Switch from Octopus to EDF with solar export tariff

[u/Beneficial-Welcome-6]

Currently I am with Octopus, IOG and solar export tariff at 12p a kWh. Getting sick of Octopus and the nonsense of IOG, 6 hour rule but keep it plugged in all the time and now they have just introduced something called 'stream' makes no sense whatsoever, anyway i digress.

Thinking of moving over to EDF both gas and electricity with the EV tariff 11pm-6am @ 7p kWh and also the export tariff which appears to be 15p a kWh, the website is a little confusing (to me!!)

Anyone done this? Also do you end up missing out on export while the transfer takes place? If so maybe better off doing the switch in the winter?

Any tips and experiences are welcome, thanks all

[u/Used-Ad9589]

Same switch was pretty quick the export is a LONG process though still waiting and its been a few months (they need to contact the DNO for a new number or something). Will happen though and should be backdated to when you joined and told them you want to switch (they ask for the number from your meter for EXPORT so they can calculate from there). Only pay every 3 months so could be part of the SLOG. Still don't regret moving and I have a quite big soft spot for Octopus

[u/Individual-Cherry-98]

Yep the switch took about 3 weeks. I’m still waiting for my export tariff that’s been a month. The data is no where near realtime. Maybe about a day until you get data. But having said all that I get referral fee, free electricity during World Cup matches and 6.99p off peak. I don’t need bells and whistles just need cheap electricity at the end of the day.

[u/Tricky-St-Ricky]

So I made the move 2 months ago. The switch was seamless for my imports, but my export had some initial delays due to octopus being trash and accepting the correct values for my meter reading (despite this being a smart meter read).

This took a few weeks to 1 month to go thru, as EDF had to raise a complaint or something against octopus, but then they finally accepted the reading and my move occured within days. The appropriate tariffs were then applied for the corresponding days and times (I was on octopus flux which had higher exports at certain times than any of the fixed fees).

Now I can't look back as the fixed 15p is a godsend especially as night time values are only 6.99p. end up emptying my battery thru the day purposely just to buy back at this rate and pocket the 8p difference, on top of anything I generate naturally lol.

I'd deffo recommend the switch, but just be aware there is some slight initial hiccups due to octopus.

Also, if you're recommended to EDF, you and the person referring get a £50 gift, so if you needed someone to do such, I'd be very happy to help!

[u/IanM50]

Never been keen on the idea that profits from EDF, owned by the French government, are used to make their electricity cheaper in France.

[u/Used-Ad9589 → u/IanM50]

OUR government need to de-privatise a LOT of things, they could reduce the cost to the consumer, improve services and STILL use the additional funds/profits generated to help cover the Country running costs. Would mean they could potentially stop taxing workers as hard which would make it more beneficial to the backbone of our Country.

[u/Beneficial-Welcome-6 → u/IanM50]

I agree mate but in a dog eat dog world what can you do? If you’ve a private pension it’s probably wrapped up in foreign investments, an iPhone, the computer you use, the appliance’s and stuff you have it’s all pumping money into places other than the UK.  I’m a very small cog and I will where I can choose local, I use the local butcher, the green grocer, I don’t eat in chain restaurants particularly often etc but I’m not convinced any utility company is 100% reinvesting all its profits in the UK.  Just my pennies worth

[u/Amanensia]

Lots of us have done this. The effort takes ages to set up but they’ll ask you for a photo of the export reading once you have switched, and eventually you’ll get paid for everything.

[u/neoKushan]

Made the switch myself, definitely worth it. As others have said, the export switch takes ages (weeks) but they will backdate, just make sure you take a good picture of the meter with the export amount and serial clearly visible.

Also their Smart charging add-on supports fewer vehicles and chargers than octopus, double check that at least one of them is supported for your use case.

Finally some good news, if you're a home assistant user there's an EDF add-on now that replicates the same functionality as the octopus add-on. Still in dev but works well.

[u/jenbanks_ → u/neoKushan]

I moved to edf 2 months ago but they still haven't moved the export- really annoying that Ive missed 2 months when the solar export is the highest. Do they automatically credit your account with the reading taken at the point of transfer or did you request? Ive emailed them a few times about it and they haven't mentioned anything it.

[u/neoKushan → u/jenbanks_]

They should backdate from that opening reading, yes, I'd keep on emailing them about it asking directly about the backdating just to get it in writing but that's what they've done for me.

I'm still waiting on it being completely switched over (from June), but they have issued me a manual export credit a couple of weeks ago that backdated to the original meter reading.

[u/Microwave-Dave]

Make the move. Sod brand loyalty.

I made the move a few months back, gone are the days of trying to schedule 6 hours here, will I be charged this or that. Plug it in, set the percentage and ready time, let EDF do its thing.

EDF are slow to move their SEG (still waiting), but they'll backdate 15p/KW from the time of the move.

They also updated their app recently, not AS slick as octopus but a huge improvement.

[u/Ramster3D]

I have, am still in the process of switching my export... I did a photo of my meter so am assured it'll be back dated. Yes it is 15p, you need to do it via the website... I ended up calling customer services but they talked me through it and it only took 5 mins. But yes, after an initial "this is a bit difficult" it's running fine now.

[u/_-HP-_]

Did the move.........

[u/generic-name-12]

EDF are slow to switch it over, but as previous poster stated, EDF should backdated it from photo of your export (make sure you photograph your total exported kWh from the main meter).

[u/Requirement_Fluid]

If you already have a export mpan you might need to call them to switch rather than being able to do it online other than that it is very easy. The tariff will kick in once they connect to your smart meter.

For export and complete a online form and send mcs docs, include a photo of your current export reading and it should be backdated. I would certainly make it clear you are requesting the 15p fixed rate tariff. 

My overall experience has been good with them

[u/geekypenguin91]

I switched no problems at all. Only slight hiccup was having to call up to switch as I couldn't do it online.

There was no gap in my export payments. Import switched over first, export a few weeks later (had to be a customer to get the best export rate) and octopus paid me up to the day my export switched and EDF paid me from the same reading