Smart IMPORT tariff for house with solar panels and house battery but no EV

vickyc173

I am currently having solar panels and house battery installed. I do not have an EV - though would like to in the next few years when saved up! I assumed that I would be able to move to a smart import tariff so I can charge my house battery up at night with cheap electricity. (I know I can sell back any excess electricty using the SEG, that's a separate issue). I had assumed I would be able to use Octopus Go or Intellient, but they say these smart import tariffs are only for customers with an EV - NOT for people with a house battery.  Is this corrct? Does ANY company offer smart import tariffs to people with a house battery but no EV? It seems crazy! Help!

[Deleted User]

That would just be a normal smart or multi-rate tariff you are looking for then.  Something like Agile perhaps?

[Deleted User]

Yes, Octopus' EV tariffs require the consumer to own an EV or hybrid EV. I am not aware of any suppliers that offer a tariff for homeowners with batteries.

My advice. Have a look at Octopus' E7 tariff. I would pay about 17p/kWh and could get 15p/kWh fixed SEG or slightly more at times with Agile Outgoing. That said, most homeowners with solar and batteries do not export much from November through to February.

To claim SEG, Octopus will need to see your MCS Certificate and DNO sign off on your completed installation. Octopus will then apply to the DNO for an export MPAN for your meter. This process can take a couple of weeks or more.

70sbudgie

Before the current energy crisis kicked off in earnest, Octopus said on their website that they were developing a tariff for batteries. I guess the last couple have months have kept them busy, so it is on pause.

I have Octopus Flexible E7. I don't have batteries, but do have an EV and PV. Octopus politely took me off Go when I applied for my SEG. I considered switching my export tariff over winter (to their 4.5p / kWhr export), but the night rate for E7 is so close in value to the Go night rate that it wasn't worth it - especially as I get 3 extra hours with E7 and am not exporting very much.

Edit to add: a smart meter with Octopus may also give you access to Saving Sessions - being paid to reduce your import.

Alnat1

I agree with Dolor that the best for you at the moment with Octopus will probably be E7, so you can fill the battery overnight if the solar was poor day before/will be poor following day.

For SEG it's a choice between Fixed at 15p/kWh or Outgoing Agile which varies with 30 minute priced slots.

Octopus allow you to switch between tariffs without charge every 30 days should you wish, so you aren't making a long-term commitment should you change your mind. Many customers swap tariffs for summer/winter depending what works best for them.

[Deleted User]

70sbudgie said:

Before the current energy crisis kicked off in earnest, Octopus said on their website that they were developing a tariff for batteries. I guess the last couple have months have kept them busy, so it is on pause.

I have Octopus Flexible E7. I don't have batteries, but do have an EV and PV. Octopus politely took me off Go when I applied for my SEG. I considered switching my export tariff over winter (to their 4.5p / kWhr export), but the night rate for E7 is so close in value to the Go night rate that it wasn't worth it - especially as I get 3 extra hours with E7 and am not exporting very much.

Edit to add: a smart meter with Octopus may also give you access to Saving Sessions - being paid to reduce your import.

Octopus already has a plan for Tesla batteries. Tesla takes control of the battery and through its various algorithms Tesla/Octopus try to match total import with export. The consumer gets paid the same amount for export and he/she pays for import. Whilst it doesn’t impact the battery warranty, there would be almost a complete battery cycle once per day.

https://www.tesla.com/en_gb/tesla-energy-plan

lisyloo

I'm sure I saw plans for tarriffs for people with batteries, but it was all being planned.

[Deleted User]

lisyloo said:

I'm sure I saw plans for tarriffs for people with batteries, but it was all being planned.

This is typical of what Octopus is offering: it is essentially integration with their Agile tariff:

https://www.givenergy.co.uk/octopus#introduction