Understanding tariffs: Maximise your energy. Minimise your bills.
Understanding which energy tariff is right for your home or business can make a big difference to your bills, especially if you own an electric vehicle, have solar panels, or use battery storage. Below, we've outlined some of the most innovative and flexible tariffs currently available - each designed to help you take control of your energy usage, cut costs, and make smarter use of renewable power.
What are energy tariffs?
Energy tariffs define how much you pay per unit (kWh) of electricity or gas, and sometimes when you pay it. With the introduction of smart meters and the rise in renewable technologies like solar panels and battery storage, more advanced tariffs have emerged to reward smart usage and export back to the grid.
There are three common types of tariffs:
- Fixed or Standard Tariffs: You pay a set rate per kWh regardless of when you use electricity. These are straightforward but not always the most cost-efficient.
- Time-of-Use Tariffs: These charge different rates depending on the time of day, allowing you to benefit from cheaper electricity at night or when demand is low.
- Export Tariffs: If you generate your electricity (e.g. solar), these tariffs pay you for any excess energy exported back to the grid.
Octopus Go
Octopus Go is a popular electric vehicle (EV) tariff designed to offer super-low electricity prices overnight. Typically, customers get around four hours of very cheap electricity (usually between 00:30 and 04:30), making it ideal for charging an EV or running energy-hungry appliances during off-peak hours. The rest of the day is charged at a standard unit rate. The key benefit is significant cost savings for EV owners, but it can also suit solar battery owners looking to top-up overnight at low prices.
Octopus Flux
Octopus Flux is a smart export tariff ideal for solar and battery owners. It offers higher rates for exporting electricity back to the grid during peak times (usually in the evening) and lower import rates overnight. The tariff is time-of-use based, meaning import and export prices change depending on the time of day. This structure encourages users to consume energy when it is cheaper and export when demand (and payments) are higher, maximising the value of a home battery or solar setup.
Octopus Agile
Octopus Agile is a dynamic time-of-use tariff where electricity prices change every half hour based on wholesale market rates. This means prices can be extremely low (even negative at times) during high renewable generation and low demand periods, but can rise during peak usage. Agile is best suited to tech-savvy customers who can shift their usage to low-cost times, such as smart home users, solar battery owners, or those with automation tools.
Octopus Outgoing
Octopus Outgoing is a solar export tariff that pays customers for the electricity they send back to the grid. It can be paired with any import tariff and offers a simple flat rate (or variable rate via Outgoing Agile) for exported energy. It's a great option for solar panel owners not on a Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) deal or want a more competitive rate. It helps solar users get paid fairly for surplus energy while staying flexible with their import choices.
Eon Next Drive
E.ON Next Drive is a dual-rate tariff designed for electric vehicle owners. It offers cheaper electricity rates overnight (typically between midnight and 7am), allowing customers to charge their EVs at a much lower cost. The daytime rate is slightly higher than a standard tariff, but the savings can be substantial for those with EVs or battery systems that can use overnight charging. It's ideal for households looking to reduce the running costs of electric vehicles or shift some usage off-peak.
Why choosing the right tariff matters.
The right tariff can help you dramatically reduce your electricity bills and improve the return on investment for your solar or battery system. You could miss out on significant savings if you're on a standard tariff and charging your battery or EV during the day. Smart tariffs reward flexible usage and make clean energy even more beneficial.
