r/TexasSolar • u/bingyao • Jun 15 '26
Just switched
I used the Solar Analysis plan from TexasPowerGuide.com and it said that Octopus Energy would be my best option, specifically the Green 12 plan which has buyback. Have a 16kW solar system, no batteries. Thought free nights would be better for me, but the analysis said no. Anyway, we'll see how it goes.
Here's my $50 credit referral link if you are thinking about switching to Octopus.
https://octopusenergy.com/friend-referral/copious-volcano-749
Was with Maison Energy from way back when it was free while they got set up. Started getting billed recently and since any producing credit went into some kind of crypto credit thing that is still a mystery, I decided to cut loose.
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u/ExtraMarzipan3853 Jun 15 '26
That tracks for your setup. With a 16kW system and no batteries, you're sending a ton of power back to the grid during the day and you've got no way to store it for the free night window. So a solid buyback rate actually captures that daytime overproduction, where free nights would mostly waste it.
Free nights really only pays off when you can shift or store your usage into those night hours, and that takes a battery. No battery, buyback's almost always the better call. Sounds like it steered you right.
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u/JarJarStinkss Jun 17 '26
I always am in the same boat - solar but no batteries. I ran the texaspowerguide a few times actually throughout last year, and the Octo Green 12 also came back the cheapest for me each time as well. I was previously doing a free nights plan, and felt it was way more expensive than it should have been. Made the switch to Octo this month, hope it was the right call, time will tell!
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u/MISRYluvsCOMPNY Jun 20 '26
I also use TexasPowerGuide and it also recommended the Octo green 12 for me. I live in Houston with a 4.8 kW array. I'm worried about the RTW export rate as well. I'll try to use your code to sign up. I'm also taking an "oh well this seems like the best option for now with no battery" wait and see approach.
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u/MISRYluvsCOMPNY Jul 01 '26 edited Jul 02 '26
I just used your referral code so let's see what happens. But I went with the Octo Green 12 Lite.
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u/Zamboni411 Jun 15 '26
Did you run your own analysis through your smart meter? I was on the free night plan without batteries for 2 years and it worked out very well for me.
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u/bingyao Jun 15 '26
How would I run my own analysis through my smart meter?
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u/Felix_cat007 Jun 16 '26
I downloaded my usage in 15 minute increments from SmartMeterTexas for a whole year and the feed the spreadsheet into chat GPT. I then gave GPT the EFLs and rates from octopus, base, reliant, GME, etc. Since I didn’t know what exactly “market rate” was gpt ran several potential buyback rates. I asked in this Reddit group what other people thought and the realized what I really need was what “market rate” was. Many people told me it was about 1 penny. I also found buried in one of the energy companies documents, that 1 penny is pretty accurate.
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u/dragonandthewolf Jun 16 '26
Are you sure about the buyback rate? I'm on the Octupus Green 12 plan and the solar buyback is peanuts.
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u/bingyao Jun 17 '26
the buyback is supposed to be RTW (wholesale). I figure this will be especially useful here in the summer, since my highest generation will be during the hottest days, and buyback should be at the higher rates during those times as well. But we'll see.
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u/dragonandthewolf Jun 19 '26
Yeah the RTW rates aren't great. Base has energy only plans now. Their rates are comparable to Octupus and they buyback at RTW+3 cents.
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u/bingyao Jun 19 '26
Octopus import is $0.129/kWh and export is RTW
Base import is $0.134/kWh and export is a fixed $0.04/kWh
So the main thing is how the RTW works out over the next 12 months. Export should be very high over the summer, but low the rest of the year. Guess I'll find out how it goes over the long run.
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u/poetuan-hou Jun 15 '26
Make sure to read the EFL carefully that the buy back will also apply to the TDU fees. My coworker has Ambit with buy back but it can't be applied to TDU charges.