Outgoing Octopus explained: flat, Prime and Agile export tariffs
Octopus's export tariffs side by side: a flat rate, an evening Prime rate and a wholesale-linked Agile rate, and how to choose with an EV.
Tariff facts, checked 28 October 2026
| Outgoing Octopus | Export tariff |
|---|---|
| Cheap rate | 12p/kWh for every unit exported |
| Times | Prime Outgoing pays 16p/kWh from 4pm to 7pm and 9p/kWh the rest of the day |
| You need | Solar or other generation, an export MPAN and a smart meter sending half-hourly export data |
Quick answers
- Outgoing Octopus pays a flat rate for every unit exported: 12p/kWh when we checked.
- Prime Outgoing pays more from 4pm to 7pm (16p/kWh) and less the rest of the day (9p/kWh).
- Agile Outgoing pays the day-ahead wholesale price for each half hour, uncapped.
- Getting an export MPAN from your network operator takes one to four weeks and is the slowest step.
If you generate electricity at home, usually from solar panels, Outgoing Octopus pays you for the surplus you send to the grid. There are three main versions.
The three versions
| Version | How it pays | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Outgoing Octopus | One flat rate for every unit (12p/kWh when we checked) | Solar without a battery; simplicity |
| Prime Outgoing | Higher rate 4pm to 7pm (16p), lower rate otherwise (9p) | Solar with a battery that can export in the evening |
| Agile Outgoing | Day-ahead wholesale price each half hour, uncapped | Batteries and automation; people who track prices |
Octopus also offers a Smart Export Guarantee tariff, which paid a much lower rate when we checked and carried a £100 exit fee.
How it fits with an EV tariff
Export and import are separate tariffs. Octopus says Outgoing works with Intelligent Octopus Go and with Octopus Go, but not every pairing is allowed, so check Octopus’s list for the combination you want.
With an EV tariff, compare your export rate with your cheap import rate. If you are paid more to export than you pay to import overnight, exporting solar by day and charging the car at night usually wins. Our EV and solar guide explains this.
How to apply
- Join Octopus for your import supply.
- Apply for Outgoing. Octopus processes your application in about two days and asks your network operator for an export MPAN.
- Wait for the MPAN (one to four weeks). This is the slowest part and out of Octopus’s hands.
- Enrolment (about five days). Octopus adds the export MPAN to your account and asks for a first reading.
- Payments start once Octopus is pulling half-hourly export data from your smart meter.
Things to check
- Your smart meter must send half-hourly export data. Almost all SMETS2 meters and most SMETS1 do.
- If your Feed-in Tariff payments started in the last 12 months, Octopus says FiT rules stop you switching to Outgoing yet.
- Using Octopus Power Pack? It is only for homes that do not already export from solar or a battery.
How we test and where our numbers come from
Tariff times, rules and rates come from Octopus Energy's own tariff pages and its public price API on the date shown. Off-peak rates quoted are national; day rates and standing charges vary by region, so check your postcode. EV Compared earns a referral reward if you switch through our Octopus links; it does not change what we write. Last checked 28 October 2026. How we work out our own figures.
Frequently asked questions
Which Outgoing tariff is best without a battery?
Usually the flat rate. Most solar is generated in the middle of the day, outside the 4pm to 7pm Prime window, so Prime's lower daytime rate would apply to most of your export.
Which is best with a home battery?
Prime or Agile Outgoing can earn more if your battery can hold solar back and export it in the early evening, when prices are highest.
Is there an exit fee?
Octopus says Prime and Agile Outgoing have no exit fees. The flat Outgoing rate is variable. Octopus's separate Smart Export Guarantee fix had a £100 exit fee when we checked.
Sources and further reading
- octopus.energyOctopus Energy: Outgoing OctopusFlat 12p; Prime 16p 4pm to 7pm and 9p otherwise; Agile uncapped day-ahead; application steps and timings; checked 28 October 2026
- api.octopus.energyOctopus price API: Outgoing OctopusFlat 12p/kWh on 28 October 2026
- api.octopus.energyOctopus price API: Prime Outgoing16p 16:00 to 19:00, 9p otherwise
- api.octopus.energyOctopus price API: Outgoing Smart Export Guarantee4.1p/kWh, £100 exit fee
EV Compared
The EV Compared editorial team tracks the UK electric vehicle market full time: new model launches, list prices, WLTP and real-world range, public charging tariffs and the tax rules that decide what an EV actually costs to run. Every guide is checked against manufacturer specifications and official GOV.UK figures, and updated whenever the numbers move.
Related reading
View all
EV Tariffs October 2026: Octopus, EDF and British Gas Off-Peak Rates
Intelligent Octopus Go is 8p per kWh, EDF GoElectric holds at 6.66p and British Gas EV Power sits at 9.5p. Here is what each costs, when you can charge and how to choose before winter.
How Much Does It Cost to Charge an EV at Home in the UK?
A full 60kWh charge costs around £14.80 on the standard rate or about £4.80 on an overnight EV tariff. Here is the maths, plus how to get the cheapest possible home charging cost.
How to Cut Your EV Charging Costs to Under 5p Per Mile
The tariffs, techniques and habits that get home charging below 5p per mile -- and sometimes well below