For people who are on the old style Feed In Tarriff

[MikeGrahamT21]

Morning All,

 

So I'm on the feed in tarriff as i'm sure many of you are, from around 2016 time.

 

Majority of us, me included would be on a deemed 50% export rate of around 5p/kWh.

 

Obviously there is also the newer SEG which was introduced, and Octopus Energy take that even further by paying a fixed 15p/kWh or an agile rate based upon market rates. Now up until recently, I thought if you were to move to the SEG, you would have to give up your Feed In Tarriff, which would have been a big no-no, however I have since learned that you can split off your Export, leaving your Generation Tarriff fully intact. So I have signed up for Octopus Outgoing Agile, and they are currently creating me a new unique MPAN for export only. I'll give Agile a shot, and if it doesn't pay, i'll go for the fixed rate.

 

Even with the battery storage i'm still exporting a lot, so this should pay dividends.

 

Not sure if this is common knowlegde, or if i'm just a bit late to the party. 

 

https://octopus.energy/outgoing/

 

From their blog:

Under FiT guidelines, you get paid for being a generator, and paid for whatever you export.

You won’t be able to receive FiT export payments whilst also being on the Outgoing Octopus tariff. However, you will still be able to receive your generation payments. When you sign up to the Outgoing Octopus, you will be required to opt out of your deemed export payments from your existing FiT supplier (but there’s no requirement to switch your FiT contract to Octopus.)

For new installations (that is, after the FiT closure date of 1/4/2019) we’ll still require a copy of your Microgeneration Certificate Scheme (MSC) certification in order to get you onto the tariff.

 

50% Deemed was one option under FiT for getting paid for your export. This is often the case where an export meter wasn’t fitted and so it is was assumed that 50% of the solar energy generated would be exported (the other 50% being consumed). This is calculated from the installed potential output of the solar panels at the time of install. You may find you are still better off keeping the Deemed 50% than switching to Outgoing Octopus - for example if in fact you are exporting only 20%, or if the solar panels aren’t optimally oriented to supply the potential output or have deteriorated over several years. As the FiT Export rate is now 5.38pence and our flat rate is 15 pence then you are better off with Outgoing Octopus if (average over the year) you export more than around 50% of the installed capability.

 

Hope this helps someone out there!

[Ronski]

I'm not sure if common knowledge or not, but it is something I am aware of and need to consider once my additional array and battery system is up and running.

 

Another little known fact is that you can also alter an original FITS system and still keep the FITS payment, but it will be adjusted to reflect your original system size, so if you doubled the size, you'd get payments based on 50% of your generation. Not sure how you go about doing it though, or what paperwork etc is required.

 

 

Edited January 19, 2023 by Ronski

[Fly100]

Doesnt work for me ( if it was 20p it be close) as we have Solar Immersion unit. Excess goes to the DHW tank and save us having oil boiler on in the summer for DHW.

[MikeGrahamT21]

4 hours ago, Ronski said:

I'm not sure if common knowledge or not, but it is something I am aware of and need to consider once my additional array and battery system is up and running.

 

Another little known fact is that you can also alter an original FITS system and still keep the FITS payment, but it will be adjusted to reflect your original system size, so if you doubled the size, you'd get payments based on 50% of your generation. Not sure how you go about doing it though, or what paperwork etc is required.

 

 

I’ve heard people say this before, when I submit my readings I have to agree that no changes have taken place, but I did ask the question about moving solar panels to another orientation years ago and was told as long as it’s on the same MPAN and that doesn’t change then it’s all OK, it was all a bit grey area so decided not to bother in the end, plus the fact it was going to be £1000 to do the works

[NSS]

Thanks @MikeGrahamT21, interesting stuff. Our PV was commissioned at a similar time/rate. Until recently we've had no idea how much of what we generate is actually exported, but suspect it's less than 50%. We now have that ability so i'll watch with interest as the year progresses 👍🏼

[Dillsue]

1 hour ago, MikeGrahamT21 said:

I’ve heard people say this before, when I submit my readings I have to agree that no changes have taken place, but I did ask the question about moving solar panels to another orientation years ago and was told as long as it’s on the same MPAN and that doesn’t change then it’s all OK, it was all a bit grey area so decided not to bother in the end, plus the fact it was going to be £1000 to do the works

Alterations are allowable and covered in OFGEMs updated FIT rules https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/feed-tariffs-fit-decision-replacement-generating-equipment