Imagine a smart tariff optimised to help you get the most out of your solar panels and battery by automatically importing or exporting your energy at the best rates. That’s what you get with Intelligent Octopus Flux!
With solar panels, you can sell the extra energy you don’t use to the grid. Export payments through tariffs can influence how much you save using your solar panel system.
According to the Energy Savings Trust, annual savings can range from £310 to £690 depending on your location and how long you’re home.
Here’s everything you need to know about Intelligent Octopus Flux.
Quick Takeaways:
- Intelligent Octopus Flux offers a smart way to get the most from your solar and battery
- It’s optimised to provide you with the best rates for selling and using your energy
- The tariff is only compatible with GivEnergy batteries
- You must have a smart meter with half-hourly readings
What is Intelligent Octopus Flux?
Intelligent Octopus Flux (IOF) is a smart variable tariff with peak and off-peak pricing. It pairs with a compatible battery and optimises charging and discharging to help you save money and get the best returns.
With the tariff, you don’t have to schedule your battery manually. It automatically exports surplus energy when the export price is highest and charges your battery when it’s lowest. Since it’s a variable tariff, your price can rise and fall with the cost of wholesale energy.
How Does IOF Work?
IOF takes control of your battery to help reduce your net energy costs and ensure you’re getting the most from your solar. It intelligently splits your battery charging into two parts:
- Daytime or overtime charging — The battery will charge using the cheapest and greenest energy. Some energy comes from your solar and some from the grid. If it’s sunny, any excess solar is exported to the grid. Since import and export unit rates always match, your bill remains unaffected whether the battery is charged using solar or whether the solar supports the grid and the battery charges overnight.
- Afternoon discharging — The tariff has a peak rate from 4 to 7 p.m., making it the best time to discharge the battery and export surplus energy back to the grid.
How Do You Qualify for Intelligent Octopus Flux?
To be eligible for IOF, you’ll need to:
- Have a solar panel system and an eligible battery. Currently, IOF is only compatible with GivEnergy batteries.
- Have a smart meter that provides half-hourly readings. Half-hourly meter readings allow correct billing.
- Already be on an Octopus customer on an import and export tariff. You can sign up for either Octopus Flux or Octopus Outgoing if you’re not already on an Octopus export tariff.
- Have an iOS (v15.0 or later) or Android (v7 or later) smartphone or tablet. The Octopus Energy app allows you to manage your smart charging.
You can sign up for IOF through the dedicated page or app. Simply tap on the Intelligent Octopus button in the “Explore our labs” section and follow the instructions from Home Batteries.
After signing up and accepting the tariffs T&Cs, you’ll get a prompt to log in to your GivEnergy account. Enter the associated email and password, and IOF will connect to your battery directly.
Is Intelligent Octopus Flux Similar to Intelligent Octopus Go?
No. Intelligent Octopus Go allows you to choose or set your charge level when needed. IOF eliminates such hassles and sets target points based on the battery. These can vary throughout the year as the tariff accommodates changes in solar production.
IOF uses smart controls that calculate how much electricity your panels will produce daily based on weather forecasts. They also calculate how much energy your home will use to help you save the most money.
How Does it Differ from Octopus Flux?
With Octopus Flux, you must manually set your battery’s import and export times unless you own a Tesla Powerwall. IOF offers automated battery controls and eliminates the stress of scheduling your battery.
IOF also offers lower import rates than Octopus Flux and ensures your battery charges at the lowest prices. It changes your usage from peak times when the grid is under the most pressure, and you don’t have to worry about paying more for electricity than you receive when selling it.
You’ll also get higher export rates with IOF than with Octopus Flux. The rates peak between 4 and 7 pm. Exporting your surplus energy during these hours allows you to make the best returns from your stored sunshine.
What Rates Does IOF Offer?
The rates differ by region depending on how much Octopus pays for electricity. The table below shows the rates by region:
| Region | Day Import Rate (p/kWh) | Peak Import Rate (p/kWh) | Day Export Rate (p/kWh) | Peak Export Rate (p/kWh) |
| East England | 22.689 | 30.252 | 22.689 | 30.252 |
| East Midlands | 21.391 | 28.521 | 21.391 | 28.521 |
| London | 23.116 | 30.822 | 23.116 | 30.822 |
| North Wales | 22.848 | 30.464 | 22.848 | 30.464 |
| West Midlands | 21.448 | 28.598 | 21.448 | 28.598 |
| North East England | 20.867 | 27.823 | 20.867 | 27.823 |
| North West England | 22.511 | 30.014 | 22.511 | 30.014 |
| Southern England | 22.155 | 29.540 | 22.155 | 29.540 |
| South East England | 22.712 | 30.282 | 22.712 | 30.282 |
| South Wales | 22.043 | 29.391 | 22.043 | 29.391 |
| South West England | 21.766 | 29.021 | 21.766 | 29.021 |
| Yorkshire | 21.156 | 28.208 | 21.156 | 28.208 |
| South and Central Scotland | 21.560 | 28.747 | 21.560 | 28.747 |
| North Scotland | 22.460 | 29.946 | 22.460 | 29.946 |
As shown above, you’ll get the same amount for your exported electricity per kilowatt hour as you pay for importing electricity at any given time. The off-peak rates are usually one-third more than the off-peak or day rates.
How Do You Become an Octopus Customer?
Signing up for Octopus is fast and easy, and you don’t have to worry about engineer or installer visits or disruptions to your supply. You can get a quote in minutes by completing an online application form.
You’ll need to fill in information like your location, whether you want electricity alone or electricity plus gas, and your household energy usage. Octopus will not charge you extra to install a smart meter if you need one.
You’ll need to provide various documents, including:
- Your system’s Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) or Flexi Orb certificate. These allow you to qualify for export tariff schemes.
- A G98 or G99 application. A successful G99 application provides permission from your Distribution Network Operator (DNO), allowing you to export excess electricity to the grid. The DNO is the organisation that runs the hardware supplying electricity to your region.
Octopus processes your application within two days and applies to your DNO for an export Meter Point Administration Number (MPAN). The MPAN is a unique 13-digit number that identifies your smart meter. The DNO will provide the MPAN within one to four weeks.
The number will be added to your Octopus account. After you provide the initial meter reading, Octopus will connect to your smart meter, and you can start receiving payments for your exports. Once the export is set up, you can switch to IOF through the app.
How Does Octopus Guarantee Fast and Reliable Switching?
Octopus is a member of the Energy Switch Guarantee. It allows you to switch confidently and ensures the process is fast, simple, and safe. Octopus commits to delivering a series of targets and standards by being a member. These include:
- Allowing you to switch to a new tariff within five working days. You can be on a new tariff and start paying the new rates within a week, whether changing suppliers or simply switching to a new one.
- Octopus handles the entire transfer between suppliers or tariffs. You don’t have to do anything. Octopus will get in touch if they need more information.
- Having the reassurance that Octopus will handle and resolve any issues efficiently and swiftly.
- If you change your mind within 14 days, you can remain with your existing provider or tariff and get a refund of any due credit.
Members sign up for the guarantee voluntarily and commit to driving up their standards and complying with the spirit of the guarantee. It applies to any household in Britain that is switching suppliers or tariffs with member companies.
How Does IOF Connect to Your Battery, and Does it Impact the Lifespan?
IOF connects to your GivEnergy battery after you sign up. Accept the tariff terms and conditions, and you’ll get a prompt to log in to your GivEnergy account. Enter the associated email and password, and IOF will connect to your battery directly.
The tariff’s charging plan will not harm your battery or its lifespan. It works like regular charging, and batteries are designed to handle such patterns. Batteries controlled through the tariff are set to discharge to a minimum of 20%, but it can vary throughout the year.
What Can You Do with Intelligent Octopus Flux App?
The app allows you to switch tariffs and track what’s happening quickly. You can check the battery’s status and determine whether it’s charging using solar energy or discharging to the grid or your home.
You can also use the app to disconnect your battery from Octopus, but this will eliminate smart charging. Keeping IOF connected is recommended to ensure you get the most out of your solar and reduce your energy costs. You can reconnect your battery by simply adding it through the devices tab.
Final Thoughts
Intelligent Octopus Flux is one of the best tariffs if you have installed a solar system and battery. It allows you to profit from your storage and excess energy while helping you reduce pressure on the grid.
Sources and References
- https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/advice/solar-panels/