If you have solar panels (or you're getting quotes), the Smart Export Guarantee decides how much you get paid for the electricity you send back to the grid. Picking a good SEG tariff can be worth hundreds of pounds a year — yet rates vary from as little as 1p to around 30p per kWh depending on the supplier and tariff.
| Supplier | Typical export rate | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Octopus Energy | ~15p/kWh | Higher rates available on some smart/agile tariffs, especially with a battery | Top Pick |
| E.ON Next | ~15p/kWh | Best rates often require E.ON installation or dual fuel | Top Pick |
| OVO Energy | ~15p/kWh | Conditions may apply for the boosted rate | Top Pick |
| EDF Energy | ~12p/kWh | Standard export tariff | |
| British Gas | ~12p/kWh | Standard export tariff | |
| Smaller suppliers | 1p – 30p/kWh | Some pay as little as 1p; some smart tariffs with batteries pay 25p+ |
Indicative rates for standard export tariffs as reported June 2026. Suppliers change SEG rates regularly and some headline rates carry conditions (e.g. being a customer for import, having their installation, or owning a battery). Always check the supplier's current tariff sheet before switching.
A typical 4 kWp system in the UK generates around 3,400 kWh a year. If you use half and export half, 1,700 kWh exported at 15p/kWh is worth £255 a year — on top of roughly £420 a year saved on the electricity you didn't buy (at the current ~24.7p/kWh price cap). At a 1p export rate, that same exported electricity earns just £17 — which is why comparing matters.
You need: an MCS-certified installation (your installer provides the certificate), a smart meter that can record half-hourly exports, and an application to the SEG tariff of your chosen supplier — which doesn't have to be the supplier you buy electricity from. This is why we only match homeowners with MCS-certified installers: without that certificate, you can't get paid for your exports.
Yes. Your SEG provider doesn't have to match your import supplier, and you can switch export tariffs when a better rate appears. Many solar owners check rates once a year — it's one of the easiest ways to improve the return on your panels.
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