Octopus temporarily pause new sign up to Intelligent Octopus Flux (IOF) and Flux tariffs

NedS

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81911375#Comment_81911375

Same for us - we would normally switch to IOF at the end of March / beginning of April at the point we become net exporters (PV, battery and ASHP here too)

I agree with @Qyburn, during this period export rate is most important as we are essentially self sufficient and grid independent for 6 months of the year with very minimal import if any at all (consecutive wet days with little solar).

Agile may not be a bad option as there's normally a couple reasonable 30min periods to import some juice if needed, and if there are any negative days you can fully take advantage but otherwise can remain mostly independent. Octopus Go is now showing as 9.5p import at cheap rate, so hardly worth filling the battery every night with export at 12p. By the time conversion losses are factored in, it's hardly worth the effort (plus we don't have an EV). For now I'm staying on Cosy whilst I wait and see how long this situation may last.

Other than that, it's a switch to another supplier with better export rates, but I'd rather stick with Octopus for now.

I estimate staying on 12p export and not being able to switch to IOF will cost us in the region of £350-400 this summer. Signing up with another VPP provider such as Axle my have been an alternative, but they do not yet support Tesla so that's not an option for me, plus they only guarantee £10/month of income so it hardly replaces the £350-400 of lost income from IOF.

The good news is that because we have invested in renewables we are largely insulated from any rises this summer and should still be able to heat the house very cheaply next winter. This is exactly the reason we invested, besides our aim to reduce our carbon output.

pete-20-11

I'm sure an IOF tariff will arrive at some point. Perhaps not as good as it once was.

Although as it's ideal for net exporters, perhaps it doesn't matter how much it changes - assuming it stays symmetrical, an increase in (at least peak) export prices would be good!

EcoScruples

Well this is a bit of a downer, I’m on Flux but was looking to switch to intelligent in April as my battery is now compatible.

Does anyone know if this is just foe new sign ups or for current customers also?

NedS

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81924397#Comment_81924397

At the moment it appears to be for everyone. I'm an Octopus customer, and would also be looking to switch onto Intelligent Flux around this time of year, but they have suspended all new sign ups or switches onto these tariffs. Those who are already on them are OK. I'm currently on the Cosy variable tariff (not the fixed version), and that's been suspended too (so if I move, I couldn't get back on it). Still waiting to hear by how much the prices will fall on 1st April.

JCSouth

Can anyone help/advise, just had solar and batteries fitted today with the intention to sign up to Octopus Flux - which i can now see is not available at the moment. We dont have EV's to charge either, spoke to someone at Octopus to ask what tariff would be best for us with high export rates but they dont have a clue, i asked if the flux tariff was returning and was told possibly. Dont know what to sign up to now as just got my head around the flux tariff.

Alnat1

Get your export registered asap and I'd suggest you go on the Outgoing 12p rate for now.

It does take a while to get set up, they have to get an export MPAN from your DNO, so the sooner you get it sorted, the sooner you'll start to be paid for anything you send back to the grid.

NedS

and further to that, for now just focus on self-consumption, trying to use or store for later use to minimise any imports. Once you have exports in place, you can decide which strategy is going to be best for you based on what's available at the time.

QrizB

Don't know what to sign up to now as just got my head around the flux tariff.

Economy 7 is always available, assuming you have a fully-working smart meter (or a legacy E7 meter).

If you can charge your battery overnight and then last through the day on it, that should save you at least 10p/kWh vs. the standard single-rate tariff.

tfhnota

Or Cosy, with the cheap rates also allowing real-time usage not just battery storage, so if you don't have enough battery for the whole day you have the opportunity to either charge it up three times a day for three hours or just run stuff on the cheap rate

MWT

IOF is available again…