Best Electricity Tariffs for Solar Owners
Want to know what system suits this tariff?
Export tariffs pay very differently depending on your system size and whether you have a battery. See what setup would actually earn you the most at your home.
Size a System for This TariffFree. Uses your postcode and usage — no phone number needed.
What is the best electricity tariff for solar panels?
Solar panel owners should switch from flat-rate tariffs to time-of-use tariffs. Best options: Octopus Go (7.5p/kWh overnight — ideal for EV + solar), Octopus Flux (peak export at 24p — ideal for battery + solar), or Octopus Agile (half-hourly pricing — for advanced users). Separately, choose the best SEG tariff for exports (can be a different supplier). The right tariff combination adds £200–£520/year to your solar savings — the single easiest way to increase returns.
Tariff Options for Solar Owners
Your electricity tariff (import) and SEG tariff (export) can be with DIFFERENT suppliers. Optimise each separately:
Import tariffs ranked for solar owners:
| Tariff | Best For | Overnight Rate | Day Rate | Peak Rate | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Octopus Flux | Battery owners | ~10p | ~26p | ~36p | Peak export 24p |
| Octopus Go | EV owners | 7.5p | ~26.11p | N/A | Cheapest overnight |
| Octopus Agile | Advanced users | Variable | Variable | Variable | Half-hourly pricing |
| Standard variable | No battery/EV | N/A | ~26.11p | N/A | Simple, no optimisation |
SEG tariffs ranked (export income):
| Supplier | Fixed SEG Rate | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| British Gas | 5.6p | Highest fixed rate |
| E.ON Next | 5.5p | Close second |
| Octopus (Flux export) | 8–24p variable | Battery owners on Flux |
| EDF | 5.0p | Good fixed rate |
Source: Supplier published rates March 2026.
Which Tariff Suits Your Setup?
Want to know what system suits this tariff?
Export tariffs pay very differently depending on your system size and whether you have a battery. See what setup would actually earn you the most at your home.
Size a System for This TariffSolar only (no battery, no EV): - Import: Standard variable or Octopus Go (if you can shift some consumption overnight) - Export: British Gas SEG (5.6p) or E.ON (5.5p) - Extra savings vs flat tariff: £0–£100/year
Solar + battery: - Import: Octopus Flux (export stored solar at 24p during peak, recharge at 10p overnight) - Export: Flux export rates are built into the tariff - Extra savings vs flat tariff: £300–£520/year
Solar + EV (no battery): - Import: Octopus Go (7.5p overnight EV charging) - Export: British Gas SEG (5.6p) separately - Extra savings vs flat tariff: £200–£400/year (mainly from cheap EV charging)
Solar + battery + EV: - Import: Octopus Flux (peak export + cheap overnight for both battery and EV) - Export: Flux export rates built in - Extra savings vs flat tariff: £400–£700/year
Source: Tariff modelling; solar + battery + EV optimisation.
How to Switch
Switching tariffs is free and takes 5 minutes:
- Compare tariffs at octopus.energy, britishgas.co.uk, or eon.co.uk
- You need a smart meter for all time-of-use tariffs (free from your supplier)
- Import tariff and SEG tariff can be with different suppliers — optimise each independently
- No exit fees on most variable tariffs — switch whenever a better deal appears
- GivEnergy inverters have built-in Flux/Go modes — switch tariff and the inverter auto-optimises
- Check rates every 6 months — suppliers adjust SEG and import rates regularly
Frequently Asked Questions
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Want to know what system suits this tariff?
Export tariffs pay very differently depending on your system size and whether you have a battery. See what setup would actually earn you the most at your home.
Size a System for This TariffFree. Uses your postcode and usage — no phone number needed.