I have a GivEnergy Hybrid inverter 5.0 gen3 and a 9.5 battery.
Until recently I was able to change the settings of the inverter with no problems.
Now when I go to the inverter settings I get "changing settings for this inverter is disabled as a result of locking".
Therefore I now cannot change any of my inverter settings.
I am on Octopus intelligent flux.
Any ideas as to how I can unlock my inverter so I can gain access to its settings?
You can't (other than switching away from Intelligent Flux)
Octopus are instigating the lock on devices under their control. (I imagine this saves considerable resource from having to poll the fleet to check inverters are infact doing what they last told it & that nobody has messed around with them)
Suspect Axle will do simialr for their grid support schemes when needed.
The API notes the locking methods:
https://givenergy.cloud/docs/api/v1#locking
You're not alone – this locking behaviour is unfortunately intentional and happens when you're on Octopus Intelligent Flux. Octopus remotely controls compatible inverters and locks users out of changing their own settings. This isn’t clearly disclosed beforehand, and many only find out once access is already restricted.
They do this to ensure your system follows their optimisation routines without interference. But it means you lose the ability to adjust anything yourself – including schedules, charge/discharge rates, or even automations like Home Assistant.
What you can do:
Switch to a different tariff
Move to something like standard Flux or Tracker to regain control. The lock should be removed once you're off Intelligent Flux.
Contact Octopus support and ask:
◦ Why your inverter is locked
◦ Why this wasn’t clearly communicated
◦ Whether the lock will be lifted when leaving the tariff
Complain if you're not satisfied
Octopus has a formal complaints process. If they don't resolve it, you can escalate to the Energy Ombudsman:
https://www.ombudsman-services.org/sectors/energy
Submit a Subject Access Request (SAR)
You can ask Octopus for a full record of the commands they’ve sent to your inverter under data protection law.
This sort of hidden lockout is troubling – especially since users aren’t warned up front. You're absolutely right to question it. The more people who raise the issue, the more pressure there’ll be for proper transparency.
For what it’s worth, I chose not to go on Intelligent Flux for exactly this reason – I didn’t want to hand over control of my system. Our setup isn’t straightforward: we have around 9 kW of solar panels, but our inverter is limited to 5 kW, and our batteries can only take in a maximum of 3.6 kW – which tapers off as they fill. So if generation much exceeds 5 kW when the batteries are full or nearly full, anything above that is lost due to capping. I manage the system carefully with Home Assistant to avoid this, usually limiting any unavoidable clipping to a short half-hour window in the early afternoon.
[sorry for the multiple edits. I composed in LibreOffice but am having issues copy n pasting over.]
I have same problem and I am no longer on Octopus Flux. Octopus said they have removed any API control on the inverter but I still can't change the settings and message persists "inverter are locked and controlled by Octopus". Any ideas for some kind of force reset of the inverter?
Lafoli There are two things that you could check. The first is on the GivEnergy Cloud. Under 'Account Settings', 'Manage Account Security'. Check the API Keys to see if Octopus have an API Token listed. You should be able to delete this.
The second is to check the Octopus App under 'Devices' to see if your system is listed.