Outgoing Octopus is an export tariff from Octopus Energy that pays eligible solar panel owners for electricity exported to the grid. It’s usually most relevant for homes with solar panels that export a meaningful share of their generation.

In April 2026, the National Energy System Operator recorded solar output passing 15 GW on Britain’s electricity system for the first time.

This landmark reflects how many UK homes now have panels on their roofs, yet a significant proportion of those homeowners are still exporting electricity to the grid for free or at very low rates. Some have never registered for an export tariff, while others signed up for the first option they found.

Outgoing Octopus sits at 12p/kWh and requires no battery, no specialist hardware and no day-to-day management.

For a solar-only household that wants a clean, predictable income from export without the complexity of a time-of-use tariff, it’s one of the most straightforward options available from any major UK supplier.

That said, it’s not the right choice for every setup. Understanding how it works, who can get it, and how it compares with other Octopus export options can help you determine whether it’s the right choice for your home.

Key Takeaways on Outgoing Octopus:

• Outgoing Octopus is an export tariff that pays a flat rate for electricity sent back to the grid, currently 12p/kWh.
• It’s an export tariff, not an import tariff. It sits alongside whichever tariff you use to buy electricity.
• You need a smart meter capable of half-hourly export readings and an MCS-certified solar installation.
• Solar-only homes without a battery can use it straightforwardly. Battery owners may find a time-of-use tariff more rewarding.
• Always compare your total import and export package, not the export rate in isolation.

What is Outgoing Octopus?

Outgoing Octopus is Octopus Energy’s flat-rate solar export tariff. It pays you a variable flat rate per kilowatt-hour for every unit of electricity your solar panels export to the grid.

The current rate for Outgoing Octopus is 12p/kWh. Octopus describes it as variable, meaning the rate can change, but they commit to giving notice before any change takes effect.

It’s separate from Outgoing Agile, which is Octopus’s half-hourly variable export tariff that tracks wholesale prices. Both sit under the Outgoing Octopus umbrella but work differently.

Outgoing Octopus is also separate from Octopus’s open-access SEG tariff, which pays 4.1p/kWh and is available to anyone regardless of their import supplier. Outgoing Octopus’s 12p rate is available to Octopus import customers, and this is a meaningful distinction.

How Does Outgoing Octopus Work?

Once registered, your smart meter sends half-hourly export readings to Octopus. They calculate how much you have exported each period, multiply it by the applicable rate, and credit your account.

If you import from Octopus, your export earnings offset your electricity bill. If your export credit exceeds your import charges, Octopus will pay the balance to your bank account on request.

There is no cap on the amount you can export or earn. Octopus confirms there is no limit to the export rate or the total electricity you export per month.

If your smart meter is unable to send half-hourly data for any period, Octopus’s export terms state they handle the gap by potentially falling back to midnight snapshot readings or, in extended outages, their Smart Export Guarantee rates.

What Are the Current Outgoing Octopus Rates?

The current Outgoing Octopus flat rate is 12p/kWh. It’s a variable rate and has changed before (it was 15p/kWh prior to March 2026) and may change again.

Octopus commits to providing notice before any rate change takes effect. For comparison within the Octopus range:

• Outgoing Octopus (flat rate): 12p/kWh, and is available to Octopus import customers.
• Outgoing Agile: A half-hourly variable rate tracking wholesale prices; averaged approximately 9.4p/kWh over the 12 months to April 2026, but with significant peaks during high-demand periods
• Octopus SEG: 4.1p/kWh, and is open to anyone, with no import tariff requirement.
• Intelligent Octopus Flux: Up to approximately 23p/kWh on average. It requires solar, a compatible battery, and automated charge/discharge management.

Who Is Eligible for Outgoing Octopus?

For you to be eligible for Outgoing Octopus:

• You must be an Octopus Energy import customer (or willing to sign up on an interim tariff first).
• You must have a smart meter capable of providing half-hourly export readings. Almost all SMETS2 meters qualify; most SMETS1 meters also qualify, but Octopus recommends confirming.
• Your solar installation must be MCS-certified (or equivalent).
• You must have an export MPAN. If you don’t have one, Octopus will apply to your DNO for one as part of the sign-up process.
• You must not be receiving Feed-in Tariff export payments for the same installation.

You don’t need to have had your solar panels installed by Octopus. Any MCS-certified installation qualifies.

Do You Need a Smart Meter?

Yes. Outgoing Octopus requires a smart meter that can provide half-hourly export data. Almost all SMETS2 meters are compatible.

Most SMETS1 meters work too, but ensure you confirm before applying. If you don’t have a smart meter, Octopus can arrange installation.

The meter must be configured to record and transmit export readings, which doesn’t always happen automatically.

If you have a smart meter but Octopus cannot receive export data, they may need to arrange a configuration change before your tariff can go live.

Do you need an export MPAN?

Yes, but Octopus handles this for you. If you don’t already have an export MPAN, Octopus applies to your Distribution Network Operator (DNO) on your behalf as part of the sign-up process.

This is one of the more helpful aspects of registering through Octopus compared with some other suppliers, where the homeowner is expected to obtain the export MPAN independently.

Outgoing Octopus vs Intelligent Octopus Flux

These are the two most commonly compared Octopus export products, but they serve quite different households.

• Outgoing Octopus pays a flat 12p/kWh for every unit exported, regardless of when. You don’t need a battery or to manage anything beyond the initial registration. It suits solar-only households that want a reliable, predictable income from export.
• Intelligent Octopus Flux is a paired import-and-export tariff built around battery storage. It automatically manages charging (typically during cheap overnight periods) and discharging (typically during the 4–7 pm peak window, when export rates are highest). The average export rate is significantly higher than Outgoing Octopus, at around 23p/kWh, but it requires a compatible battery from an eligible manufacturer, and you must use Intelligent Flux for your import supply.

The headline difference: if you have a battery and it is Flux-compatible, Intelligent Flux will almost certainly earn you more. If you don’t have a battery, Outgoing Octopus is the simpler and more appropriate choice.

Note: Standard Octopus Flux (the non-Intelligent version) closed to new customers in March 2026. If you see references to it elsewhere, check whether it has reopened before applying.

Outgoing Octopus vs Standard SEG Tariffs

	Outgoing Octopus	Intelligent Octopus Flux	Standard SEG tariff (e.g. Scottish Power SmartGen or Octopus SEG)
Best for	Solar-only Octopus customers who want simplicity	Solar + battery households wanting maximum returns	Anyone not wanting to switch import supplier
Export structure	Flat rate, 12p/kWh	Time-of-use, avg ~23p/kWh; peak 4–7 pm	Flat rate; 4.1–6p/kWh typically
Battery required	No	Yes (compatible models only)	No
Smart meter required	Yes	Yes	Yes
Import tariff requirement	Must import from Octopus	Must use Intelligent Flux import	No import requirement
Main drawback	Rate is variable and can change; lower than Flux for battery owners	Battery and brand eligibility requirements; more complex	Significantly lower rates

How Much Could You Earn with Outgoing Octopus?

Earnings depend on how much you export. A typical 4 kWp system in the UK generates around 3,400 kWh of solar panel output per year. A household that consumes half of that in the home exports approximately 1,700 kWh annually.

At 12p/kWh: 1,700 × £0.12 = £204 per year

At the previous rate of 15p/kWh, that same household would have earned £255, illustrating why keeping track of rate changes matters. It also shows that the average monthly electric bill with solar panels is lower than without them, especially when self-consumption is high.

For comparison, the same 1,700 kWh exported at Octopus’s open-access SEG rate of 4.1p/kWh would earn just £70, a difference of £134 per year simply for being an Octopus import customer on the right tariff.

Note: This is illustrative. Actual earnings depend on system size, location, self-consumption and the applicable rate at the time.

Who Should Consider Outgoing Octopus?

Scenario 1: Households with Solar Panels, No Battery, and High Daytime Export

This can be a household where both adults work full-time. Panels generate well all day, but most of that generation is exported because nobody is home to use it. Self-consumption is low, perhaps 30–35%.

This household exports a large volume and benefits most from a competitive flat rate. Outgoing Octopus at 12p/kWh is well suited. A time-of-use tariff would not help because there is no battery to shift export to peak windows.

Verdict: Strong fit for Outgoing Octopus.

Scenario 2: Household with Solar Panels Plus Battery

A household with a 4 kWp solar array and a 5 kWh home battery. The battery captures midday surplus and uses it in the evening, reducing what you export and import at peak rates.

Export volume is lower, but timing is more flexible. Whether Outgoing Octopus or Intelligent Octopus Flux is better depends on battery compatibility and how much the household values automated management versus manual control.

Verdict: Check Intelligent Octopus Flux first. If the battery is compatible and the household is willing to use Intelligent Flux for import, Flux will likely earn more. If not, Outgoing Octopus remains a solid option.

Scenario 3: An EV Owner with Solar

An EV driver on Intelligent Octopus Go, using the cheap overnight window to charge their car. They also have solar panels that generate surplus power during the day.

Octopus now allows Outgoing Octopus to be paired with EV tariffs, including Intelligent Octopus Go, so this household can earn 12p/kWh on daytime solar export while still charging their EV cheaply overnight.

Verdict: Good fit. Pair Outgoing Octopus with Intelligent Octopus Go for a combined solar export and cheap EV charging setup.

Who Should Avoid It?

Outgoing Octopus isn’t the best choice if you have a battery that is compatible with Intelligent Octopus Flux. In such a case, Flux’s higher peak export rates will almost certainly earn more over a year.

It’s also not suitable if you want to keep your import electricity with a different supplier, since the 12p/kWh rate requires you to import from Octopus.

In such a case, Octopus’s open-access SEG tariff at 4.1p/kWh is available, or you can look at other suppliers’ open-access offers.

For solar-only homes, Outgoing Octopus is often the right starting point — it’s straightforward, competitive, and doesn’t require any management. But homeowners should always check the import side of the equation too. If switching to Octopus for import costs you more than the export rate earns you, the overall deal may not stack up — Chris Humphreys, Energy tariff specialist.

Final Thoughts on Outgoing Octopus

Outgoing Octopus is the most straightforward competitive export tariff available from a major UK supplier for solar homes without battery storage.

At 12p/kWh, it pays nearly three times the Octopus open-access SEG rate, requires no manual management, and can be paired with EV import tariffs, including Intelligent Octopus Go.

However, the rate is variable and has already dropped once, from 15p to 12p in March 2026. It requires switching import supply to Octopus, which may or may not make sense depending on your current deal.

For households with a compatible battery, Intelligent Octopus Flux will almost always outperform it on total earnings.

The practical test is simple: add up what switching your import to Octopus would cost or save, then add your estimated export income at 12p/kWh, and compare the total against your current combined position.

If the numbers favour Octopus, it’s an easy switch. If they don’t, the open-access tariffs remain available without any import commitment.

FAQs on Outgoing Octopus

Is Outgoing Octopus the Same as the Octopus SEG Tariff?

No. The Octopus SEG tariff pays 4.1p/kWh and is available to anyone regardless of their import supplier. Outgoing Octopus pays 12p/kWh but requires you to be an Octopus import customer.

Can I Be on Outgoing Octopus and Intelligent Octopus Go at the Same Time?

Yes. Octopus changed its rules to allow this combination. EV customers on Intelligent Octopus Go can now also hold Outgoing Octopus for solar export.

What Happens If My Smart Meter Stops Sending Data?

Octopus’s export terms set out a fallback process: if half-hourly data is unavailable for more than 24 hours, they may use midnight snapshot readings or, in extended cases, the SEG rate as a billing basis.

Can I Switch to Outgoing Octopus If I Had My Solar Installed Years Ago?

Yes, provided your installation is MCS-certified, and you meet the eligibility criteria. You’ll not receive payment for exports made before your tariff registration is active.

What If I Want the Variable Half-Hourly Rate Instead?

That is Outgoing Agile. It tracks wholesale prices and changes every 30 minutes. The average rate over the 12 months to April 2026 was approximately 9.4p/kWh.

This is lower than the Outgoing Octopus flat rate on average, but with significant upside during peak periods if you have battery storage to time your exports.

Can I Export from A Battery on Outgoing Octopus?

Yes, battery export is permitted on Outgoing Octopus. However, if you have a compatible battery, Intelligent Octopus Flux is specifically designed to optimise battery charging and discharging cycles and will likely earn you more.

Sources and References

• National Energy System Operator (NESO) – Britain’s electricity system breaks zero-carbon record, as gas reaches historic low and solar hits historic high
• Octopus Energy – FAQs about Outgoing Octopus
• Octopus Energy – Export Tariffs – Terms & Conditions