Ecotricity vs Octopus Energy for Solar Export: Which Pays More?
Both Ecotricity and Octopus Energy pay solar households for the electricity they export to the grid under the Smart Export Guarantee, but the rates, the strings attached and the payment terms differ. Here is a side-by-side comparison from a solar owner's perspective: who pays more, who pays faster, and which suits which household.
Last verified 6 June 2026
Fact-checked by John Rooney, Solar Energy Editor. Editorial policy
Quick Answer
Ecotricity pays the higher export rate at 16p/kWh versus Octopus Energy at 12p/kWh for an import customer. For a typical home exporting 2,000 kWh a year, that is about £80 more per year. But the cheaper headline rate isn't always the wrong call: the rate open to non-customers, payment speed and import prices can offset it.
Ecotricity vs Octopus Energy at a Glance
| Feature | Ecotricity | Octopus Energy |
|---|---|---|
| Best export rate | 16p/kWh | Up to 12p/kWh flat |
| Rate open to any import supplier | – | 4.1p/kWh |
| Payment frequency | Quarterly (within 10 working days of invoice) | Monthly bill credit |
| Time-of-use option | No | Yes |
| Customer base | ~200,000 | ~7 million UK accounts |
| Parent company | Ecotricity Group (privately owned, founder Dale Vince) | Octopus Energy Group (UK-owned) |
| Annual export earnings (2,000 kWh, import customer) | £320 | £240 |
Export Rate: Ecotricity vs Octopus Energy
Ecotricity
16p/kWh
16p/kWh, variable, no fixed term or exit fees. Exclusive to Ecotricity import customers.
Read full Ecotricity review →Octopus Energy
Up to 12p/kWh flat
Time-of-use export, peaking in the 4pm to 7pm window (the highest export prices on the UK market). Needs a home battery and an Octopus import tariff, so the headline peak rate is not a flat figure everyone gets.
Read full Octopus Energy review →For an import customer, Ecotricity wins by 4.0p/kWh. On a typical home exporting around 2,000 kWh per year, that adds up to £80 per year in extra export earnings. If you would rather not switch your import supplier, compare the 'open to all' rates above instead.
Earnings by System Size
| System | Annual export | Ecotricity | Octopus Energy | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 kWp (8 panels) | 1,600 kWh | £256 | £192 | £64 |
| 4.5 kWp (10-11 panels) | 2,000 kWh | £320 | £240 | £80 |
| 5.4 kWp (12-13 panels) | 2,400 kWh | £384 | £288 | £96 |
| 6.4 kWp (14-15 panels) | 2,900 kWh | £464 | £348 | £116 |
| 5.4 kWp + battery | 1,400 kWh | £224 | £168 | £56 |
Verdict: Ecotricity or Octopus Energy?
Ecotricity offers the higher flat rate, Octopus the more flexible setup. Ecotricity pays 16p to its import customers with no battery or install needed, beating Octopus's flat 12p. But Octopus pays monthly versus Ecotricity's quarterly, and its Flux time-of-use tariff can beat both if you have a battery. For a simple high flat rate, Ecotricity; for battery owners or those wanting monthly credit, Octopus.
Whichever you pick, also weigh the import unit rate, the payment cadence, and whether you are willing to switch your import supply. SEG income is rarely the deciding factor on its own. See our full SEG rate comparison.
Who Should Pick Which
Pick Ecotricity if...
Ecotricity wins for a no-battery home that wants a high flat rate and green credentials, since its 16p import-customer rate far exceeds Octopus's flat 12p and funds new renewables.
Read the full Ecotricity review →Pick Octopus Energy if...
Octopus wins if you have a battery and can run Intelligent Octopus Flux to beat any flat rate at the 4pm to 7pm peak, and its monthly credit is faster than Ecotricity's quarterly payment.
Read the full Octopus Energy review →Frequently Asked Questions
Who pays more for solar export, Ecotricity or Octopus Energy?
Ecotricity pays 16p/kWh versus Octopus Energy at 12p/kWh for an import customer, a difference of about £80 per year on a typical home exporting 2,000 kWh.
Can I use Ecotricity or Octopus Energy for export without switching my import supplier?
Ecotricity: its best rate requires taking it for import. Octopus Energy: yes, its open rate is 4.1p/kWh. In the UK your export supplier can always differ from your import supplier.
Is Ecotricity's 16p better than Octopus for a home without a battery?
For a flat-rate, no-battery home, yes: Ecotricity pays 16p to its import customers while Octopus's flat Outgoing rate is 12p (the standalone SEG is just 4.1p). Octopus only pulls ahead once you add a battery and use its time-of-use Intelligent Flux tariff.
Does Octopus or Ecotricity pay export sooner?
Octopus pays monthly bill credit, the fastest cadence on the market. Ecotricity pays quarterly, within 10 working days of invoice. So even where Ecotricity's flat rate is higher, Octopus returns your money roughly three times more often.
How often does Ecotricity pay SEG?
Ecotricity pays export credit quarterly (within 10 working days of invoice).
How often does Octopus Energy pay SEG?
Octopus Energy pays export credit monthly bill credit.
Is SEG income taxable?
For a typical household, SEG income is not taxable provided you are not generating significantly more than you consume, and the £1,000 trading allowance covers most owners. Check whether you need to declare it if your side income exceeds £1,000 in a tax year.
Sources
- Ecotricity, ecotricity.co.uk
- Octopus Energy, octopus.energy
- Ofgem, Smart Export Guarantee, ofgem.gov.uk
Last verified: 6 June 2026
Fact-checked by John Rooney, Solar Energy Editor. Editorial policy
John Rooney is the founder of Solar Info and has been covering the UK solar energy market since 2023. He researches every battery and inverter brand against manufacturer datasheets, MCS and Ofgem data, and feedback from the MCS-certified installers in our directory before publishing.
Compare All SEG Rates
Ecotricity and Octopus Energy are two of the ten UK suppliers we track for solar export. See how all of them rank on our full comparison.