Outgoing Octopus is Octopus Energy’s simple flat-rate export tariff.
You currently receive 12p for every kWh of electricity you export to the grid, regardless of what time of day you export it. There are no peak periods to target and no half-hourly prices to follow.
It’s particularly straightforward for homes with solar panels that simply want to be paid for their excess electricity without having to manage when it is exported.
What you need to know about Outgoing Octopus
| What to know | Outgoing Octopus |
|---|---|
| Export rate | 12p/kWh |
| Rate type | Flat rate |
| Tariff type | Variable export tariff |
| Time restrictions | None |
| Smart meter required? | Yes |
| Battery required? | No |
| Standing charge | None |
| Best for | Simple, hands-off solar export |
| Last checked | 20 September 2026 |
Outgoing Octopus is a variable tariff, so the 12p/kWh rate is not guaranteed indefinitely. Octopus says it will give customers notice before changing the rate.
How does Outgoing Octopus work?
When your solar panels generate more electricity than your home is using, the surplus electricity can be sent back to the grid.
Outgoing Octopus pays you 12p/kWh for every unit exported.
There are no different time bands:
1pm = 12p/kWh
5pm = 12p/kWh
11pm = 12p/kWh
That makes it one of the simplest Octopus export tariffs.
If you have a battery, your solar will normally supply your home first, then charge the battery, with any remaining surplus exported once the battery is full.
How much could I get paid for exporting on Outgoing Octopus?
Because Outgoing Octopus pays the same rate throughout the day, it is easy to estimate how much your exported electricity could earn.
Every 100 kWh exported = £12
So:
| Annual export | Export payments at 12p/kWh |
|---|---|
| 500 kWh | £60 |
| 1,000 kWh | £120 |
| 2,000 kWh | £240 |
| 3,000 kWh | £360 |
| 4,000 kWh | £480 |
These figures only show export income. How much your solar installation saves overall also depends on how much solar electricity you generate and use directly in your home.
How do I get paid for exported electricity?
Your export earnings are added to your Octopus account as a credit on your monthly statement.
If Octopus also supplies your electricity, your statement shows both the electricity you’ve imported and the electricity you’ve exported. The value of your exported electricity is then credited against your account balance.
You can use that credit in a few different ways:
- Put it towards your energy bills – export credit helps offset what you owe for electricity and gas.
- Leave it on your account – you could build up credit during sunnier months and use it towards higher energy bills over winter.
- Request a refund – if your account is in credit and your meter readings are up to date, you can request some or all of the balance back through your Octopus account.
For example, if you earned £25 from solar export during a month, that £25 would be added to your Octopus account balance rather than being paid separately into your bank account each month.
Who is Outgoing Octopus best for?
Outgoing Octopus is particularly well suited to households that want a simple export tariff without having to change when they use or export electricity.
It can make sense if:
- you have solar panels but no battery;
- you don’t want to monitor changing export prices;
- your solar exports electricity throughout the day;
- you want to pair solar with an Octopus EV tariff;
- you prefer a predictable flat export rate.
Octopus itself describes Outgoing as best for customers who value simplicity.
Do you need a battery?
No.
Outgoing Octopus works perfectly well with solar panels on their own.
In fact, the flat 12p/kWh rate can be particularly useful without a battery because you don’t need to control when your surplus solar is exported.
If you do have a battery, however, it is worth comparing Outgoing with tariffs designed specifically around shifting electricity between different times of day.
Other Octopus solar export tariffs
Outgoing Octopus is only one of several Octopus export options.
Prime Outgoing Octopus
Prime Outgoing pays 16p/kWh between 4pm and 7pm and 9p/kWh at other times.
It is worth comparing if you have a battery and can deliberately move a large proportion of your export into the evening peak period.
Agile Outgoing Octopus
Agile Outgoing uses half-hourly export prices linked to day-ahead wholesale electricity prices.
It is aimed more at households with energy storage that are comfortable changing when they export electricity.
Octopus Flux
Octopus Flux combines import and export prices into a tariff specifically designed around solar panels and home batteries.
You get different rates at different times of day and can schedule your battery accordingly.
Intelligent Octopus Flux
Intelligent Octopus Flux goes a step further by allowing Octopus to automatically control a compatible battery’s charging and discharging.
It is currently temporarily unavailable to new customers.
Octopus SEG
If Octopus does not supply your electricity, its Smart Export Guarantee tariff currently pays 4.1p/kWh for exported electricity.
Unlike Outgoing Octopus, you can use Octopus SEG while keeping another supplier for your electricity import.
Can you use Outgoing Octopus with an EV tariff?
Yes.
Outgoing Octopus can currently be paired with both Octopus Go and Intelligent Octopus Go.
That makes it a particularly useful option for households with:
an EV + solar panels
because you can keep the cheap overnight EV charging offered by your import tariff while receiving 12p/kWh for surplus solar exported during the day.
What do you need to join Outgoing Octopus?
You’ll normally need:
- to be an Octopus Energy electricity customer;
- a compatible smart meter;
- half-hourly export readings;
- an export MPAN;
- eligible renewable generation capable of exporting to the grid.
Octopus can apply to your Distribution Network Operator for an export MPAN if you don’t already have one. The DNO stage typically takes around one to four weeks.
Octopus also allows some customers without an MCS or Flexi-Orb certificate to apply using alternative installation documents, although a fee applies for this route.
Is Outgoing Octopus worth it?
Outgoing Octopus’s main advantage is its simplicity.
You don’t need to predict wholesale electricity prices, programme your battery around different export periods or make sure electricity leaves your home at a particular time.
You simply receive 12p/kWh whenever you export.
For a straightforward solar-only home, that can make Outgoing one of the easiest Octopus export tariffs to understand and use.
If you have a battery, however, it is worth comparing Prime Outgoing, Agile Outgoing and Octopus Flux before deciding. Their more complicated pricing structures may create opportunities to earn more from electricity that you can store and export later.
How do I join Outgoing Octopus?
If you’re already an Octopus customer, you can apply for Outgoing Octopus once your solar or other eligible generation setup is ready.
If you’re with another supplier, Octopus currently requires you to switch your electricity import supply to Octopus before joining its main Outgoing tariff. Customers who want to keep another import supplier can instead use Octopus’s 4.1p/kWh SEG tariff.
Outgoing Octopus FAQs
What is the Outgoing Octopus rate?
Outgoing Octopus currently pays 12p/kWh for every unit of electricity exported to the grid.
Is the 12p rate fixed?
No. Outgoing Octopus is a variable tariff, so the export rate can change. Octopus says customers will receive notice before any change.
Does Outgoing Octopus have peak times?
No. The same 12p/kWh rate currently applies regardless of when you export electricity.
Do I need a battery?
No. Outgoing Octopus can be used with solar panels without battery storage.
Do I need a smart meter?
Yes. Octopus requires a compatible smart meter from which it can collect half-hourly export data.
Can I use Outgoing Octopus with Intelligent Octopus Go?
Yes. Outgoing Octopus is currently compatible with Intelligent Octopus Go.