You’ve forked out for solar panels, so naturally you’d rather not give spare electricity away for free. That’s where Outgoing Octopus comes in - an export tariff that actually pays you for the electricity you send back to the grid.
- What is Outgoing Octopus?
- How does Outgoing Octopus work?
- What’s the difference between Outgoing Octopus and Outgoing Agile?
- How much can you earn with Outgoing Octopus?
- Who is eligible for Outgoing Octopus?
- Is Outgoing Octopus worth it?
- Is Outgoing Octopus better than other Smart Export Guarantee tariffs?
- Can you combine Outgoing Octopus with other Octopus tariffs?
- Outgoing Octopus and battery storage: good match or not?
In this guide, we’ll break down exactly how it works, the latest rates as of March 2026, who it’s right for, how much you could realistically earn, and whether it’s actually better than the alternatives.
No waffle, no fluff, no pushy sales talk - just clear, straight-talking advice for normal UK homeowners.
🔑 Quick lowdown on Outgoing Octopus:
It pays you for surplus electricity exported to the grid (usually from solar panels)
Mainly for homes with solar, though battery owners can join too
Two main options: a steady flat rate or a variable Agile version that follows wholesale prices
You’ll need a smart meter (Octopus will sort one if you don’t have it)
Earnings depend on how much you export - more solar + less daytime use = bigger cheques
Pairing with battery storage can change the maths (in a good way)
Find out how much you can expect to pay with Octopus and sign up via this link to receive £50 credit.
What is Outgoing Octopus?
Outgoing Octopus is Octopus Energy’s range of export tariffs.
It sits on the export side of your energy account, completely separate from what you pay to import electricity.
Think of it like this: your solar panels make free power.
You use what you need at home first. Anything left over gets pushed out to the grid - and Octopus pays you for it. Simple.
It’s not the old Feed-in Tariff (that ended years ago).
This is the modern Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) done properly, with proper rates instead of the bare-minimum 1p some suppliers still offer.
How does Outgoing Octopus work?
Here’s the whole thing in simple step-by-step form:
Your solar panels generate electricity.
Your home uses what it needs first - kettle, fridge, lights, the lot.
Anything left over is sent back to the grid automatically.
A smart meter tracks exactly how much you export.
Octopus credits your account based on that reading, usually every month or so.
After setup, it’s basically hands-off. You generate power, export the excess, and keep an eye on the pounds rolling in via the app.
You’ll need a smart meter that can measure exports, but that’s usually not a problem.
Most newer meters can, and if yours can’t, Octopus will normally sort a free upgrade.
What’s the difference between Outgoing Octopus and Outgoing Agile?
Octopus gives you two main export options: one simple, one a bit more hands-on.
Outgoing Octopus is the flat-rate tariff. As of March 2026, it pays 12p per kWh exported, down from 15p on 1 March.
You get the same rate all day, every day, which makes it predictable and easy. No surprises, no app-watching, no messing about. For most people, it’s the straightforward option.
Outgoing Agile is more variable. The rate changes every half-hour based on wholesale electricity prices, with tomorrow’s prices published the day before.
Sometimes that works in your favour, especially during the evening peak when demand is high. Sometimes it doesn’t.
Rates can fall below 12p per kWh during cheaper periods, but they can also jump above it when supply is tight. There’s no cap, and no guaranteed comfort blanket either.
So, which should you pick?
Flat rate is best if you want peace of mind. Agile is better if you like a bit of optimisation, don’t mind checking the app, or have a battery that lets you export when the prices are strongest.
How much can you earn with Outgoing Octopus?
Let’s keep it real: nobody’s funding an early retirement off solar export payments alone.
A typical 4kW solar system in the UK generates roughly 3,400 to 4,000 kWh a year.
Without a battery, most households will export around 1,200 to 1,800 kWh of that, with the rest used in the home during the day.
At today’s 12p per kWh flat rate, that means roughly £144 to £216 a year back in your pocket.
With Outgoing Agile, you might earn more or less depending on when you export. Some months, average returns can sit around 8p to 10p per kWh.
Other times, they can climb higher if you’re exporting during the pricier evening slots.
If you add a battery, your export payments will usually drop, because you’re keeping more of your solar power for yourself.
But your total savings often improve, because it’s usually better to avoid buying pricey electricity later than to sell your spare power for 12p.
In the end, it comes down to balance.
The sunnier and less shaded your roof is, the more you’ll generate. The more you use at home, or store for later, the less you’ll export. And that’s exactly how it should work.
Who is eligible for Outgoing Octopus?
It’s all pretty straightforward. You’ll usually be eligible if you have:
Solar panels, battery storage, or another low-carbon setup that exports electricity to the grid
A smart meter, or you’re happy to have one fitted
An export MPAN, which Octopus will usually sort for you in around 2 to 6 weeks
An Octopus import tariff, either already in place or set up as part of the switch
There is one catch: if you’ve been paid export under the old Feed-in Tariff within the last 12 months, you won’t be able to join just yet.
If you’re with a different supplier now, that’s not a big problem. You can switch your import to Octopus and add Outgoing at the same time, with very little hassle.
Is Outgoing Octopus worth it?
For most solar owners, yes - it’s well worth having.
If you’re exporting a meaningful amount during the day, 12p per kWh is decent money for electricity you’d otherwise get nothing for.
It makes the most sense if:
Your system is generating well and exporting plenty
You don’t want the hassle of chasing half-hourly rates
You like the simplicity of one steady export price
It’s a bit less exciting if you already self-consume 80% to 90% of your generation, which is pretty common with a battery and smart EV charging in the mix.
In that case, the export payments are smaller - but that’s usually because you’re already getting more value by using your own power instead of selling it back.
Is Outgoing Octopus better than other Smart Export Guarantee tariffs?
Usually, yes.
Plenty of suppliers offer basic SEG rates in the 4p to 8p per kWh range.
Some advertise 15p+, which sounds great until you read the small print. Often, those deals only apply on certain import tariffs, during certain hours, or with extra conditions bolted on.
By comparison, Octopus’s 12p flat Outgoing rate is one of the stronger no-nonsense options around. And if you go for Outgoing Agile, it can beat almost everything else when wholesale prices surge.
One thing to note: you don’t need to be on an Octopus import tariff for their standard SEG rate, but you do if you want the proper Outgoing tariffs.
Their app is solid too, which does matter more than suppliers like to admit - clear export graphs, simple tracking, and monthly statements that don’t make your eyes bleed.
Final verdict - it’s one of the best all-round export options right now, especially if you care more about a strong, reliable rate than trying to game every half-hour slot.
For those of you who are ready to take the plunge, visit Octopus Energy's website to check your eligibility and current rates in your area.
Can you combine Outgoing Octopus with other Octopus tariffs?
Yes - and honestly, this is one of the best bits.
You can pair Outgoing Octopus with several other Octopus tariffs, including:
Intelligent Octopus Go - ideal for EV owners
Standard import tariffs
Tracker
Some of Octopus’s other smart tariffs
In other words, you can charge your car on the cheap overnight, use your solar during the day, and still get paid properly for any spare electricity you export.
There used to be a few annoying restrictions around combining export with certain EV tariffs, but Octopus has ironed most of that out now.
So these days, you can build a setup that’s actually quite smart: cheap overnight import, decent daytime export, and far less wasted solar.
Outgoing Octopus and battery storage: good match or not?
It depends what you care about most.
A battery lets you store your spare daytime solar and use it later in the evening, instead of exporting it for 12p per kWh. And on paper, that often wins.
Why? Because that same stored unit could save you 25p to 35p later, when you’d otherwise be buying electricity from the grid.
So yes, a battery will usually reduce your export payments, because you’re sending less back. But it can also boost your overall savings by a fair margin, because self-use is often worth more than export.
Some people would rather keep things simple and export the spare. Others want to hang on to as much solar as possible and use it themselves.
Both approaches are perfectly valid - it just depends on your lifestyle, your usage patterns, and whether you want simplicity or optimisation.
At Heatable, we fit solar and batteries together all the time, and we help customers run the numbers properly so they end up with the setup that suits them, not just the one that sounds good on paper.
Final verdict
Outgoing Octopus is still one of the strongest and simplest ways to get paid for surplus solar.
The 12p flat-rate tariff is easy to understand and easy to live with, while Outgoing Agile gives more hands-on households a chance to earn more when export prices spike.
If you’re exporting a decent amount, it’s absolutely worth considering.
Just don’t lose sight of the bigger picture: the real savings usually come from using your own solar first, not exporting every last unit.
Export payments are the bonus. Self-consumption is where the heavier lifting happens.
And because Octopus has already changed the rates in March 2026, it’s worth checking the latest terms on their site before you go ahead.
Next Steps For Your Solar Journey:
When planning to install solar panels for your home, there are several important factors to consider. Make sure to refer to the following guides to help you make informed decisions:
To dive deeper into these topics, head over to our advice section, check out our YouTube channel for informative videos, or read a customer case study to see how others have benefited from their solar installation.
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