Frequently Asked Questions

Click our referral link to visit the Octopus Energy Smart Tech website at tech.referrals.octopus.energy. Request a free quote for solar panels or a heat pump, and complete your installation. Once the installation is commissioned, Octopus will send your £100 gift card by email. You can choose from retailers including Amazon, M&S, IKEA, Air BnB, TK Maxx and Costa.

Yes. The Octopus Smart Tech referral programme applies to both solar panel installations and heat pump (air source or ground source) installations. Both technologies qualify for the £100 gift card when you use our referral link.

No. The Octopus Smart Tech referral is open to new customers. You do not need to be an existing Octopus Energy electricity or gas customer to install solar panels or a heat pump through Octopus Smart Tech and claim the £100 gift card.

Your £100 gift card is sent by email after your installation is complete and commissioned. The exact timing varies, but most customers receive their gift card within a few weeks of installation completion. If you have not received your gift card within 4 weeks of installation, contact Octopus Energy's customer support team.

The £100 gift card can be redeemed at a wide range of popular UK retailers. Options include Amazon, M&S (Marks & Spencer), IKEA, Air BnB, TK Maxx, Costa Coffee and many more. The full list of available retailers is provided when you receive your gift card.

No. Requesting a quote from Octopus Energy Smart Tech is completely free and there is no obligation to proceed. An Octopus engineer will survey your property and provide a tailored quote at no cost to you.

Octopus Energy solar panel installations start from £6,163 for a 2-panel entry system. An 8-panel system with a 5kWh smart battery costs £8,518, while an 8-panel system with a 5kWh optimised battery costs £9,691. Finance is available at 4.9% APR over 2–3 years, or 9.9% APR over 5, 7 or 10 years. All prices include labour, delivery, scaffolding and 0% VAT. Prices are correct as of March 2026.

Savings depend on your system size, energy usage, and whether you add a battery. A solar-only system typically reduces electricity bills by 40–60%. With a battery and Octopus's Intelligent Flux tariff, some customers save up to 85% on electricity costs. You can also earn money by exporting surplus electricity to the grid at 12p/kWh through the Outgoing Octopus tariff. Typical annual savings are up to £975 for a solar + battery system.

Yes. Solar panels generate electricity from daylight, not direct sunlight, so they work effectively even on cloudy days. The UK receives sufficient solar irradiance to make solar panels a worthwhile investment, particularly in southern England. Even in Scotland and northern England, solar panels generate meaningful amounts of electricity throughout the year.

Intelligent Octopus Flux is Octopus Energy's flagship tariff for solar + battery customers. It features time-of-use pricing with cheap overnight import rates and premium export rates during peak hours. Your battery is automatically charged overnight when electricity is cheapest, and your solar generation is exported when prices are highest. Customers on this tariff report savings of up to 85% on electricity bills.

A typical solar panel installation takes 1–2 days. This includes mounting the panels, fitting the inverter, connecting to your smart meter, and commissioning the system. Octopus handles all scaffolding, electrical work, and grid connection paperwork. You will be given a specific installation date when you accept your quote.

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) is a UK government grant that provides £7,500 off the cost of an air source or ground source heat pump installation. It is available to homeowners in England and Wales who are replacing a gas, oil or electric heating system. The scheme is administered by Ofgem. Octopus Energy handles the grant application on your behalf — you simply pay the reduced amount.

The full cost of a heat pump installation typically ranges from £8,000 to £15,000 depending on the size of the system and the complexity of the installation. After the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant, the net cost to you is typically between £500 and £7,500. Finance options are available — ask Octopus Energy for details.

The typical annual saving for a 3-person household switching from a gas boiler to an Octopus Cosy heat pump is approximately £465 per year. Some customers save over £1,000 per year, particularly when using the Cosy Octopus tariff with its 8 hours of cheap electricity daily. Octopus Energy reports that 80% of Cosy heat pump customers paid less than the equivalent gas boiler cost in a recent 12-month period (data as of March 2026).

Most UK homes are suitable for a heat pump, but the best results are achieved in well-insulated properties. Octopus Energy will carry out a free survey to assess your home's suitability. Key factors include insulation levels, existing radiator sizes, and available outdoor space for the unit. If your home needs insulation improvements, Octopus can advise on this as part of the survey.

Cosy Octopus is Octopus Energy's dedicated heat pump tariff. It provides 8 hours of cheap electricity every day — 4 hours in the morning and 4 hours in the afternoon. Your heat pump is programmed to run during these periods, significantly reducing running costs. The tariff is managed automatically via the Octopus app, so you don't need to manually schedule your heating.

Yes. The Octopus Cosy heat pump is designed to work effectively even when outside temperatures drop to -20°C. Heat pumps extract thermal energy from the air, which is present even in very cold conditions. The Cosy 6 model has a SCOP (Seasonal Coefficient of Performance) of 4.12, meaning it produces 4.12 units of heat for every 1 unit of electricity consumed — even accounting for cold winter days.

Yes. Octopus Energy Services is a Which? Trusted Trader for installations, independently verified to meet the highest standards. They have a 4.8-star Trustpilot rating from over 776,000 reviews and have been named Which? Recommended Energy Supplier for 9 consecutive years. All installations are carried out by MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) certified engineers.

No. This is an independent referral website. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or representing Octopus Energy Ltd. We are existing Octopus Energy customers who want to share the referral offer with others. When you use our referral link and complete a qualifying installation, we may receive a small commission from Octopus Energy. This does not affect the price you pay.

Yes. Installing both solar panels and a heat pump is an excellent combination. The solar panels generate electricity during the day, which can power your heat pump, significantly reducing running costs. Octopus Energy can install both technologies and integrate them with their smart tariffs for maximum efficiency and savings.