The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) pays you for the solar you export to the grid. It replaced the Feed-in Tariff in 2020. Every licensed UK energy supplier with 150,000+ customers must offer at least one SEG tariff.
How it works
Your SEG payment is based on the kWh your home exports, measured by your smart meter at half-hourly intervals. Your supplier credits your account monthly or quarterly. There's no commitment, and you can switch SEG supplier independently of your import supplier (the one you buy electricity from).
To qualify, you need an MCS-certified installation and a smart meter that records half-hourly export.
Who's paying what in 2026
Rates vary wildly, from 1.5p/kWh at the worst suppliers to over 15p/kWh at the best. As of mid-2026:
- Octopus Outgoing Fixed: 15p/kWh flat
- Octopus Outgoing Agile: variable, often 20p+ at peak export hours
- E.ON Next Export: 16.5p/kWh fixed
- British Gas Export & Earn Flex: 6.4p/kWh
- EDF Export+: 5.6p/kWh
- Most legacy suppliers: 3–5p/kWh
The agile tariff opportunity
If you have a battery, agile SEG tariffs are worth a serious look. Octopus Outgoing Agile lets you choose when to export. Paired with software that times your discharge to peak grid demand, some households earn £500+/year more than on a fixed SEG rate.
How to switch
You don't need to wait for renewal or tell your import supplier. Apply directly to the SEG supplier you want with your install certification document and MPAN export number. Switches typically take 4–6 weeks.
