The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) pays you for excess electricity your solar panels export to the grid. Rates verified on 11 July 2026 range from 3p to 25p per kWh – the best deals depend on whether you are willing to switch your import supplier, and the very top rates are locked to systems bought through the supplier. This guide compares every major SEG tariff, explains how to sign up, and shows what you can realistically earn with or without battery storage.
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- Earn 3p to 25p per kWh exported - the spread between the worst and best tariff is worth over £300 a year on a typical 4kW system
- Best fixed rate without buying equipment: E.ON Next Export Exclusive at 13p - but you must switch your electricity supply to E.ON Next
- Top rates are installer-locked - Good Energy pays 25p for 12 months and OVO up to 20p, only on systems they install
- Keep your current supplier and you top out around 6p - Scottish Power SmartGen and E.ON Next Flex both pay 6p with no switching required
- Free to join with no lock-in on most tariffs - many SEG tariffs are rolling contracts you can leave at any time
What Is the Smart Export Guarantee?
The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) is a UK government scheme that requires licensed electricity suppliers with 150,000+ customers to offer a tariff that pays you for electricity you export to the national grid. It replaced the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) in January 2020.
If you have solar panels, a wind turbine, or other small-scale renewable generation (up to 5MW), you can sign up for a SEG tariff and get paid for every kilowatt-hour you do not use yourself. The rate must be above zero, but there is no minimum – which is why the open-to-all rates run as low as 3p while supplier-exclusive deals pay four to eight times more.
You do not need to buy your electricity from the same supplier that pays your SEG export – but in 2026 the market is structured so that the best rates reward you for doing exactly that. Open-to-all tariffs pay 3-6p; switching your import supply unlocks 12-13p; and buying your system through the supplier unlocks 15-25p.
Best SEG Rates UK 2026
All rates below were verified on each supplier’s own tariff pages on 11 July 2026. SEG rates move frequently – always confirm on the supplier’s site before signing up.
Keep your current supplier (no strings)
| Supplier | Tariff | Rate | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scottish Power | SmartGen | 6p/kWh | Variable |
| E.ON Next | Next Flex Export | 6p/kWh | Variable |
| Octopus Energy | Octopus SEG | 4.1p/kWh | Flat |
| OVO Energy | SEG | 4p/kWh | See T&Cs |
| EDF | SEG Export Variable | 3p/kWh | Variable |
| British Gas | Export SEG | 3p/kWh | Variable |
Switch your import supplier to unlock
| Supplier | Tariff | Rate | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| E.ON Next | Next Export Exclusive | 13p/kWh (fixed 12 months) | E.ON Next import customer |
| Octopus Energy | Outgoing Octopus | 12p/kWh (flat) | Octopus import customer |
| British Gas | Export Premium | 12p/kWh | British Gas electricity customer |
| Scottish Power | SmartGen Premium | 12p/kWh | ScottishPower import customer |
| OVO Energy | SEG Beyond Exclusive | 12p/kWh | OVO electricity customer |
| Good Energy | Solar Savings | 12p/kWh (variable) | Good Energy supply customer |
Buy or install through the supplier (top rates)
| Supplier | Tariff | Rate | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good Energy | Solar Savings Exclusive | 25p/kWh (12-month intro, then currently 12p) | Solar + battery installed by Good Energy Solar, JPS, Amelio or Empower + Good Energy supply |
| OVO Energy | SEG Install Exclusive | Up to 20p/kWh (15p solar-only) | OVO-installed system + OVO supply |
| EDF | Export Exclusive | 18p/kWh (fixed 12 months) | System purchased from EDF + EDF supply |
| E.ON Next | Next Export Premium | 17.5p/kWh (fixed 12 months) | Solar/battery installed by E.ON |
| Scottish Power | SmartGen Premium Plus | 15p/kWh | ScottishPower-installed system + SP supply |
Octopus pays battery owners for exporting when the grid needs it most: Prime Outgoing pays 16p/kWh during the 4-7pm peak (9p the rest of the day), and Agile Outgoing tracks half-hourly wholesale prices with no cap. Standard Octopus Flux rates vary by postcode, and Intelligent Octopus Flux is temporarily closed to new sign-ups as of July 2026. All require Octopus as your import supplier.
How Much Can You Earn?
A typical UK home with a 4kW solar system generates about 3,400 kWh per year and exports roughly 50% of that (1,700 kWh). Here is what you would earn at verified July 2026 rates:
The difference between the worst and best tariff is over £300 per year for the same solar system. Choosing the right SEG tariff is one of the easiest ways to improve your solar panel return on investment – and for most people the practical sweet spot is a 12-13p tariff from whichever of the big suppliers you are happy to buy electricity from.
How to Sign Up for SEG
- Check you have a smart meter – SEG requires an export meter capable of half-hourly readings (this has been part of the scheme since it launched in 2020). If you do not have one, ask your supplier for a free upgrade.
- Get your MCS certificate – Your solar panel installer should have provided an MCS certificate when your system was installed. You need this to prove your generation capacity. If you have lost it, contact your installer or check the MCS database.
- Choose a SEG tariff – Compare rates in the tables above. Decide first whether you are willing to switch your import supply, since that decision sets which rate tier you can access.
- Apply online – Most suppliers let you sign up through their website. You will need your MCS certificate, smart meter MPAN number, and system details (size in kW, installation date).
- Start earning – Once approved, you get paid quarterly or monthly (depending on supplier) for every kWh exported. Payments are automatic.
The process typically takes 2-4 weeks from application to first payment.
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SEG vs Feed-in Tariff
The SEG replaced the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) which closed to new applicants in March 2019. Here is how they compare:
| Feature | Feed-in Tariff (closed) | Smart Export Guarantee |
|---|---|---|
| Export payment | 5.24p/kWh (deemed) | 3p – 25p/kWh (actual metered) |
| Generation payment | Yes (3.79p/kWh) | No |
| Smart meter required | No | Yes (half-hourly export readings) |
| Contract length | 20-25 years fixed | Rolling or 12-month terms (switchable) |
| Available to new applicants | No (closed 2019) | Yes |
If you are on the old FiT, keep it – the generation payment alone makes it more valuable than SEG. If you installed solar after March 2019, SEG is your only option for export payments, and the best tariffs now pay significantly more than the old FiT export rate.
SEG payments also stack with grant support: you can combine export income with the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (if pairing solar with a heat pump), ECO4 (if eligible for free solar panels), and other solar grants – SEG is an ongoing payment for what you export, not a one-off grant.
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