The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) is the scheme that pays you for the solar you export to the grid. It replaced the old 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 to the grid, measured by your smart meter at half-hourly intervals. Your supplier reads the export figure and credits your account either monthly or quarterly. There's no commitment — you can switch SEG suppliers independently of your import (the electricity you buy) supplier.
To qualify, you need an MCS-certified install (this is non-negotiable) and a SMETS2 smart meter capable of exporting half-hourly data.
Who's paying what in 2026
Rates vary wildly — from 1.5p/kWh at the worst suppliers to over 15p/kWh at the best. Worth shopping around. 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/variable SEG tariffs are worth a serious look. Octopus Outgoing Agile lets you choose when to export. Combined with smart software that times your discharge to peak grid demand hours, some households are earning £500+/year more than they would on a fixed SEG rate.
How to switch
You don't need to wait for renewal or notify your import supplier. Apply directly to the SEG supplier you want, provide your MCS certificate and MPAN export number, and they handle the rest. Switches typically take 4–6 weeks.