossil fuel plants at peak times.” – Alex Schoch, Octopus Energy.

Why do I need an MCS certificate to switch to Intelligent Octopus Flux?

TheΒ Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) is a standards organisation. If you are looking for a comparison it’s similar to Corgi registered (for gas) but the MCS is for low-carbon technologies. Unlike Corgi where gas fitters have to be registered MCS is not a legal requirement. It is more a mark of quality for heat pumps, solar, biomass, wind and battery storage installation and Octopus has decided to make it a requirement in the terms and conditions.

If you are not sure if your system has an MCS certificate or you just can’t find it you can contact MCS at 0333 103 8130, or email: hello@mcscertified.com. Β If you are looking for an installer you can also check if they are listed as MCS certified.

When Octopus receives your MCS certificate they will apply to theΒ Distribution Network Operator (DNO) for an export Meter Point Administration Number (MPAN ) for your smart meter. Once the MPAN is registered by the DNO Octopus can then start paying you for your exported electricity.

Can I get paid for my solar export without an MCS Certificate?

Octopus Energy is launching a trial where no MCS Certificate is required for solar export but this is separate from this tariff where an MCS Certificate is still required.

I doubled checked with Octopus on Twitter and here is their response from 5th August 2023.

How do I switch to the Intelligent Octopus Flux tariff?

At the moment the Intelligent Octopus Flux tariff is so new there is a waiting list.

You will obviously have to be an Octopus Energy customer so you could always consider switching to Octopus and going on the Octopus Flux tariff until the Intelligent Octopus Flux tariff becomes available to you.

By using theΒ linked page below to sign up you’ll get Β£50 credit after your first direct debit payment.Β  (I’ll also get Β£50 too so a big thank you if you use my link) As a new customer, you will need to switch to the Octopus Flexible tariff first before moving to any other Octopus tariff.

How does the Octopus Intelligent Flux tariff compare to other solar export rates?

Octopus is very different from any other energy supplier in the UK. They offer such a wide range of tariffs both traditional and smart that you do need to consider your own energy use to find the best combination of import and export tariffs for your own circumstances. It can seem a little complicated to work out what’s right for you but hopefully, my blog will help.

You don’t need to have your home energy supplied by Octopus to be on an Octopus export tariff but the Intelligent Octopus Flux tariff combines both import and export. You can read about other combinations of SEG and Outgoing tariffs on my other solar export review page.

If you want to ask any questions there is a great community on Twitter and you can always tag me @sarah_go_green.

Here is a list of some of the traditional expert tariffs and prices just to give you an idea. The minimum rate you would get for export is 27.1p per kWh on Intelligent Flux rising to 36.1p per kWh between 4 pm and 7 pm. (This may vary slightly based on your geographical location.)

  • Octopus Energy Outgoing tariff – 15p per kWh
  • Scottish Power – 12p per kWh
  • British Gas – 6.4p per kWh
  • OVO Energy – 4p per kWh
  • Shell Energy – 3.5p per kWh
  • E.ON NextΒ  – 3p per kWh
  • EDF Energy – 3p per kWh
  • Utility Warehouse – 2p per kWh

Is Intelligent Octopus Flux a good all-year-round tariff?

The Intelligent Octopus Flux import and export rates have just been announced. The big bonus is the import rates on Intelligent Octopus Flux will be 10% lower than the Octopus Flexible Tariff, with a very impressive export rate between 4 pm and 7 pm.

That being said you should consider having two tariffs, one for winter and one for the summer. It obviously depends on your home set-up and energy needs but I have written a recent blog about seasonal Octopus tariffs that you may find of interest.

In the winter for example when there are fewer hours of sunshine you may want to top up your battery overnight at a low off-peak rate and then discharge energy from the battery. Intelligent Octopus Flux offers an off-peak rate of 10% below the Flexible tariff but Economy 7 is much cheaper at night so switching tariffs later in the year may help to reduce your energy bills for the winter period.

GivEnergy All In One Battery.

If anyone considering buying a GivEnergy battery I am hoping to have the GivEnerg All In One Battery installed by Octopus Energy along with solar panels. (You can read about my first steps towards an Octopus Energy solar and battery installation here.)Β  If you have solar panels installed already you could also add the GivEnergy battery if you contact a local installer. GivEnergy has a list of recommended installers on its website.

@sarah_go_green This battery will work with the @Octopus Energy new Intelligent Octopus Flux tariff. Its a great #homebattery #GivEnergy #allinonebattery ♬ Little Things – Tiqta

Having a home battery can help balance the grid making it cleaner and greener.

The chart below shows a day’s energy use for a home with battery storage and solar panels. The battery is charged at night and discharged throughout the day. The battery works alongside the home’s solar panels to act like a virtual power station.

One of the main benefits of a home battery is being able to import electricty when there is less demand on the National Grid. Even in this example, without any pricing information, you can see that by topping up your battery at night this home has become self-sufficient during the day. This reduces peak demand at times when coal power stations might be forced to come online. For lots of people who are concerned about the environment, this will be a very attractive idea.

It really is a win, win if you’re not very techie and want to save money and make a difference. Intelligent Octopus Flux will do all the hard work for you if you have solar panels and battery storage.

There are other Octopus Energy tariffs that could help reduce your energy bills if you have battery storage and solar panels. It is important that you have a look at these tariffs too before making a decision that is right for you.

The review is a work in progress so watch this space.

Should we allow an energy company to control household tech, such as home batteries?

I have added this question as I was contacted by someone who follows my blog today. They are having solar panels and battery storage installed soon but they don’t like the concept of allowing an energy firm to control household gadgets. They worry this will be a slippery slope where energy firms will dictate how and when we use energy. I on the contrary see this as an amazing step forward.

I get emails from lots of people who are buying green tech but worry that they aren’t making the most of them. They don’t fully understand if they have chosen the right tariff or indeed are making the most of the opportunities that Octopus smart tariffs provide. I let Octopus control EV charging at the moment. It’s a similar tariff to Intelligent Octopus Flux but they control my EV rather than a home battery. It is so easy and I know I am using my energy when it is the cheapest and greenest.

I think we need companies like Octopus to shake things up. They need to wake up the industry showing them what is possible whilst also guiding us on the journey. I think the Intelligent Octopus tariff will do that hand-holding very nicely as we all make our own personal attempts to help reduce our carbon footprint and save some money on the way.