Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) UK 2026: Best Rates Compared
As of May 2026 the best flat SEG rate you can take without switching supplier is Good Energy at around 15p/kWh. Octopus Outgoing Fixed was cut from 15p to 12p/kWh on 1 March 2026. The highest headline flat rates — British Gas Export & Earn Plus (~15.1p) and E.ON Next’s premium export tariff (~16.5p) — require you to bundle your import supply with that company. For battery-storage households the highest-earning route is a variable tariff such as Octopus Agile Outgoing (peaks of 25–30p+/kWh in some half-hours), where Predbat-driven export arbitrage can beat any flat rate. SEG rates move — suppliers can change them with about 30 days’ notice — so always confirm the live rate before you commit.
The Smart Export Guarantee replaced the Feed-in Tariff in January 2020. Unlike FiT, SEG is set by each supplier — not a fixed government rate — which means rates vary widely. The top rates are roughly 5× the bottom rates, so picking the right SEG supplier can be worth several hundred pounds a year on a typical solar export volume.
SEG rates ranked — May 2026
| Supplier & Tariff | Rate (p/kWh) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| E.ON Next (premium export) | ~16.5 | Highest flat headline rate, but requires bundling your import with E.ON Next. |
| British Gas Export & Earn Plus | ~15.1 | Requires British Gas as your import supplier. |
| Good Energy Solar Savings | ~15.0 | Best flat rate you can take without switching supplier. |
| Octopus Outgoing Fixed | 12.0 | Flat rate. Cut from 15p on 1 March 2026. |
| Octopus Agile Outgoing | Variable, up to 25–30p+ in peak half-hours | Half-hourly. Highest earner if combined with battery + Predbat. |
| Scottish Power SmartGen+ | 8.0–12.0 | Banded rates by export volume. |
| EDF Export+ | ~5.6 | Available to EDF supply customers only. |
| OVO SEG | ~4.0 | Below market. |
| Statutory SEG minimum | >0p | No fixed floor — the rate must simply be greater than zero. |
Rates change. Always confirm the live rate at signup. The ranking above reflects publicly listed SEG tariffs as at May 2026.
How to choose between flat and variable
If you have a battery + Agile-compatible inverter setup, Octopus Agile Outgoing wins on lifetime earnings. Predbat shifts your export into peak Agile half-hours where prices regularly top 25p/kWh. We have customers reporting 12-month average export rates of 18–22p/kWh on Agile Outgoing — well above any flat rate.
If you don’t have a battery, flat tariffs win because there’s nothing to shift. The strongest flat rate you can take without changing import supplier is Good Energy at around 15p/kWh; if you’re happy to bundle your import, British Gas (~15.1p) and E.ON Next’s premium export tariff (~16.5p) edge ahead. Without a battery you’re exporting whenever your solar generates more than your house consumes — during the day, when wholesale prices are typically lower — so variable tariffs tend to penalise you in that case.
If you’re on a non-Octopus supplier, you don’t necessarily need to switch. Good Energy’s flat rate is open without changing your import supplier, and some suppliers’ best rates (British Gas, E.ON Next) only apply if you take import from them anyway. You only need to move to Octopus if you specifically want the Octopus Agile Outgoing variable product. A supplier switch is free and typically takes a couple of weeks.
What you need to qualify for SEG
- MCS-certified solar PV install (or installer-equivalent under Microgeneration certification)
- SMETS2 smart meter capable of half-hourly readings
- Application within 12 months of commissioning
- System size under 5MW (residential is far below this)
Spectrum issues the MCS certificate at commissioning, which is what suppliers ask for at SEG signup. The whole signup is online and takes about 30 minutes once your meter is sending half-hourly readings (24–48 hours after install completion).
Pair the right system with the right SEG tariff
We design the system, then point you at the right export tariff for your shape of generation and consumption. No hidden agenda — we don’t earn referral on SEG signups.
Request a QuoteWhy some suppliers pay so much more
A few reasons:
- Suppliers re-sell your export. An active supplier sells your exported units into wholesale and balancing markets where prices regularly exceed the SEG rate they pay. They keep the spread; you get a strong rate.
- SEG is a customer-acquisition tool. A high export rate attracts solar households who tend to be sticky multi-product customers (time-of-use tariffs, EV tariffs), which is why the best headline rates (British Gas, E.ON Next) are tied to taking your import from them too.
- Some suppliers don’t compete on export at all. EDF and OVO pay barely above zero because they aren’t treating SEG as a competitive offer — which is why the gap between best and worst is so wide.
SEG contribution to payback
For a typical 5kWp UK domestic install exporting ~2,000 kWh/year (assuming a battery storing daytime surplus for evening use):
| SEG rate | Annual export income |
|---|---|
| 1p/kWh (worst case) | £20 |
| 5.6p (EDF) | £112 |
| 12p (Octopus Outgoing Fixed) | £240 |
| 15p (best flat — Good Energy) | £300 |
| 20p effective (Agile + Predbat) | £400 |
The difference between worst and best SEG choice is roughly £380/year — enough to take payback off by 6–9 months on a typical system. Moving from EDF’s ~5.6p to a 15p flat rate alone is worth about £188/year. SEG choice isn’t a small lever.
SEG vs the old Feed-in Tariff
FiT closed to new applications on 1 April 2019. Existing FiT customers continue receiving payments until their 20-year term ends. SEG is the replacement — cheaper for the government, more variable for installers, and requires more shopping around. If you installed under FiT, don’t move to SEG — FiT’s legacy generation tariffs are far more generous.
What happens when you change suppliers
If you switch domestic electricity supplier mid-year, you need to re-apply for SEG with the new supplier. The new supplier can offer a different rate. If you’re on Octopus Outgoing Fixed and switching to EDF for import-side reasons, your SEG income would drop materially — worth modelling before switching.
FAQs
Who pays the best SEG rate in the UK?
It depends on whether you have a battery. For battery households with Predbat automation, Octopus Agile Outgoing delivers the strongest 12-month effective rate (peaks of 25–30p+/kWh in some half-hours). For non-battery households after Octopus cut Outgoing Fixed to 12p in March 2026, the best flat rate you can take without switching import supplier is Good Energy at around 15p/kWh; British Gas (~15.1p) and E.ON Next (~16.5p) pay a touch more but only if you bundle your import with them. Rates change, so check before signing up.
Do I have to be with the same supplier for SEG and import?
Usually, but not always. Most suppliers (Octopus, EDF, British Gas, E.ON Next) require you to be their import customer to access their best SEG tariff — so in practice import and export are often bundled. The notable exception in 2026 is Good Energy, whose flat rate is open without switching your import supplier. If you do switch supplier, you’ll need to re-apply for SEG with the new one.
How is SEG export measured?
By your SMETS2 smart meter recording half-hourly export readings. The meter records what flows out of your premises to the grid — not what your solar generates. So self-consumed electricity isn’t counted (and shouldn’t be — you saved that by not importing). Export-only readings are sent to your SEG supplier automatically.
Can I claim SEG on a battery-only retrofit?
SEG covers low-carbon generation exports — solar PV, wind, micro-hydro, micro-CHP, anaerobic digestion. A battery isn’t a generator, so battery-only retrofits don’t qualify for SEG income. Battery-only retrofits earn through import-side arbitrage on Octopus Agile, not export.
Are SEG payments taxable?
For domestic households, no — SEG income from a private home is treated as exempt under HMRC’s domestic renewable-generation rules. For businesses, SEG is taxable trading income. The threshold is when generation moves from incidental domestic to commercial scale — HMRC’s guidance covers the test in detail.
Do I need an MCS install to qualify for SEG?
Yes — suppliers require MCS or equivalent certification before paying SEG. This is one of the practical reasons to use an MCS-certified installer rather than going outside the scheme. Spectrum’s MCS NIC200223 satisfies the SEG requirement out of the box.
Should I export everything or self-consume first?
Always self-consume first. Even on a strong flat SEG rate (around 15p/kWh) you’re still earning less than the ~27p/kWh you’d pay to import the same unit. Your battery and your timing should prioritise covering home consumption, then export the surplus. On Octopus Agile, Predbat handles this optimisation automatically.
Related reading
- UK solar export tariff comparison 2026
- Octopus Agile + Solar: 2026 guide to maximum savings
- Best solar battery for Octopus Agile in 2026
For the full Spectrum service overview see domestic solar overview.
Speak to Spectrum Energy Systems
MCS NIC200223. We’ll design the right export-friendly system, then point you at the best SEG tariff for it.
Request a Quote