Switching from deemed tariff to export tariff, and Octopus Flux with no battery?

julicorn

Confused solar panel newbie here needing a bit of help, many many thanks in advance!

We bought a house that already had solar panels installed, and moved in end of December last year. As much as I tried to do some research and reading, I still haven't fully understood some of the intricacies of FIT tariffs, export tariffs, whether batteries might be worth it for us, etc etc, so please excuse me if I'm not giving all the important info in this post - if there's anything else that worth knowing in order to give some advice, just ask. 

We've taken over the previous owners' FIT which is currently with Ecotricity / Microtricity. It's deemed export as far as I can tell, and we've just got our first payment through so I can finally see the rates. The generation rate is 4.84p per unit, the export rate (50% of the generation rate) 5.99p per unit. 
In the first three months of this year, we've generated around 300 units (I'm gonna assume they mean kWh here), although I can see from the meter that in April alone, we're already up to around 300kWh as well so I assume it'll be going up. We're in Brighton, and our panels cover the entire roof of our house that completely slopes south (built to maximise solar generation, although it gets a little bit of shade from the neighbouring house mid day during the winter months). 

For gas and electricity, we're with Octopus. I had a look at their rates, and initially thought that what we're on now seems pretty equivalent. Their fixed outgoing tariff is 15p per exported kWh, and I figured that seemed similar, and that by switching we'd lose the generation payment from the FIT. But now I've read more and I'm getting confused!

So here are my specific questions:

1. I think I read somewhere that you can't switch from a FIT within the first year. Is this true, and does this apply to us having taken over the previous owners' installation?
2. In one of the Octopus FAQs, I read that I wouldn't actually lose the generation payment from the FIT tariff if I switched to an Octopus export tariff, but only the FIT export payments. So would we continue to be paid the generation rate through our FIT provider, and get export payments through Octopus? Is there a time limit to the FIT generation payments?
3. I've now read about the new-ish Octopus flux tariff. Looking up our local rates, it seems like a no-brainer because even the peak import rate looks to be less than the quoted rate on our latest flexible Octopus electricity statement for April? The description says it's for people who have solar and a battery - we don't have a battery, do we even qualify for this tariff? We are able to run the dishwasher and washing machine during the flux rate hours, so it still seems well worth it on paper, but I'm not sure if I'm overlooking something here. 

Many, many thanks in advance! Apologies these all probably seem like silly questions, I'm just really struggling to get my head around some of this stuff. 

julicorn

It's a 3.75kW system if that makes any difference whatsoever. 

Petriix

You seem to have everything correct. The only thing you might have missed is that switching to SEG payments from deemed exports requires a few ducks in a row: working smart meter recording export data, full paperwork from the solar installation (including DNO approval) etc. In theory you can opt out/in to deemed export payments per year (I think you'd need to notify the Microtricity team in advance of the anniversary of the installation, but probably worth asking them for the exact process) but it's likely to be a one way trip with it being impossible to return to the (increasing generous) deemed exports once you have an export MPAN. 

julicorn

Thank you Petriix, that's really helpful! We have the correct type of smart meter and quite a bit of paperwork, although no letter from the DNO (although we have a MCS certificate saying the the DNO will be notified). 
I've contacted Microtricity now to ask about the process, and also about whether the 'change of ownership' counts as us 'opting in' to receiving FIT export payments (i.e. whether that stops us from 'opting out' for 12 months) or not. 

silverwhistle

I didn't understand the arithmetic in this bit!

The generation rate is 4.84p per unit, the export rate (50% of the generation rate) 5.99p per unit.

Petriix

silverwhistle said:

I didn't understand the arithmetic in this bit!

The generation rate is 4.84p per unit, the export rate (50% of the generation rate) 5.99p per unit.

Deemed exports are paid on 50% of the metered generation (with the assumption being that you use the other 50%).

julicorn

Yeah I shouldn't have said '50% of the generation rate', rather '50% of the total amount generated'. That was a bit unclear, apologies.