Smart Export Guarantee rates 2026: how SEG works, who pays most

Solar panels on the tiled roofs of brick houses

The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) pays you for solar electricity you send to the grid. On 17 October 2026, the big suppliers paid between 3p and 13p per kWh on their standard export tariffs, with the higher rates usually reserved for people who also buy their electricity from that supplier. To qualify you need an MCS certificate and a smart meter that records export.

What the Smart Export Guarantee is

SEG is a government-backed obligation run by Ofgem. It came into force on 1 January 2020, following the Feed-in Tariff, which closed to new applicants on 31 March 2019.

Under it, some electricity suppliers (SEG licensees) must offer a tariff to small low-carbon generators. Ofgem sets three ground rules:

The rate must always be above zero. There is no minimum beyond that. Suppliers set their own rates and contract lengths.
Larger suppliers must take part. A supplier with at least 150,000 domestic electricity customers on 31 December of the previous year is a mandatory licensee. Smaller suppliers can join voluntarily.
You can shop around. Your export supplier does not need to be the company that supplies your electricity.

Who must offer SEG in 2026/27

Ofgem’s list for the seventh SEG year (1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027) names 12 mandatory licensees: British Gas, E (Gas and Electricity), E.ON Next, EDF, Utility Warehouse (Electricity Plus Supply), Foxglove Energy Supply, Fuse Energy Supply, Octopus Energy, OVO, ScottishPower, So Energy and Utilita. Pozitive Energy, Ruby Electricity, Smart Pay Energy and Voltx Power take part voluntarily.

What you need to qualify

An eligible system. Solar PV, wind, hydro, anaerobic digestion or micro-CHP in Great Britain, up to 5 MW (50 kW for micro-CHP). Every home system fits.
An MCS certificate. Ofgem’s guidance says solar systems up to 50 kW must show the installation and installer are suitably certified. That is usually an MCS certificate, though Ofgem recognises equivalent schemes. British Gas, for example, accepts MCS or Flexi-Orb. Check your installer on the MCS installer search before you sign.
The right meter. The export meter must be capable of measuring export every half hour and be registered with an export MPAN. Ofgem expects that to be a smart meter in most cases.
No Feed-in Tariff export payments. You cannot be paid export under both schemes at the same time.

Grants do not stop you claiming SEG. Ofgem’s guidance says SEG payments can be made alongside other government support.

Export rates checked on 17 October 2026

We read each supplier’s own SEG page on 17 October 2026. Rates change often, so check the page before you apply.

Supplier and tariff	Rate per kWh	Who can get it
Octopus, Outgoing Octopus	12p	Octopus electricity customers on a compatible import tariff
Octopus, Prime Outgoing (12-month fix)	16p from 4pm to 7pm, 9p at other times	Octopus electricity customers
E.ON Next, Next Export Exclusive (12-month fix)	13p	E.ON Next import customers, not on time-of-use tariffs, systems up to 15 kW
EDF, Export 12m (12-month fix)	13p	Existing EDF residential electricity customers
British Gas, Export Premium	12p	British Gas electricity customers, systems up to 15 kW
OVO, SEG Beyond Exclusive	12p	OVO electricity customers, systems under 30 kW
E.ON Next, Next Flex Export	6p	Anyone, variable rate
EDF, SEG Export Variable Value	5.6p	EDF electricity customers, variable rate
OVO, SEG	4p	Anyone
British Gas, Export SEG	3p	Anyone who is not a British Gas electricity customer
EDF, SEG Export Variable	3.0p	Anyone, variable rate

Several suppliers pay more if they also installed your panels or battery. On 17 October 2026 these included EDF Export Exclusive at 18p, E.ON Next Export Premium at 17.5p and OVO SEG Install Exclusive at up to 20p (15p for solar only). Those rates are tied to buying the installation from that supplier, so weigh them against the installation price.

How to compare export tariffs

Start with your import tariff. For most homes the import tariff matters more than the export rate. A household paying the October 2026 price cap of 26.32p per kWh saves more by using a unit than by exporting it at 12p. A tied export rate is only worth having if the matching import tariff is competitive.

Fixed or variable. Fixed export rates last for the contract, often 12 months. Variable rates can fall: Octopus’s flat Outgoing rate was 15p before 1 March 2026 and has been 12p since.

Flat or time-of-day. Some tariffs pay more in the early evening peak, such as 16p from 4pm to 7pm. These suit homes with a battery that can export at those hours.

System size limits. Several of the best rates cap the system at 15 kW or 30 kW, so check the limit if you have a large roof or outbuildings.

Battery export. Ofgem’s guidance says suppliers only have to pay for “green export” from your panels. Power from a battery charged from the grid may not be paid for unless the tariff says so. See are solar batteries worth it.

A worked example

Suppose your system exports 2,000 kWh in a year. That is an illustrative figure: the real number depends on system size, orientation and how much you use in daylight.

Export rate	Yearly income
3p	£60
6p	£120
12p	£240
13p	£260

The gap between the lowest and highest standard rates is about £200 a year on that example. Over the life of the panels, that is worth an afternoon of comparison.

Applying

Make sure your installer registers the system with MCS and gives you the certificate.
Make sure your smart meter is set up to record export. Your supplier arranges the export MPAN.
Apply to the SEG licensee you choose. Each sets its own process, usually an online form with your MCS certificate and grid connection paperwork.

Planning a system first? Read how many solar panels you need and our solar panel cost guide.

Ready for solar? Get a quote from a checked local installer.

Common questions

Do I have to get my export tariff from my electricity supplier?

No. Ofgem says your SEG licensee does not need to be the same company as your energy supplier. The best rates are usually tied to buying your electricity from the same supplier, so compare the whole package.

Can I get SEG payments without MCS?

For solar up to 50 kW, Ofgem's guidance says you must show the installation and installer are suitably certified, usually with an MCS certificate. Ofgem recognises other schemes may be equivalent, and some suppliers also accept Flexi-Orb certificates.

Is the Smart Export Guarantee the same as the Feed-in Tariff?

No. The Feed-in Tariff closed to new applicants on 31 March 2019 and SEG followed it from 1 January 2020. You cannot be paid export under both at once.

How much will I earn from SEG?

Multiply the units you export by the rate. For example, 2,000 kWh exported in a year earns £240 at 12p, or £60 at 3p. How much you export depends on your system size and how much you use during the day.