New Octopus Export Tariff Spotted In The API – Could Prime Outgoing Change Export Payments?
- jontracey4
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
While exploring the Octopus Energy API ahead of the company's event on 22nd June 2026, I came across something interesting that has not yet been publicly announced.
A new export tariff appears to have been added called Prime Outgoing Octopus 12M Fixed.
Before we go any further, it's important to be clear that at the time of writing this article, Octopus Energy has not officially announced this tariff. Everything discussed here comes from information currently visible within the Octopus API and could change before launch.
However, if the details currently shown are accurate, this could be one of the most interesting export tariffs we've seen for solar and battery owners.
What Is Prime Outgoing Octopus?
The product currently listed in the API is:
Product Code: OUTGOING-PRIME-FIX-12M-26-06-16
Product Name: Prime Outgoing Octopus 12M Fixed
Full Name: Prime Outgoing Octopus 12M Fixed June 2026 v1
The tariff appears to become available from:
22 June 2026 at 13:00 BST
The API also indicates:
Fixed tariff
12-month term
Available across standard UK electricity regions
No obvious restrictions
Zero standing charge
The feature that immediately stands out is the export pricing structure.
The Export Rates
According to the API data, the tariff pays:
16p/kWh Export Rate
Available between:
4pm and 7pm BST
9p/kWh Export Rate
Available outside the premium export window.
This creates a significant difference between electricity exported during the evening peak and electricity exported during the rest of the day.
Why Does Octopus Care About 4pm To 7pm?
The answer is simple.
This is typically when electricity demand is highest.
People arrive home from work.
Ovens, kettles and appliances are switched on.
Electric vehicles begin charging.
Heat pumps and hot water systems increase consumption.
At the same time, solar generation is starting to decline as the sun gets lower in the sky.
Electricity exported at 5pm is often considerably more valuable to the grid than electricity exported at midday when millions of solar panels across the country are already producing energy.
This tariff appears designed to reward exports during that critical evening period.
Who Could Benefit Most?
Solar-Only Households
Solar-only homes may find this tariff less attractive than the headline 16p rate initially suggests.
Most solar generation occurs between late morning and early afternoon.
For many homes, the majority of exported electricity takes place between roughly 10am and 3pm.
Under Prime Outgoing, those exports would appear to receive just 9p per kWh.
By the time the premium 4pm to 7pm period arrives, solar generation is already falling rapidly.
Solar And Battery Owners
This is where the tariff becomes more interesting.
A battery allows excess solar generation produced during the day to be stored rather than exported immediately.
That stored energy can then potentially be exported during the premium 4pm to 7pm window.
Instead of receiving 9p per kWh at midday, homeowners may be able to receive 16p per kWh later in the day.
The battery effectively becomes a timing tool, allowing energy to be sold when it is worth more.
Is It Better Than Existing Export Tariffs?
That depends entirely on your export profile.
Many existing export tariffs offer a single fixed export rate regardless of the time of day.
The challenge with Prime Outgoing is that while the premium rate is higher, the standard export rate is lower.
Let's look at a simple example.
Existing 12p Export Tariff
100kWh exported
100 × 12p = £12
Prime Outgoing Example
40kWh exported during the premium period
60kWh exported outside the premium period
40 × 16p = £6.40
60 × 9p = £5.40
Total = £11.80
In this scenario, the customer would actually earn slightly less.
Now consider a household with battery storage capable of shifting exports into the premium window.
70kWh exported between 4pm and 7pm
30kWh exported outside that period
70 × 16p = £11.20
30 × 9p = £2.70
Total = £13.90
In this example, Prime Outgoing wins.
The key question becomes:
How much of your export can you move into the 4pm to 7pm window?
What We Still Don't Know
There are still several unanswered questions.
At the time of writing we do not know:
Final eligibility requirements
Whether battery systems are specifically supported
Whether certain import tariffs are required
Whether additional terms and conditions will apply
Whether the tariff details may change before launch
Until Octopus makes an official announcement, all of these details remain speculative.
My Initial Thoughts
If this tariff launches exactly as currently shown in the API, it appears to be a strong signal about the future direction of electricity pricing.
Historically, homeowners have focused on generating more energy.
Increasingly, timing may become just as important as volume.
For solar-only households, the lower 9p export rate may make this tariff less attractive than existing alternatives.
For homeowners with battery storage, however, the ability to shift exports into the premium 4pm to 7pm window could create an interesting new opportunity.
As always, the maths will depend on your own system, battery size and export profile.
I'll be watching closely to see what Octopus officially announces and whether the final tariff matches what has appeared in the API.
If you have solar panels or battery storage, would this tariff beat your current export arrangement?
Let me know your thoughts.
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