SEG rate comparison — May 2026
The most important question first: which UK supplier pays the highest SEG rate right now? Here's the comparison as of May 2026 — confirm current rates with each supplier before switching.
| Supplier | Tariff | Export rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Octopus Energy | Outgoing Fixed | 15p/kWh | Flat rate, no battery needed |
| Octopus Energy | Flux (peak window) | ~30p/kWh | 4-7pm peak; battery required |
| Octopus Energy | Agile Outgoing | Variable (10-22p) | Half-hourly pricing tracker |
| Ovo Energy | SEG flat | ~7p/kWh | Standard offering |
| British Gas | Export & Earn | ~6.4p/kWh | Flat, easy to set up |
| E.ON Next | Next Export Exclusive | ~16.5p/kWh | Must also be import customer |
| EDF | Export+ Earn | ~6.7p/kWh | Available to all SMETS2 customers |
| Shell Energy | SEG | ~3.5p/kWh | Among the lowest |
| Outfox the Market | Outdoor SEG | ~5p/kWh | Standard offering |
Octopus Outgoing Fixed at 15p/kWh is the highest flat-rate SEG available to most UK households as of May 2026. If you have a battery, Octopus Flux is the highest earner overall thanks to the ~30p peak-window export. E.ON Next Export Exclusive is competitive at 16.5p but requires you to also be an E.ON import customer.
Which SEG tariff works best with a battery?
Some SEG tariffs have battery restrictions you should be aware of. Here's the lay of the land:
- Octopus Flux — designed for solar + battery; the battery is the whole point. Compatible battery list updated quarterly. SigenStor and most major brands are supported. Tesla Powerwall is excluded (Tesla runs its own VPP instead).
- Octopus Outgoing Fixed (15p) — battery-friendly, no API integration needed. You just export when you choose to.
- British Gas Export & Earn — allows batteries but the flat rate isn't worth the lock-in for solar+battery owners.
- Ovo SEG — has restrictions on installation date / system type that exclude some retrofits.
For a clear answer: if you have or are getting a battery and your battery is on the Flux compatibility list, use Octopus Flux. If you don't have a battery (or yours is incompatible), use Octopus Outgoing Fixed at 15p. If you're considering an Octopus Flux setup, read our smart tariff guide for the full picture.
How to switch SEG tariff
- Anyone can switch — you don't need to use the same supplier for import and export
- Smart meter required (SMETS2). If you don't have one, your supplier installs free
- MCS certificate required — must be from a certified installer (we issue these as standard)
- Watch for lockouts — some suppliers tie you in for 12 months. Check before signing
- Multiple property restriction — you can only have SEG on one property at a time per supplier
- System size limit — SEG covers systems up to 5MW (well above any domestic install)
Switching usually takes 4-8 weeks. There's no contractual restriction on how often you can switch, so it pays to review rates annually.
What Happens to Excess Solar Electricity?
When your solar panels generate more electricity than your home is using, the surplus automatically flows back into the national grid. You cannot store it unless you have a battery. But you can get paid for it.
Excess solar electricity automatically flows to the grid. You get paid for it through the Smart Export Guarantee, but the real value is in using your solar power yourself rather than exporting it.
How Solar Export Works
The process is automatic. Your solar inverter converts DC power from the panels into AC power for your home. If generation exceeds consumption at any moment, the excess flows through your meter and into the grid. Your neighbours effectively use your surplus electricity.
A smart meter records both what you import from the grid and what you export. This is how your energy supplier knows how much to pay you.
The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG)
Since January 2020, the Smart Export Guarantee has replaced the old Feed-in Tariff (FIT) for new installations. Key facts:
- Who qualifies: Any home with solar panels up to 5MW capacity and a smart meter
- What it pays: Rates vary by supplier, typically 3-15p per kWh exported (as of 2026)
- Who pays: Your energy supplier, under the SEG obligation. All licensed suppliers with 150,000+ customers must offer a SEG tariff
- How to sign up: Contact your energy supplier or shop around — you do not have to export with the same company you buy from
At current SEG rates, a typical 4kWp system in Milton Keynes exporting around 1,500-2,000 kWh per year earns roughly £75-200 per year from exports alone.
Self-Consumption vs Export: Where the Real Value Is
Exporting is worth less than using the electricity yourself. Here is the maths:
- Self-consumption value: Every kWh you use from your panels saves you 28p+ (the cost of buying from the grid)
- Export value: Every kWh you export earns you 3-15p (the SEG rate)
That is why maximising self-consumption is the priority. Running high-energy appliances (washing machine, dishwasher, EV charger) during daylight hours captures more of your free solar electricity. Adding a battery lets you store daytime surplus for evening use.
Want to maximise your solar savings? A battery stores your surplus for evening use.
Get Free QuoteEvery kWh you use yourself saves 28p. Every kWh you export earns 3-15p. Self-consumption is worth roughly 2-4x more than exporting. A battery or smart usage habits make a real difference.
Do You Need a Smart Meter?
Yes, for the SEG. Without a smart meter, your supplier cannot measure how much you export and therefore cannot pay you. If you do not have one yet, contact your supplier to arrange installation — it is free.
If you have an older generation meter, it may actually run backwards when you export (benefiting you), but this is not guaranteed and suppliers are phasing out these meters.
Can You Sell Solar Power Directly?
Not directly to your neighbours, no. In the UK, selling electricity requires a supply licence. However, peer-to-peer energy trading platforms are emerging, and some commercial solar installations use Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) to sell directly to businesses on the same site.
For residential solar, the SEG is currently the only practical route for monetising surplus electricity.
Ready to start generating your own electricity and earning from exports?
Get in TouchPeer-to-peer energy trading platforms are emerging in the UK. In the future, you may be able to sell surplus solar directly to neighbours. For now, the SEG is the only option.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can I earn from solar export?
A typical 4kWp system exports around 1,500-2,000 kWh per year. At current SEG rates (3-15p/kWh), that is £75-200 per year. The exact amount depends on your export rate, system size, and how much electricity you use during the day.
Does the grid pay for all my excess solar?
Your energy supplier pays for exported electricity under the SEG, not the grid operator. You must sign up to a SEG tariff to receive payments. Without signing up, your surplus goes to the grid unpaid.
Is it better to get a battery or export to the grid?
A battery is almost always the better financial choice. Storing electricity for your own evening use saves you 28p+/kWh (the import rate), compared to earning 3-15p/kWh from export. The payback on a battery is typically 7-10 years.
What is the difference between FIT and SEG?
The Feed-in Tariff (FIT) closed to new applicants in March 2019. It paid for all generation plus exports at generous fixed rates. The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) only pays for exported electricity at market-led rates. Existing FIT recipients keep their contracts for the full 20-year term.
More Questions About Solar Export
Before committing to a solar installation, most homeowners want to know exactly how the export side works. Adding a solar and battery package can change the calculation significantly — read on for the most common questions we answer.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Smart Export Guarantee pay in 2026?
SEG rates range from 4p/kWh (the legal minimum) up to 15p/kWh with the best fixed tariffs in 2026. Time-of-use export tariffs like Octopus Flux can pay 15–24p/kWh during peak grid demand periods. You do not have to export with the same company you buy electricity from — shop around for the best rate after your system is installed.
Do you need a smart meter to get paid for solar exports?
Yes. Almost all SEG suppliers require a SMETS2 smart meter that records half-hourly export data. Without verified export readings, suppliers cannot calculate payments. Smart meters are completely free — contact your energy supplier to arrange installation. Most can fit one within 2–4 weeks of your solar installation completing.
Is it better to get a battery or export to the grid?
A battery is almost always the better financial choice. Storing electricity for evening use saves 24.67p/kWh (the current import rate), versus earning 4–15p/kWh from export. A 5kWh battery adds £3,500–£4,500 to system cost but pushes self-consumption from 50% to 70–80%, delivering a better return on investment over the system lifetime.
What is the difference between the Feed-in Tariff and the SEG?
The Feed-in Tariff (FIT) closed to new applicants in March 2019 and paid for all electricity generated (not just exports) at fixed generous rates. The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) replaced it and only pays for electricity you actually export to the grid, at market-led rates set by suppliers. Existing FIT recipients keep their contracts for the full 20-year term and are not affected by the SEG.
How much electricity do solar panels export to the grid?
Without a battery, a typical household self-consumes around 50% of generation and exports the rest. On a 4kWp system generating 3,600 kWh/year, that is roughly 1,800 kWh exported per year. Add a battery and exports fall to around 25% (900 kWh) as more generation is captured for evening use. Export volume also depends on whether you work from home and run appliances during daylight hours.
Can I sell solar electricity directly to my neighbours?
Not currently. Selling electricity in the UK requires a supply licence, which individuals cannot hold. The SEG is the only mainstream route for domestic solar owners to earn from surplus electricity. Peer-to-peer trading platforms are emerging in the commercial sector, but practical domestic peer-to-peer trading is not yet available. The SEG remains your best option for monetising exports.