Understanding Your Tariff: Making the Most of Your System This Winter


So, you’ve just had your new renewable energy system installed, whether that’s solar panels, a home battery, or both. First off, congratulations! You’ve taken a big step toward energy independence and long-term savings.

Now that your system is up and running, it’s worth taking a little time to understand how your energy tariff works because the tariff you’re on is just as important as the technology you’ve chosen.

Over the summer, you’ll probably have seen your solar panels generating plenty of energy during the day. But as we head into winter, daylight hours shorten, and your system naturally produces less. That’s completely normal. The good news? There are smart tariffs designed to help you make the most of your system all year round, especially through the darker months. 


Import vs Export. How Energy Moves in and out of Your Home

Your renewable system has two sides to it, import and export, and both are key to how you save money.


Importing electricity

Importing means pulling electricity into your home from the grid when you need it.
For example:

  • When your battery runs low overnight
  • When you’re using more electricity than your solar panels can generate
  • On darker winter days with little or no sunlight

Every home still imports electricity, even those with large solar and battery systems, especially in winter. The goal is to import it at the cheapest time, ideally when the grid has lower prices or cleaner energy available.

That’s where smart import tariffs come in. These tariffs reward you for charging your battery, EV, or heating system during off-peak hours, such as late at night or early morning, when electricity is cheapest.

Exporting electricity

Exporting is the opposite: it’s when your system sends excess energy back to the grid.
This usually happens during sunny hours when your panels are producing more than your home is using. You get paid per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for this exported energy through an export tariff.

Some tariffs handle both import and export automatically, while others only manage one side. Let’s take a look at the difference


Combined Import + Export Tariffs (for Solar + Battery Homes)

If you have solar panels and a home battery, certain tariffs will manage both sides automatically, charging your battery when it’s cheapest and exporting when prices are highest.

Octopus Flux

Designed for homes with both solar and storage.

  • Cheaper import rates overnight, so your battery can charge at a low cost
  • Higher export rates during early evening peaks, when the grid needs more power
  • A variable daytime rate in between
  • Ideal if you want your system to “buy low, sell high” automatically

Intelligent Octopus Flux

Takes everything Flux does and adds automation. It connects directly to your battery or EV charger, automatically choosing the best times to charge or export based on real-time prices and grid demand. It’s hands-off savings; your system makes the smart decisions for you.

These tariffs are perfect if you have both solar and storage, because your home can automatically “trade” energy all year round, even in winter when the sun isn’t as strong.


Import-Only Smart Tariffs (For Heat Pumps, Radiators & EVs)

Not every home export electricity, and that’s completely fine.
If your main goal is to use electricity as efficiently and cheaply as possible, import-only tariffs can help you shift your usage into low-cost periods so you can heat, charge or run your home for less.

Cosy Octopus Tariff

Designed for homes with heat pumps or electric radiators.
Offers three cheaper periods per day (typically early morning, mid-day, and late evening), helping you heat your home when electricity is cheapest.

Snug Octopus Tariff

Perfect for homes with storage or panel heaters, with an overnight off-peak window and an afternoon boost to keep you comfortable through the day.

Go & Intelligent Go Tariff

Created for EV owners, offering ultra-low overnight charging rates for your car and in some cases, your home battery too. The Intelligent Go tariff can even automatically schedule charging when electricity is cheapest.

If you’re on one of these tariffs and have solar panels, you’ll likely need a separate export tariff to get paid for the electricity you send back.
Common export tariffs include:

  • Outgoing Octopus (fixed at 15p/kWh)
  • Agile Octopus Export (half-hourly variable)
  • Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) offered by multiple suppliers, including E.ON Next and ScottishPower


Smart Tariffs from Other Suppliers

It’s not just Octopus Energy offering smart import/export options. Other major suppliers now have similar tariffs designed for renewable homes.

E.ON Next

  • Next Export Premium v2 – An export tariff paying around 21p/kWh for solar energy sent back to the grid. Available if your system is registered with E.ON Next and you also take your import supply from them.
  • Next Export Exclusive – Pays 16.5p/kWh fixed for E.ON Next import customers.
  • Next Drive (EV Import Tariff) – A low-overnight-rate tariff for EV charging and battery storage, ideal for households that can shift usage to the night.

ScottishPower

  • SmartGen, SmartGen Premium, and SmartGen Premium Plus – Export tariffs paying around 6p/kWh for solar electricity exported to the grid, available under the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG).
  • Smart import tariffs are also available for EVs and smart meter users, helping you charge or heat your home at cheaper times.

These options mean you can stay with your preferred supplier and still access smart tariffs that reward flexible energy use — the key is choosing one that matches your technology and habits.


Why Tariffs Matter Even More in Winter

During summer, your solar system might generate enough to power your home through most of the day. In winter, though, shorter daylight hours and weaker sunlight mean less generation, and that’s when your tariff strategy becomes your best tool for saving.

Even with a large battery, there won’t be enough sunshine to fill it every day in winter.
So the key is to import power at the cheapest times, typically overnight or midday when electricity is cleaner and cheaper.

Here’s how to make that work:

  • Charge your battery overnight on a cheap-rate tariff.
  • Use that stored power during the day when rates rise.
  • Export any surplus during evening peaks, when export prices are highest.

It’s just like investing, but instead of buying shares when they’re low, you’re “buying electricity” when it’s cheapest. Your system and tariff do the clever timing for you.


What to Do Next

If you’re unsure which tariff you’re on, or if it suits your setup, follow these quick steps:

  1. Check your tariff name and structure – Is it fixed, variable, or smart/time-of-use?
  2. Confirm if you’re getting paid for export – If not, you may need to add an export tariff.
  3. Speak to us – We can review your system, look at your energy use, and recommend the best tariff combination for your home and technology.


In Summary

  • Every home still needs to import energy in winter — even large solar + battery systems.
  • Smart tariffs help you do it efficiently by shifting use into low-rate periods.
  • Combined tariffs like Flux and Intelligent Flux manage import and export together.
  • Suppliers like E.ON Next and ScottishPower now offer their own smart import/export options too.
  • The right tariff can make a big difference to your comfort and costs this winter.


Disclaimer

All tariff details and rates in this article are accurate as of November 2025 and based on publicly available information from each energy supplier at that time. Tariff structures, eligibility requirements, and unit rates may change without notice.
Please always check the latest details directly with your energy supplier before making any tariff changes or decisions. This article is intended for general guidance only and does not constitute financial or contractual advice.