Octopus Flux - Net exporters only?

waqasahmed

On other parts of the internet, I've seen quite a few people say 

Octopus Flux is best for "net exporters"

Agile is best if you've got a heat pump because you probably aren't a net exporter. Even then, people often have at least 20 kWh worth of batteries. Then use solar diverters to hear water 

Go/Intelligent Octopus is best if you have a compatible EV / charger, and then try and charge using solar where possible as well as using a solar diverter for water

Is that broadly the best thing to do? Or perhaps people use flux for spring and summer and agile for aurum and winter if they've only got heat pumps? 

JKenH

There are a lot of scenarios in there and without knowing specific consumption and generation numbers and patterns  it is hard to recommend one tariff over another. On another thread I have suggested that for those with just solarPV (no EV or batteries) Flux might be a good alternative to batteries. If you already have an EV and/or batteries you can still benefit from Flux in certain situations but high users who can time shift a lot of their consumption still might be better on IO or Go or EDF’s cheap overnight tariff. 

You just have to run the numbers for your own situation but also consider modifying your usage patterns to get the best out of any TOU tariff. For instance if you are on IO/Go it may be best to charge your car as much as possible from solar (it depends on what you are paid for export) if you have a Zappi but on Flux it may be better to charge overnight and export your solar. 

Flux in summer and IO/Go in winter is probably the best combination for most people with batteries. 

I wouldn’t like to comment on heat pumps.

Solar diverters are probably best avoided with Flux as generally it costs more in lost export than what it costs to heat your hot water overnight on a cheap tariff.

waqasahmed

JKenH said:

There are a lot of scenarios in there and without knowing specific consumption and generation numbers and patterns  it is hard to recommend one tariff over another. On another thread I have suggested that for those with just solarPV (no EV or batteries) Flux might be a good alternative to batteries. If you already have an EV and/or batteries you can still benefit from Flux in certain situations but high users who can time shift a lot of their consumption still might be better on IO or Go or EDF’s cheap overnight tariff. 

You just have to run the numbers for your own situation but also consider modifying your usage patterns to get the best out of any TOU tariff. For instance if you are on IO/Go it may be best to charge your car as much as possible from solar (it depends on what you are paid for export) if you have a Zappi but on Flux it may be better to charge overnight and export your solar. 

Flux in summer and IO/Go in winter is probably the best combination for most people with batteries. 

I wouldn’t like to comment on heat pumps.

Solar diverters are probably best avoided with Flux as generally it costs more in lost export than what it costs to heat your hot water overnight on a cheap tariff.

Thanks. I wasn't considering using a solar diverter with flux though I thought it might be best with the other tariffs 

powerful_Rogue

I believe Octopus Cosy is the main tariff for people with heat pumps.

waqasahmed

powerful_Rogue said:

I believe Octopus Cosy is the main tariff for people with heat pumps.

I have noticed that but you don't necessarily get the same export rates 

DougMLancs

waqasahmed said:

powerful_Rogue said:

I believe Octopus Cosy is the main tariff for people with heat pumps.

I have noticed that but you don't necessarily get the same export rates 

You would probably only have Cosy for the cold months when the export rate won’t matter and then switch back to Flux for the rest of the year. It’s what I’m planning when we have our heat pump fitted.

waqasahmed

DougMLancs said:

waqasahmed said:

powerful_Rogue said:

I believe Octopus Cosy is the main tariff for people with heat pumps.

I have noticed that but you don't necessarily get the same export rates 

You would probably only have Cosy for the cold months when the export rate won’t matter and then switch back to Flux for the rest of the year. It’s what I’m planning when we have our heat pump fitted.

That's fair. I guess if you've got solar panels, an ASHP and an EV you'd similarly use flux for summer only, and use either Go/IO for most of the year 

Whilst here where you've got solar panels and an ASHP, instead you're using cosy for winter only, with flux for the rest of the year

Then for solar panels alone plus ample battery size, flux is probably the best all year around 

Something like that? 

daverave7

After reading this thread, and this weeks MSE email, I'm slightly confused with the Octopus Flux scheme. Do you need a battery to be eligible for the Flux tariffs?  The MSE email states "It's also only available for PV systems with a battery."

waqasahmed

daverave7 said:

After reading this thread, and this weeks MSE email, I'm slightly confused with the Octopus Flux scheme. Do you need a battery to be eligible for the Flux tariffs?  The MSE email states "It's also only available for PV systems with a battery."

I did wonder that but realistically how would they figure it out?

Though if you've signed up for Octopus tracker (if you can get it) that's probably better than flux if you don't have batteries 

The other option is ofc agile which is what tracker is broadly based on. I still use Octopus tracker over flux however. I will switch to flux once I double my panels and triple my storage which should be in the next two or three months 

Jonboy1889

waqasahmed said:

daverave7 said:

After reading this thread, and this weeks MSE email, I'm slightly confused with the Octopus Flux scheme. Do you need a battery to be eligible for the Flux tariffs?  The MSE email states "It's also only available for PV systems with a battery."

I did wonder that but realistically how would they figure it out?

Though if you've signed up for Octopus tracker (if you can get it) that's probably better than flux if you don't have batteries 

The other option is ofc agile which is what tracker is broadly based on. I still use Octopus tracker over flux however. I will switch to flux once I double my panels and triple my storage which should be in the next two or three months 

What export options would be available with tracker? Standard 4.1p SEG? I guess it depends on your usage/export profile.

If you export significantly more than you pay for, potentially Flux would be better 

Alnat1

With Tracker you can have the 15p export rate.