The case for Octopus Agile (with solar panels) 27 August 2021 at 12:59PM in Green & ethical MoneySaving 16 replies 2.3K views

mickyduck55

I have a SMETS 2 meter installed by Octopus... they cannot read that either .. maybe soon

EcoScruples

QrizB said:

frozen_wastes said:

Thing is:  I export predominantly from March to September.  So I’m wandering if I can switch from Go in the winter time  to Agile in the summer and back again.   Or is there anything in the Terms and Conditions that prevents you being Agile in this way (excuse the pun)

I wondered about seasonal switching, too. Octopus let you switch tariff every month (or so I've heard) so it *should* be possible.

Once I've got a year of smart meter export data I'm intending to review whether I'm better off sticking with deemed export on FIT or switching to metered, and that's when I'll look at OOA again.

Not long until you've been on it for 1 year? How's it been?
I'm just switching to Octopus and an thinking Agile will be beneficial as I'm exporting 10+kw a day right now which will be better than the 7.5p SEG.
Is it easy to switch between tariffs?

QrizB

EcoScruples said:

QrizB said:

frozen_wastes said:

Thing is:  I export predominantly from March to September.  So I’m wandering if I can switch from Go in the winter time  to Agile in the summer and back again.   Or is there anything in the Terms and Conditions that prevents you being Agile in this way (excuse the pun)

I wondered about seasonal switching, too. Octopus let you switch tariff every month (or so I've heard) so it *should* be possible.

Once I've got a year of smart meter export data I'm intending to review whether I'm better off sticking with deemed export on FIT or switching to metered, and that's when I'll look at OOA again.

Not long until you've been on it for 1 year? How's it been?

I'm still on deemed export with E.ON Next. As of the end of May I'd exported 49.22% of generation since my smart meter was installed, but I've added more battery capacity recently so I might still be better off sticking with deemed.

EcoScruples said:

I'm just switching to Octopus and an thinking Agile will be beneficial as I'm exporting 10+kw a day right now which will be better than the 7.5p SEG.
Is it easy to switch between tariffs?

I think @Spies is on Outgoing Agile and is a fairly regular visitor, they could be a good person to answer.

Magnitio

I switched to Agile in May after realising how little I was getting for exported electricity. There is a useful app called Octopus Go Agile that allows you to compare your import/export at different rates. The following are the figures I have:

The rates are very variable with average export rates across a day ranging from 6p to 22p per kWh. Tomorrow is likely to be a very high average, with rates as high as 41.38p/kWh and most of the day over 20p. In addition, the standing charge is a very low 21p/day.

There is nothing in the agreement with Octopus preventing a change to another tariff, so if it looks expensive later in the year, I may consider changing. However with a 10kWh battery and 5kW charging capacity, I can hopefully pick some low rate half-hour slots for charging.

EcoScruples

So you've saved on imports on Agile because you avoid the peak periods?
The difference in export payments is quite big, I think I need yo give it a go st least for the summer and see how it does.
Very useful info indeed, thank you.

Alnat1

I'm new to solar and batteries, fitted early March this year. I moved to Octopus in April,  opted for Agile Outgoing and Flexible gas/electricity. Last week I moved the gas and leccy to Tracker V3.

Octopus replaced both my SMETS2 (2 year old) meters on 8th June as they were having problems connecting with the gas one, now they're getting all readings.

Little yet to go on but bill now received up to the meter change, including export payment, show I'm in credit £26.81 (plus another £50 from referral and £1 I paid to trigger the payment of referral fee lol). So all my gas and electric charges covered and a bit of "profit". I pay by DD on receipt of bill but nothing to pay for yet.

We don't have an EV so I don't need to worry about overnight cheap tariffs.

Winter will be another matter and I think I need to do the whole 12 months with solar to see how it works out and if I've made the right choices.