Exported electricity - where it goes? Are we "gifting" it? Should we do something about it?

VicByron · Mon Apr 06, 2026 2:56 pm

The entire system is working fine. After the battery is fully charged, the electricity begins to be exported. My question is: Where does it go, are we gifting it away, and are we supposed to be paid as household who sells excess? On Sunny days we are exporting around 3-4kw, I realise it is not a lot, but penny saves a pound!

. Thanks.

davidwf15 · Mon Apr 06, 2026 3:18 pm

a question I have wondered as well....we have only had our system up & running for a week and it seems I have already exported nearly 60kWh !!!
I applied to Octopus for the FIT payment but it seems we need the MCS certificate which we dont have as yet.....
One would like to think it would be backdated but I'm betting it wont

.....so, we are rightly prosecuted if we steal their leccy but nothing happens at all if they take ours and dont pay for it....

VicByron · Mon Apr 06, 2026 4:00 pm

Found all the info based on your reply, thanks. Not worth it. £250 fee to register and on average £0.10p per Kw. Will break even only after 3 years. Thanks again for quick response!

MaterialBarracuda48 · Mon Apr 06, 2026 8:24 pm

davidwf15 wrote: ↑Mon Apr 06, 2026 3:18 pm a question I have wondered as well....we have only had our system up & running for a week and it seems I have already exported nearly 60kWh !!!
I applied to Octopus for the FIT payment but it seems we need the MCS certificate which we dont have as yet.....
One would like to think it would be backdated but I'm betting it wont .....so, we are rightly prosecuted if we steal their leccy but nothing happens at all if they take ours and dont pay for it....

You will have to find inventive ways to use up the power at the moment, high heat washing machine/dishwasher cycles, batch cooking in the oven (or just leaving it open to heat home)

I think you mean SEG payments from Octopus, and sadly they don't backdate. So hope you get certificates through ASAP, but expect a few more weeks of giving it away.

VicByron wrote: ↑Mon Apr 06, 2026 4:00 pm Found all the info based on your reply, thanks. Not worth it. £250 fee to register and on average £0.10p per Kw. Will break even only after 3 years. Thanks again for quick response!

If you panels live long enough, and they should, the fee could as you say pay after 3 years and you profit afterwards. The other way is to fit more battery capacity to mop up (ROI would be longer I suspect) or just do as above, use it or lose it

davidwf15 · Mon Apr 06, 2026 10:53 pm

Grrrrrrr.......