New Octopus tariff for solar and battery users - Octopus Flux

pensionpawn

So how long does it take for Flux export data to appear on your web portal / app?

BossBob

It does take a while for the app to update with the previous days consumption and export. I don’t expect to see mine until at least midday.

jewel1985

Hi, I’m currently on the the Octopus Agile export tariff - have been on it since getting panels installed last August. But we are yet to get more than about 15p - and it’s usually less than 10p apart from the odd half hour. I’ve been looking at Flux which seems to be much better - especially in the lighter evenings when the light evenings means you are still generating during the peak time. Is it a better option? 

Ron-ski

At some point the following day, can be early morning, or even early evening, seems to vary a lot.

JKenH

JKenH said:

JKenH said:

I have been nagging Octopus as although I was told I was on Flux export my account still shows as Flux Import only. 

I received this from Octopus 2 days ago.

Thank you for getting back to us. I can confirm that you have been on Flux Import since 21 March 2023 and you have been on Flux Export since 23 April 2024. You have been earning export payments since April and these will be credited they are usually credited every 3 months 🌝

I received my electricity bill today which still shows my tariff as Flux Import and of course no credits. Octopus Watch app which I have had for a couple of months shows my tariff as “Fixed” - not Flux as appears on other people’s apps.

Has everybody else had to wait 3 months for Flux export credit to appear? I am aware that FiT payments are onl6 made every 3 months so am wondering if Octopus are confused. 

Thanks to all those who answered my question about slow progress to Flux Export. 

Update: 

Following more emails with Octopus, my online account is now showing both export and import tariffs. My Octopus app and Octopus watch app are still however just showing my tariff as Flux Import. No export figures are showing on the energy usage sections of my online account or in the apps. 

At least things are moving in the right direction but Octopus are needing a lot of prodding. 

Octopus came back to me today as follows:

I have just re checked the account we are not getting the export reads off the meter. I have raised this with our smart metering specialists.

Please can you provide a manual export read and I will make sure the export payment is applied.

I will keep you updated on a response regarding the export reads coming through from the smart meter once I have a reply from our smart specialists.

I don’t know how Octopus will decide how much to pay at each rate so I will probably be paid at the standard 22p daytime rate.

While things haven’t gone particularly smoothly on the technical side Octopus staff have always responded courteously and promptly (within 24 hours) to my emails and genuinely tried to move my switch forward.

Ron-ski

JKenH said.

While things haven’t gone particularly smoothly on the technical side Octopus staff have always responded courteously and promptly (within 24 hours) to my emails and genuinely tried to move my switch forward.

Well you have better luck than me, they still haven't acknowledged an email I sent 8 days ago, so I've no idea when I'll get paid for my export - they won't credit my account until I've sent proof from my FITS supplier that I'm no longer getting deemed exports, which is what I emailed.

Ron-ski

DougMLancs said:

I believe the 3rd party app Octopus Watch uses the previous day’s data so if the tariff change happened today then it won’t show until tomorrow. I think it’s the same for Octopus’ own app too.

It gets the information directly from Octopus, but you are right, my first day on export is not shown in the app, it only shows import for that day.

Ron-ski

DN8 said:

[Deleted User] said:

pensionpawn said:

94JDH said:

DN8 said:

277.72kwh exported with flux last week, best week yet

Just a bit more than me - 248kWh export via Flux

That is impressive. I have 4kWs due East and 3.12 kWs due west and only managed 260 kwhrs generation, of which 185 was spare for export.

Battery export perhaps? That is, top up from the Grid overnight and export during the peak period. Great for cash not so good for the battery.

Only surplus solar is exported once batteries are filled. No forced discharge, false economy IMHO 

EV will eventually mop up some spare export 

Depends entirely on the system you have, and of course if you have an EV, I don't have an EV and I'm perfectly happy importing cheap rate and exporting peak rate.

My cells should last for 6000 cycles, one cycle a day would be sixteen years, even if they lasted 3000 cycles that's eight years, my cells don't actually do a full cycle each day, I have about 25% left at 2am.

scubajoe

What’s the difference between an AC coupled battery and a DC coupled battery as far as the FiT scheme is concerned? I’ve been discussing both with an installer who advises that an AC coupled battery needs DNO permission or notification but a DC coupled battery does not.

Anyone got any experience of this?

Ron-ski

scubajoe said:

What’s the difference between an AC coupled battery and a DC coupled battery as far as the FiT scheme is concerned? I’ve been discussing both with an installer who advises that an AC coupled battery needs DNO permission or notification but a DC coupled battery does not.

Anyone got any experience of this?

Basically, A DC coupled battery is linked directly to the inverter by a DC connection, so doesn't increase the system output. You can't use a DC coupled battery with a FITS system, you could then charge the battery and then discharge and the generation meter would measure the out going power as generation. Its unlikely a FITS system would have a hybrid inverter anyway.

An AC coupled battery is a separate device, so then you have the power of that added to the power of the PV system, thus increasing your potential total export power.