Export
The Smart Export Guarantee: what suppliers pay in October 2026
How you get paid
The Smart Export Guarantee, or SEG, is a scheme where licensed suppliers pay you for power you export to the grid. A smart meter records what you send out and the supplier pays per kWh. Ofgem says suppliers set their own rates, and that those rates must always be above zero. Installations must be in Great Britain and meet the eligibility rules.
The Energy Saving Trust says most suppliers want a valid MCS certificate, and that typically you get around 12p for every unit you do not use yourself.
What the rates look like
| Supplier | Tariff | Rate per kWh | Who can get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Octopus Energy | Outgoing SEG, fixed | 4.1p | A flat rate, open to customers of any import supplier |
| Octopus Energy | Outgoing Octopus, variable | 12p | Variable, 12p since 1 March 2026, down from 15p. Check Octopus's eligibility rules |
| British Gas | Export Premium | 12p | British Gas electricity customers, systems up to 15 kW, variable |
| British Gas | Export SEG | 3p | Customers of other suppliers |
| E.ON Next | Export Premium v3, 12 months fixed | 17.5p | Systems installed by E.ON Installation Services from 10 November 2025 |
| EDF | Export Exclusive 12m V3 | 18p | Solar, battery or both bought through EDF, enquiry and purchase after 2 March 2026 |
Read from each supplier's own page on 7 October 2026. Rates and rules change, so check before you sign.
How to read the table
Three things stand out. The plain rate that anyone can claim is low, 3p to 4.1p. A rate of 12p turns up when you also buy your electricity from the supplier, or on a variable tariff. And the top rates, 17.5p and 18p, are tied to where you bought the system. If you are comparing quotes, that export rate is part of the price.
An example, labelled as one. Our model makes about 3,600 kWh a year from 4 kWp, and assumes 35% is used at home, leaving about 2,340 kWh to export. At 4.1p that earns about £100 a year. At 12p it earns about £280. At 18p it would earn about £420. That is our arithmetic, not a published figure, and the top rate only counts if you buy from the supplier that offers it.
The catch on the best rates
A high export rate is an attractive headline, but a tied rate is only as good as the install price attached to it. Ask for the all-in cost of the system and the rate, and compare it with an independent quote and a plain export rate. The sums can go either way.
Our own arithmetic on a typical roof says a few pence a unit is worth tens of pounds a year, not hundreds. It matters, but it should not outweigh a poor system design or a high price.
How to claim
- Get the right meter. A smart meter that records exports is needed.
- Get your certificate. Most suppliers want a valid MCS certificate. Our work is delivered with our MCS-certified installation partner.
- Compare the rates above and check the conditions.
- Apply to the supplier. You can choose which supplier pays you.
- Check the first statement. Make sure the units match your meter.
What about plug-in solar?
The Energy Saving Trust says plug-in solar does not normally qualify, because most suppliers need an MCS certificate. If you are thinking about one, see our plug-in page, which covers the rules: approved kits only, 800W, one per home, registered before use, and permission from a landlord or freeholder where that applies.
Questions people ask
Is SEG income taxable?
We do not give tax advice. Check current HMRC guidance or ask an adviser.
Do I have to export to my import supplier?
Not always. Octopus's flat SEG rate is open to customers of any import supplier. The best rates tend to need the same supplier.
Is there a minimum rate?
Ofgem says SEG rates must always be above zero. We found no higher legal floor.
Which supplier should I pick?
The one whose terms you can actually meet. Compare the rate, whether it is fixed or variable, and the conditions.
Want numbers for your own house? Try the estimator or ask for a free quote.
Sources
- Ofgem: Smart Export Guarantee
- Octopus Energy: Smart Export Guarantee
- Octopus Energy: Outgoing Octopus
- British Gas: Smart Export Guarantee
- E.ON Next: Smart Export Guarantee
- EDF: Export Exclusive tariff
- Energy Saving Trust: solar panels
- Energy Saving Trust: plug-in solar panels
More guides
- What solar and a battery cost for a Faversham house
- Is a home battery worth it?
- What size solar and battery do I need?
- Solar only, battery only, or both?
- 0% VAT on solar and batteries, and what it means
- Planning permission and network approval in Faversham
- Cheap overnight tariffs and home batteries
- Pairing an EV charger with solar and battery
- Solar by house type in Faversham