Solar and batteries
Octopus export tariffs explained: Outgoing, Agile, Flux and SEG
How Octopus pays you for solar electricity you send to the grid, how the export tariffs differ, and which import tariff each one needs.
Edited by Rob Gibbs. Published: . Guidance reviewed: .
Short answer
Octopus has several ways to pay for exported electricity: a flat rate (Outgoing Octopus), a price that changes every half hour (Outgoing Agile), time-banded rates that come as a pair with an import tariff (Flux), and the basic Smart Export Guarantee rate. All of them need a smart meter registered for export. Some only work with particular import tariffs.
The options side by side
Each structure rewards a different kind of home:
- Outgoing Octopus: one flat rate per kWh. Predictable and simple for solar without a battery.
- Outgoing Octopus Agile: a different price every half hour, following the wholesale market. Pays most when you can export at the evening peak, usually from a battery.
- Flux export: higher rates in the evening peak and lower overnight, sold as a pair with Flux import.
- Smart Export Guarantee (SEG): the scheme every large supplier must offer. Octopus’s SEG rate is usually lower than Outgoing.
Import and export must pair
Not every import tariff can be combined with every export tariff. Flux import and export come as a pair, and some export tariffs require you to buy your electricity from Octopus too. Check the pairing before switching either side.
What you need to get paid
Your smart meter must record exports every half hour and be registered with an export MPAN, which is separate from your import number. Octopus also asks for evidence of your installation, such as an MCS certificate, before payments begin.
Questions people ask
Which Octopus export tariff pays the most?
It depends on when you export. Flat Outgoing suits panels without a battery. Outgoing Agile or Flux can pay more if a battery lets you export in the evening peak. Compare today’s rates for your region.
Can I be paid for export by Octopus while buying electricity elsewhere?
For the SEG, yes. Some Octopus export tariffs require Octopus import too. Check the current terms for the one you want.
Tariffs in this guide
Related guides
- Import, export and generation meters (and MPANs) explainedThe difference between import, export and generation readings for solar homes, why export needs its own MPAN, and what each one is used for.
- How big should your solar and battery system be?How to size solar panels and a home battery for your usage, the battery sizes Octopus installs, and how sizing affects which tariff pays best.
- Solar panels with Octopus Energy: getting the most from themHow to set up solar panels with Octopus: getting paid for export, choosing an import tariff, and when a battery or EV changes the answer.
- Octopus Charge Pack: the home battery add-on explainedWhat Octopus Charge Pack does with your home battery, which tariffs and batteries it works with, what you earn and who should skip it.
- A home battery without solar on Octopus: does it pay?How a home battery without solar panels can save money on Octopus by charging cheaply overnight, and what to check first.
- Switching to Octopus with two electricity MPANsWhy some homes have two electricity supply numbers, usually for off-peak heating, and what to check when you switch to Octopus.
Primary sources
- Export tariffs terms and conditions — Octopus Energy; checked 2026-08-27. Export contract, metering, MPAN, half-hourly data and generation eligibility requirements.
- Smart Export Guarantee guidance for generators — Ofgem; checked 2026-08-27. SEG scope, eligible generation technologies, application and payment principles.
- Smart Tariffs terms and conditions — Octopus Energy; checked 2026-08-24. Smart-tariff eligibility, rate windows, compatibility and publication caveats.