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Configuration guide · GivEnergy + smart tariffs

GivEnergy Smart Tariff Lockout — Understanding and Removing API Control

Your GivEnergy settings are greyed out, keep reverting, or change on their own — because your energy provider has API access to your inverter. Smart tariffs like Octopus Intelligent, Flux, and Agile work by connecting to compatible batteries and controlling charge and discharge automatically. This guide explains what's happening, what the provider is doing, and how to take back control if you want it.
  • Octopus Intelligent, Flux, and Agile covered
  • Explains what you lose if you revoke access
  • Options for keeping tariff while regaining control
Settings greyed out or reverting?

If you're not sure which service has control or whether revoking access will affect your tariff, we can review your portal connections and event log remotely and advise on the best approach for your specific setup and tariff.

Book your free remote diagnosticSettings changing guide

Not affiliated with GivEnergy Ltd or Octopus Energy. Independent advice.

5.0
13 Trustpilot reviews
Trustpilot Google

I have a GivEnergy system consisting of two batteries, two inverters and a controlling EMS (Energy Management System) which has not worked since Nov 2025. After six months I discovered Solar Tech Support, reached out to them and Ron phoned me back – how often do you get that service? Could not be more helpful – worked directly with me over the phone, outside what I would call normal working hours. Lucid explanations and we were able to discuss the issues and history using camera and email history. As this was a very rare setup, Ron was able to access an EMS expert in the field to confirm the solution. One sunny day in, I am now only paying for standing charge and a few pence for spikes in grid consumption while battery catches up with house demand.

Ian · May 2026 Trustpilot

When my GivEnergy system had an issue, I was completely left without support and had honestly lost all hope. Thankfully, I searched online and found Ron, which completely turned things around. After sending him a message, he responded incredibly fast and called me to assure me that he would get the problem fixed. I really admire his dedicated, supportive nature and his determination to find a solution. With this kind of outstanding attitude and customer service, he has absolutely secured a future customer in me.

Sree · May 2026 Trustpilot

Ron want out of is way to help, nothing was to much. He was very thorough in what he did Very knowledgeable I would highly recommend Ron and his company He did a fantastic job for me. if you have any problems, he'll do his best to help you out and resolve your problem. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them

Dennis Brown · May 2026 Trustpilot

Ron took me through a diagnostic to confirm my GivEnergy Inverter had a fault. A common one as it turns out with the AC Inverter. As GivEnergy is defunct there is no immediate fix, aside from sourcing 2nd hand replacement. It may be that a fix becomes available over the summer which would make a lot of GivEnergy customers happy (Again)

Tony Deacon · May 2026 Trustpilot

Contacted Ron with a problem and he sorted it out quickly with no problems at all. Very knowledgeable on anything solar/ batteries. I would recommend him to anyone

Phill · May 2026 Trustpilot

I've spoken to Ron a couple of times with issues with my Givenergy installation. Such a friendly knowledge guy very highly recommended. Thank you very much for resolving my issues

michael fairhurst · May 2026 Trustpilot

Contacted Solar Tech Support in desperation. After explaining the issues I had with my system a diagnosis was made and a solution proposed. Fantastic service, even contacted a manufacturer to arrange replacement parts for me. Great communications, explained all they were doing and what I had to do, clearly and precisly. Followed up to confirm all was ok. Excellent service.

Mr Machin · May 2026 Trustpilot

After GivEnergy went into liquidation, just my luck, my battery started playing up (internal board crashed). Contacted my installer - not interested! Found Solar tech support on a Google search. Sooo glad I found this company! Ron is extremely helpful and has plenty of experience. He soon confirmed what the fault was, and helped me to get my system up and running again. Now moved my GivEnergy account to Solar tech support, and will definitely use again if I have more issues. Unusual to find such a helpful company in these times, no morons reading scripts, just direct contact with the engineer.

Keith Ballard · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

Contacted Solar Tech Support when trying to understand what my Givenergy inverter problem might be and what might be my options. Received good/honest advise which backed up my thoughts.

Hugh Speirs · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

Ron is a super star. Two months ago my GivEnergy battery failed a firmware upgrade leaving it a brick. My installer couldn't/wouldn't fix it. GivEnergy couldn't/wouldn't fix it. Then they went into administration and all hope was lost. A flurry of emails later and Ron had diagnosed the fault (failed USB flash drive, something I'd suspected) and talked me through resolving it. Two months of nothing resolved in about 3 hours. It's great to work with someone who pays attention to the details, knows that they're doing (not just following a script) and gets stuff sorted without a fuss or up-charging.

Christopher · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

I can add to the list of customers who had already 'given up' on GivEnergy due to their appalling customer service, and that was before they went into administration (their Trustpilot reviews don't lie!). So you can imagine my desperation when, having changed my ISP and my Inverter, predictably, proving to be the only device that didn't connect automatically to my new network, I found zero prospect of any customer support with GivEnergy having called in the administrators just five days earlier! The salvation came from Solar Tech Support. My IT advisor stumbled across their web site and some very helpful tips for beleaguered GivEnergy customers, as well as an offer to provide direct assistance. Nothing ventured, I decided to drop them an E-Mail, with very low expectations based on my experience of GivEnergy customer support. Within an hour Ron had responded with some pin point advice, and after a few exchanges of E-Mails he had nailed the problem, enabling the combined efforts of my IT advisor and solar installer to resolve it and reconnect my Inverter. Thank you Solar Tech Support, and Ron in particular, for coming to the aid of a deserted and despondent GivEnergy customer. Expert, razor sharp advice and first class customer service, even though I wasn't officially a customer.

customer · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

This company are a rare gem, I had a very unusual problem following a failed firmware upgrade on my GivEnergy kit. I then found out GivEnergy were in administration and had dismissed all their support staff! None of the usual fixes to try and restore my inverter comms would work, and I looked everywhere, forums, GivEnergy youtube support videos - even AI couldn't figure it out. My installer was talking about huge sums for system replacements, and being vague / evasive about if they'd even install replacement GivEnergy inverter. Enter Solar Tech Support, reassuring and knowledgeable from the very start, I've learnt loads about my solar system though the friendly chat while my engineer worked as he diagnosed the problem and figured out a fix procedure that I've not found anywhere else - amazing . If you need solar system repairs - especially if you like me have been left high and dry by GivEnergy, I cannot recommend this company enough. Give them a call.

Andy Thomas · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

I sent a message on their website regarding a problem I have on my Givenergy system. Although not supplied by Ronald, I thought it was worth an email. Within the hour on a Saturday, he phoned and we discussed the problem. He logged in remotely and gave excellent advice. I'm too far away for his on-site help but he did diagnose the problem and was happy also to chat through my thoughts about an upcoming solar/battery install I'm planning. Great bloke.... if only he was nearer!

Philip · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

I have a GivEnergy system consisting of two batteries, two inverters and a controlling EMS (Energy Management System) which has not worked since Nov 2025. After six months I discovered Solar Tech Support, reached out to them and Ron phoned me back – how often do you get that service? Could not be more helpful – worked directly with me over the phone, outside what I would call normal working hours. Lucid explanations and we were able to discuss the issues and history using camera and email history. As this was a very rare setup, Ron was able to access an EMS expert in the field to confirm the solution. One sunny day in, I am now only paying for standing charge and a few pence for spikes in grid consumption while battery catches up with house demand.

Ian · May 2026 Trustpilot

When my GivEnergy system had an issue, I was completely left without support and had honestly lost all hope. Thankfully, I searched online and found Ron, which completely turned things around. After sending him a message, he responded incredibly fast and called me to assure me that he would get the problem fixed. I really admire his dedicated, supportive nature and his determination to find a solution. With this kind of outstanding attitude and customer service, he has absolutely secured a future customer in me.

Sree · May 2026 Trustpilot

Ron want out of is way to help, nothing was to much. He was very thorough in what he did Very knowledgeable I would highly recommend Ron and his company He did a fantastic job for me. if you have any problems, he'll do his best to help you out and resolve your problem. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them

Dennis Brown · May 2026 Trustpilot

Ron took me through a diagnostic to confirm my GivEnergy Inverter had a fault. A common one as it turns out with the AC Inverter. As GivEnergy is defunct there is no immediate fix, aside from sourcing 2nd hand replacement. It may be that a fix becomes available over the summer which would make a lot of GivEnergy customers happy (Again)

Tony Deacon · May 2026 Trustpilot

Contacted Ron with a problem and he sorted it out quickly with no problems at all. Very knowledgeable on anything solar/ batteries. I would recommend him to anyone

Phill · May 2026 Trustpilot

I've spoken to Ron a couple of times with issues with my Givenergy installation. Such a friendly knowledge guy very highly recommended. Thank you very much for resolving my issues

michael fairhurst · May 2026 Trustpilot

Contacted Solar Tech Support in desperation. After explaining the issues I had with my system a diagnosis was made and a solution proposed. Fantastic service, even contacted a manufacturer to arrange replacement parts for me. Great communications, explained all they were doing and what I had to do, clearly and precisly. Followed up to confirm all was ok. Excellent service.

Mr Machin · May 2026 Trustpilot

After GivEnergy went into liquidation, just my luck, my battery started playing up (internal board crashed). Contacted my installer - not interested! Found Solar tech support on a Google search. Sooo glad I found this company! Ron is extremely helpful and has plenty of experience. He soon confirmed what the fault was, and helped me to get my system up and running again. Now moved my GivEnergy account to Solar tech support, and will definitely use again if I have more issues. Unusual to find such a helpful company in these times, no morons reading scripts, just direct contact with the engineer.

Keith Ballard · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

Contacted Solar Tech Support when trying to understand what my Givenergy inverter problem might be and what might be my options. Received good/honest advise which backed up my thoughts.

Hugh Speirs · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

Ron is a super star. Two months ago my GivEnergy battery failed a firmware upgrade leaving it a brick. My installer couldn't/wouldn't fix it. GivEnergy couldn't/wouldn't fix it. Then they went into administration and all hope was lost. A flurry of emails later and Ron had diagnosed the fault (failed USB flash drive, something I'd suspected) and talked me through resolving it. Two months of nothing resolved in about 3 hours. It's great to work with someone who pays attention to the details, knows that they're doing (not just following a script) and gets stuff sorted without a fuss or up-charging.

Christopher · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

I can add to the list of customers who had already 'given up' on GivEnergy due to their appalling customer service, and that was before they went into administration (their Trustpilot reviews don't lie!). So you can imagine my desperation when, having changed my ISP and my Inverter, predictably, proving to be the only device that didn't connect automatically to my new network, I found zero prospect of any customer support with GivEnergy having called in the administrators just five days earlier! The salvation came from Solar Tech Support. My IT advisor stumbled across their web site and some very helpful tips for beleaguered GivEnergy customers, as well as an offer to provide direct assistance. Nothing ventured, I decided to drop them an E-Mail, with very low expectations based on my experience of GivEnergy customer support. Within an hour Ron had responded with some pin point advice, and after a few exchanges of E-Mails he had nailed the problem, enabling the combined efforts of my IT advisor and solar installer to resolve it and reconnect my Inverter. Thank you Solar Tech Support, and Ron in particular, for coming to the aid of a deserted and despondent GivEnergy customer. Expert, razor sharp advice and first class customer service, even though I wasn't officially a customer.

customer · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

This company are a rare gem, I had a very unusual problem following a failed firmware upgrade on my GivEnergy kit. I then found out GivEnergy were in administration and had dismissed all their support staff! None of the usual fixes to try and restore my inverter comms would work, and I looked everywhere, forums, GivEnergy youtube support videos - even AI couldn't figure it out. My installer was talking about huge sums for system replacements, and being vague / evasive about if they'd even install replacement GivEnergy inverter. Enter Solar Tech Support, reassuring and knowledgeable from the very start, I've learnt loads about my solar system though the friendly chat while my engineer worked as he diagnosed the problem and figured out a fix procedure that I've not found anywhere else - amazing . If you need solar system repairs - especially if you like me have been left high and dry by GivEnergy, I cannot recommend this company enough. Give them a call.

Andy Thomas · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

I sent a message on their website regarding a problem I have on my Givenergy system. Although not supplied by Ronald, I thought it was worth an email. Within the hour on a Saturday, he phoned and we discussed the problem. He logged in remotely and gave excellent advice. I'm too far away for his on-site help but he did diagnose the problem and was happy also to chat through my thoughts about an upcoming solar/battery install I'm planning. Great bloke.... if only he was nearer!

Philip · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

⚡ Safety Warning

Do not open your inverter or interfere with DC cabling. Solar panels produce live DC voltage whenever exposed to light. Always use your DC isolator switch and contact a qualified solar engineer for hands-on fault diagnosis.

What's happening
Explained

What is a smart tariff lockout?

When you connect a smart tariff to a GivEnergy inverter, you grant the energy provider's systems API access to read and write inverter settings. This is how the tariff works — it dispatches charge and discharge commands based on grid pricing, demand forecasts, or network requirements. The "lockout" is what happens when the provider actively holds control of certain settings, making them unavailable for manual editing.

NOT A FAULT

A smart tariff lockout is intentional — it is the tariff integration working as designed. The energy provider needs exclusive control of certain settings to deliver its service reliably. It becomes a problem when homeowners want manual control but didn't realise they surrendered it when they connected the tariff.

WHAT GETS LOCKED

Different tariffs lock different settings. Typically: charge window times, system mode, and sometimes discharge windows. Reserve SoC and export limits are usually not affected. The greyed-out settings in the portal are the ones under provider control.

YOU CAN REMOVE IT

API access can be revoked from your GivEnergy portal account at any time. Revoking immediately restores manual control of all settings. The question is whether doing so affects your tariff rate or benefits — this is covered in the alternatives section.

Which tariffs
Tariffs

Which energy tariffs connect to GivEnergy and what they control

GivEnergy has official API integrations with several UK energy providers. Each uses the integration differently — some are aggressive, others are hands-off.

Octopus Intelligent

Most restrictive
What it controls

Sets overnight charge windows based on its dispatch schedule. May override system mode during dispatch periods. Controls charge rate and target SoC for overnight sessions. Does not typically lock discharge settings.

What you keep

Manual control of discharge windows, reserve SoC, and export limit. Some homeowners find they can set a Timed Discharge window for peak hours and Intelligent manages overnight charging around it — though this is not officially supported.

Octopus Flux

Structured control
What it controls

Sets charge windows aligned to the cheap overnight period (02:00–05:00) and discharge/export windows aligned to the expensive peak period (16:00–19:00). The schedule is fixed to the Flux price periods and does not vary daily.

What you keep

Reserve SoC, export limit, and manual override outside the Flux windows. Flux's schedule is predictable — you can plan around it once you understand the three price periods.

Octopus Agile

Optional integration
What it controls

The Agile GivEnergy integration sets charge windows during the cheapest rate periods of the coming day. Control is less aggressive than Intelligent — it primarily sets when to charge rather than locking the full settings interface.

What you keep

Agile's smart features are generally optional. If you prefer to manage scheduling yourself based on the Agile price feed, you can disconnect the integration and use GivTCP or Home Assistant for more granular control.

Identify
Identify

How to confirm you have a smart tariff lockout

1
Settings appear greyed out in the portal or app

If you try to edit a setting and the input field is not clickable, or the edit button is absent, that setting is under external control. This is the clearest sign of an active lockout. The portal may display a small indicator (padlock icon or info text) explaining that the setting is managed by a connected service.

2
Settings revert within minutes of being changed

If you can edit a setting but it reverts to a specific value within 5–15 minutes, an active API connection is pushing its value back. The reverted value will match what the energy provider requires for its current dispatch.

3
Check Third-Party Access in the portal

Go to givenergy.cloud → My Account → Third-Party Access (or Smart Tariff Connections). If an energy provider is listed with an active connection status, that provider has API access. The connection date shows when access was granted — if it coincides with when your settings started changing, that is the cause.

Remove access
Remove

How to remove a smart tariff lockout — the correct order

This is the process most people get wrong. You must contact your energy provider before removing the API link — not after. Removing the link first blocks the unlock command from reaching your inverter.

Do not revoke the API link before getting confirmation

Only your energy provider can send the unlock command to your inverter. If you delete the API key or remove the device from the provider's app first, the unlock command has no path to reach your system — and the lockout stays in place. Keep the link active throughout the process.

1
Contact your energy provider and request an unlock

Call or email your energy provider (Octopus, Ovo, etc.) and ask them to send an unlock command to your GivEnergy system. GivEnergy cannot do this — only the provider who applied the lockout can remove it. Lockouts are a feature of the tariff agreement, not a GivEnergy fault.

Note: Removing a lockout may require leaving the tariff or moving to a different rate. Most intelligent tariffs require the lockout as part of their terms — the discounted rate and the manual control are often mutually exclusive. Confirm the tariff implications before requesting the unlock.
2
Keep the API key and device link active while you wait

While waiting for confirmation, do not delete the GivEnergy API key from the provider's platform, revoke portal permissions at givenergy.cloud, or remove the GivEnergy device from the provider's app. The unlock command travels through this exact link — severing it before confirmation means the command cannot reach your inverter.

3
Once confirmed, remove the link from both sides

After the provider confirms the unlock has succeeded: go to givenergy.cloud → Account Security → Connected Services, find the provider's token and delete it. Also go into the energy provider's app and remove the GivEnergy device from their smart charging settings. Then re-enter your charge schedule, system mode, and reserve SoC in the portal.

Already deleted the API key? If you removed the link before the provider sent the unlock, you need to temporarily re-add your GivEnergy system in the provider's app so they can resend the command. Once communication is restored, ask them to resend the unlock. Only remove the link again after they confirm it succeeded.
Alternatives
Alternatives

Options for keeping tariff benefits while regaining control

Revoking the smart tariff connection is not always the right answer — it depends on what benefits the integration provides and what alternatives exist. Here are the main options.

Option 1 — Work with the lockout

If the tariff integration is working well and you are seeing bill savings, the lockout may be acceptable. Most integrations only lock charge settings — discharge, reserve SoC, and export limit usually remain editable. Set your discharge windows and reserve level manually, and let the tariff manage overnight charging.

Best for: Octopus Intelligent users seeing bill savings who primarily want control over evening discharge.

Option 2 — GivTCP + Home Assistant

GivTCP provides local API access to your GivEnergy inverter and, combined with Home Assistant automations, can implement sophisticated charge/discharge logic based on Agile pricing, solar forecast, or time of day — without relying on the energy provider's cloud integration. This gives full control while still optimising for tariff rates.

Best for: technically confident homeowners on Agile who want to optimise independently of GivEnergy's cloud.

Option 3 — Manual schedule matching the tariff periods

Disconnect the integration and manually set your Timed Charge window to match your tariff's cheap-rate hours. For Economy 7 and Octopus Go this is straightforward (fixed overnight window). For Agile this is less efficient (rates vary daily) but may be acceptable if you are on a flat-ish rate arrangement.

Best for: fixed cheap-rate tariffs (Economy 7, Octopus Go) where the cheap window doesn't change day to day.

Option 4 — Switch tariff

If the smart tariff integration is causing problems and the bill savings don't justify the loss of control, switching to a simpler tariff (Octopus Go, Economy 7, or a flat-rate time-of-use tariff) gives you a fixed cheap window to set in the schedule manually — without any API integration.

Best for: homeowners who value simplicity and predictability over smart dispatch optimisation.

This is a brand-specific version of our general battery not charging guide, which covers all brands.

FAQ

Smart tariff lockout questions

A smart tariff lockout is when your energy provider's integration has API write access to your GivEnergy inverter and is actively controlling certain settings. Affected settings may appear greyed out in the portal, or they revert to the provider's values within minutes of being changed manually. This is not a fault — it is a feature of smart tariff integrations that becomes a problem when homeowners want manual control of their battery settings.
This depends on your tariff. Octopus Intelligent requires smart device control to deliver its off-peak pricing — revoking access typically removes you from the smart charging benefit. Octopus Flux uses the integration to manage its daily schedule — revoking means you manage charge/discharge manually. Octopus Agile's integration is optional for most features. Always check your provider's specific terms before revoking API access.
Do not revoke the portal connection first. Contact your energy provider (Octopus, Ovo, etc.) and ask them to send an unlock command to your inverter while the link is still active. Only your energy provider can do this — GivEnergy cannot override the lockout on their behalf. Once the provider confirms the unlock has succeeded, you can then remove the API token at givenergy.cloud → Account Security → Connected Services, and disconnect the device from the provider's app. If you already deleted the API key or removed the device before getting confirmation, re-add it temporarily so the provider can resend the unlock command.
Not fully — Octopus Intelligent is designed to control charging automatically based on its dispatch system. It doesn't officially support a hybrid mode where you set fixed windows alongside its smart dispatch. Some homeowners disconnect the integration, manually set their charge windows during Octopus off-peak hours (typically 23:30–05:30), and accept slightly less optimised dispatch. GivTCP with Home Assistant can implement more sophisticated Agile-rate-aware control as an alternative. A remote session can help you understand which approach suits your setup.
Book

Not sure which service has control — or whether to remove it?

We can review your portal connections, API access log, and tariff setup remotely and advise on exactly what has control, what it's doing, and the best options for your specific tariff and usage pattern.

  • Independent from GivEnergy and Octopus Energy
  • Free remote diagnostic — pay only if we fix it
  • We advise on keeping tariff benefits where possible

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