Switching energy supplier is no longer just about finding the cheapest unit rate. For homeowners with solar panels or a solar PV system with battery storage, the right energy tariff and export tariff can dramatically increase your savings, improve the return on investment and unlock the true value of your solar and battery storage.
At SolarTherm UK, we regularly see customers saving more by optimising their tariff than by changing their hardware. This guide explains how switching works, the different types of energy tariffs and – most importantly – how to choose the best import and export tariffs for solar energy, with real examples from Octopus Energy.
What Do You Need to Switch Energy Supplier?
Before switching, gather the following information from a recent energy bill or your supplier’s app:
- Your current energy supplier
- Your current tariff name
- Your annual electricity usage (kWh)
- Whether you have solar panels and battery storage
- Your smart meter status (important for export tariffs)
- How you currently pay (direct debit, monthly, quarterly)
- Your postcode
If you have a solar PV system, it’s also useful to know:
- Your annual solar generation
- Whether you currently receive SEG (Smart Export Guarantee) payments
How to Switch Energy Supplier: Step by Step
1. Compare Energy Tariffs (Import and Export)
When comparing energy tariffs for a home with solar panels, look beyond the headline electricity price. The cheapest import tariff is not necessarily the best overall option once your solar export payments and household energy use are considered.
Compare the following:
- Import unit rate: How much you pay for each unit of electricity taken from the grid.
- Standing charge: The daily cost of maintaining your electricity supply, regardless of how much electricity you use.
- Export rate: How much you receive for each unit of surplus solar electricity exported to the grid.
- Annual electricity consumption: How much electricity you buy from your supplier over a typical year.
- Annual solar exports: How much surplus electricity you expect to sell rather than use or store.
- Battery and EV compatibility: Whether the tariff works with your battery storage system, electric vehicle or charging schedule.
- Contract terms: Any exit fees, minimum contract periods or restrictions on changing tariffs.
- Meter and eligibility requirements: Whether you have the equipment and documentation required for the import and export tariffs.
For a fair comparison, estimate the total annual cost of imported electricity, add standing charges, and subtract expected export payments. Compare this figure across tariffs using realistic assumptions about your household’s electricity use.
A tariff with a higher export rate may not be the best choice if you export relatively little electricity or pay considerably more for the electricity you import.
2. Apply for the New Tariff
You can switch online or by phone. Your new supplier will manage the switch with your existing provider.
- Switching usually completes within 5 working days
- Record your meter reading around the switch date
- If you’re on a fixed tariff check for exit fees
- Standard Variable Tariffs (SVT) have no exit fees
For export tariffs, suppliers may request:
- Proof of MCS certification and DNO approval
- Confirmation of smart meter installation
3. Cooling Off Period
All energy switches come with a 14 day cooling off period, starting the day after your contract begins. You can cancel without penalty during this time.
What Happens to Your Solar Export Payments When You Switch Supplier?
Switching your electricity supplier does not automatically mean you have to change your solar panel system or lose the right to receive payments for surplus electricity. However, your import tariff and solar export tariff are separate arrangements, so it is important to check how each will be affected before switching.
If you receive payments through the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), check whether your existing export agreement will remain in place or whether you need to register with a new export tariff provider.
Before completing your switch:
- Check your existing SEG agreement: Review the terms of your export tariff, including any notice requirements or conditions for leaving.
- Confirm your new export tariff: Ask the new supplier whether it accepts your existing solar installation and what documentation it requires.
- Check whether you can keep separate suppliers: Some providers allow you to import electricity from one supplier while receiving solar export payments from another.
- Keep your installation documents: You may need your MCS certificate, commissioning information and relevant DNO notification or approval.
- Confirm your meter arrangements: Check that your meter can record exported electricity and that your new export provider can obtain the readings it needs.
Do not assume that switching your import supplier automatically transfers your export agreement. Confirm the arrangements with both providers and check when any new export payments will begin.
Taking these steps before switching can help you avoid unnecessary delays to your solar export payments.
Understanding the Different Types of Energy Tariff (and What’s Best for Solar)
Standard Variable Tariff (SVT)
Good for: flexibility
Watch out for: higher prices and limited solar optimisation
SVTs are capped by Ofgem but rarely offer competitive export rates. They are usually the least effective option for solar PV owners.
Fixed Rate Tariff
Good for: price certainty
Watch out for: exit fees and poor export options
Some fixed tariffs offer stable import prices but limited flexibility for solar and battery users.
Dual Fuel Tariffs
Good for: simplicity
Watch out for: not always cheaper
Having gas and electricity with one supplier can be convenient, but solar savings come almost entirely from electricity tariffs – especially export.
Time of Use Tariffs for Solar and Battery Storage
Good for: maximising solar and battery savings
Watch out for: higher peak rates
Time of use tariffs reward households that can shift energy usage away from peak demand periods. When paired with battery storage, they are often the most cost effective option for solar owners.
Solar Export Tariffs Explained
If you generate more electricity than you use, your solar system will export the surplus back to the grid. Export tariffs pay you for this electricity.
Types of Export Tariffs:
- Flat rate export: same price per kWh at all times
- Time variable export: higher payments during peak grid demand
- Linked import/export tariffs: designed specifically for solar and battery systems
Octopus Energy Tariff Examples for Solar Homes
Outgoing Octopus (SEG Export Tariff)
- Pays a flat export rate per kWh
- No requirement to import electricity from Octopus
- Ideal for homeowners without battery storage
Best for: simple solar PV systems exporting excess energy
Octopus Flux (Import and Export Tariff)
- Designed specifically for solar and battery storage systems
- Cheaper import rates off peak
- Encourages charging batteries overnight and exporting during the evening peak
Best for: homes with solar panels and battery storage looking to actively manage energy flows
Octopus Agile (Advanced Users)
- Half hourly pricing based on wholesale energy markets
- Prices can drop very low – or rise sharply
- Works best with automation and battery storage
Best for: tech savvy households with smart energy management systems.
How to Lower Your Energy Bills Without Switching Supplier
Pay By Direct Debit
Usually cheaper and spreads costs evenly across the year.
Go Paperless
Lower admin costs and reduced environmental impact.
Speak to Your Supplier
Many suppliers can move you to a better tariff without switching.
Reduce Import with Solar and Battery Storage
The biggest long term savings come from:
- Using more of your own solar energy
- Storing surplus generation
- Exporting at the highest tariff rates
- Importing at the lowest tariff prices
Am I Protected by the Energy Price Cap?
The Ofgem energy price cap applies to standard variable tariffs in England, Scotland and Wales. It limits unit rates but does not guarantee the cheapest bills, nor does it protect export payments.
Why Solar and the Right Tariff Matters More Than Ever
A solar PV system is only as good as the tariff it runs on. The right combination of solar panels, battery storage, smart import tariff and competitive export tariff can reduce grid reliance, stabilise bills and significantly improve payback.
At SolarTherm UK, we don’t just install solar systems, we help customers to understand how to make them work smarter for decades to come.
Contact SolarTherm UK today for a free, no obligation quote and design, tailored to your property, usage and future energy needs. No hard sell, just honest, expert advice – and the time you need to make an informed decision.
Your home. Your energy. Your future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. You can switch your electricity supplier while keeping your existing solar PV system. Before switching, check whether your current Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) agreement will continue or whether you need to arrange a new export tariff.
Not necessarily. Your export agreement may be separate from your electricity import contract. Check the terms of your existing export tariff and confirm the arrangements with your current and new providers before switching.
Yes. Some suppliers allow you to purchase electricity from one company while receiving payments for surplus solar electricity from another. Check the eligibility requirements and terms of both agreements.
Compare the electricity import rate, standing charge, export rate, contract terms and any exit fees. If you have a battery or electric vehicle, also consider off-peak rates and whether the tariff suits your energy usage.
You do not necessarily need a smart meter simply to switch electricity supplier. However, a compatible meter is generally required for accurate export readings and many specialist solar export tariffs. Check the requirements of your chosen provider.
Many straightforward domestic energy switches complete within five working days, although the timing can vary. If you receive solar export payments, check separately when your new export agreement will become active.
