Solar panels installed 2010 - whether to switch from E.ON to Octopus for Feed in Tariff etc payments

Doc_N

Solar panels installed 2010, so currently receiving 68.3p per kWh FIT plus 50% x 4.25p export from E.ON.

Octopus seems to be offering 15p for the actual export on its Outgoing tariff, plus the same FIT of 68.3p of course.

Any experiences of the Octopus tariff?  Looks to be beneficial at around seven times the E.ON rate unless you’re managing to use almost all the energy generated, which most probably won’t without batteries.

greyteam1959

I don't think you can get the FIT payment AND the Octopus Outgoing rate as well.
I could very well be wrong.

Doc_N

greyteam1959 said:

I don't think you can get the FIT payment AND the Octopus Outgoing rate as well.
I could very well be wrong.

I’m certainly no expert on this, but according to Octopus it seems you can.

DougMLancs

You can keep the generation FIT payment but you forego the deemed export FIT payment and swap it for whichever SEG export tariff.

Alnat1

Definitely would need working smart meter though.

Doc_N

DougMLancs said:

You can keep the generation FIT payment but you forego the deemed export FIT payment and swap it for whichever SEG export tariff.

That's the position as I understand it. Octopus take over the generation FIT payments and pay them to me instead of E.ON.  No change there.

But they pay 15p for actual exports to the grid, rather than 4.25p from E.ON on the estimated 50% of total generation exported to the grid.

Doc_N

Alnat1 said:

Definitely would need working smart meter though.

Agreed. A necessity.

greyteam1959

I was wrong then !!
😁

katiejaned

Morning - hope it’s ok to add to this post.  I’m in the same situation as OP - currently receiving 68.3p generation payment and 4p deemed export (also from Eon Next). Our 2 yr fixed rate is ending in Sept so looking for whatever is going to be least painful - I like the look of the Octopus tariffs but can’t work out which one will be best for us.

We are electricity only including heating 😱 so usage last year was 7,000 kwh (I work from home too).  We have an Ec7 meter but only use about 25% off peak (but could try to improve this).  3.92 kwp panels, last year generated around 3,000 kwh.  On 50% deemed export which is only £10 - £20 per quarter (generation for June quarter was £800).  No battery storage.  Old fashioned meter which I am told needs changed to smart meter but thought I may as well wait until I change supplier.  

My understanding is that I can leave my generation FIT with Eon if I want to - its just informing them I no longer want the export - which Octopus would pay me for.  I think the Flux tariff is only if you also have batteries, so I would need Outgoing Fixed?  

Apologies for the long post - although I have some figures to hand on usage and FIT I can’t seem to grasp the different tariffs.  Thanks in advance for any advice 👍

nobby1963

I’m quite interested in this thread, if it is the case that you can now get paid a higher rate for your solar export and retain the higher rate FIT that us early adopters of solar get.
We have always remained with EDF for our FIT payments as they have become an extremely efficient handler of it. In the early days it wasn’t so and like other companies they had more than their fair share of delays. Now though, they seem to always turnaround the payment well within a week. Even though we have switched energy providers a number of times we have always left the FIT payments with them because of this.
We are currently with Octopus as our energy provider.
I wonder what their FIT turnaround time would be ? It’s all well and good getting paid 3 times what we get for export but if it means waiting an age and potentially getting hassle with readings then that would have an impact on my decision making process.
If what katiejaned says is true and it’s only the export payment that needs to be moved, that is more attractive to me, though I would doubt that this is the case but not based on particular knowledge.
It will be interesting to see how this pans out.
Getting to talk with someone at Octopus isn’t straightforward but I’ll try soon.
Cheers
Nobby.

gefnew

Hi ofgem state that it ok.

Smart Export Guarantee

What is the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) and can I apply for it even if I’m a FIT generator?

The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) requires electricity suppliers to pay small-scale generators for low-carbon electricity which they export to the grid. SEG Licensees determine the rate which they will pay SEG Generators, the contract length and other terms, but the tariff rate must always be above zero.

Most accredited FIT installations will be eligible for the SEG, provided they have a smart or export meter installed. However, you cannot receive both SEG payments and FIT export payments for the same electricity. In order to register for the SEG, you must first opt out of FIT export payments for their installation by contacting their FIT Licensee.

You can learn more about the SEG on the Smart Export Guarantee page.