| Scheme start | 1 January 2020 (Ofgem) |
|---|---|
| Where it applies | Great Britain only |
| Who must offer a tariff | Suppliers with at least 150,000 domestic electricity customers |
| Minimum rate | Any SEG tariff rate must be above zero |
| Octopus SEG-only rate (its own page, read 10 October 2026) | 4.1p per kWh |
| British Gas Export Premium (its own page, updated 27 August 2026) | 12p per kWh, for British Gas electricity customers |
What the Smart Export Guarantee is
The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) is a government-backed scheme that launched on 1 January 2020. Ofgem publishes the guidance and keeps the list of licensees. The scheme makes some electricity suppliers pay small-scale generators for the low-carbon electricity they export to the grid.
Solar panels are one of five eligible technologies. The limit for solar is a total installed capacity of 5MW, far above any home system.
The supplier sets the rate, the contract length and most other terms. However, Ofgem says any SEG tariff rate must always be above zero.
Who must offer a tariff
Ofgem splits suppliers into three groups. Each year they tell Ofgem which group they fall into, and that choice lasts for the SEG year, from 1 April to 31 March.
- Mandatory. Suppliers with at least 150,000 domestic electricity customers must offer SEG payments and cannot opt out.
- Voluntary. Smaller suppliers can opt in for the whole year.
- Non-licensee. A supplier outside the scheme can still pay for exports. However, the SEG rules do not bind it.
Ofgem publishes a list of current SEG licensees. You can apply to any of them, because your SEG supplier does not have to be the company that sells you electricity. As a result, you can shop around for the best export rate.
Do you qualify?
Three requirements matter most for a home solar system, according to Ofgem.
- Certification. The installation and installer must be certified. A Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) certificate is the usual proof. Ofgem says other equivalent schemes can count.
- Export meter. The meter must take half-hourly readings. A smart meter that can read export usually does this.
- Export MPAN. You need a separate meter point number for export. Octopus says the network operator creates it and the wait can last weeks. Our guide to G98 and G99 network applications explains that process.
Without a valid certificate, a supplier does not have to pay you, although it can still choose to. Also, you cannot claim SEG and Feed-in Tariff export payments together. A government grant does not stop you getting SEG.
Great Britain only
Ofgem says installations must be located in Great Britain. Therefore the scheme does not cover Northern Ireland. Energy Saving Trust tells households there to ask their own supplier about an export tariff.
Northern Ireland homeowners can still weigh up the numbers. See what solar quotes look like in Northern Ireland for the local picture.
Example rates, dated and sourced
Rates change, so treat these as a snapshot. Each comes from the supplier’s own page.
| Supplier and tariff | Rate | Conditions | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Octopus Energy, SEG tariff | 4.1p per kWh | Fixed rate; open to export-only customers | Page read 10 October 2026 |
| Octopus Energy, Outgoing Octopus | 12p per kWh | For customers on an Octopus import tariff | Page read 10 October 2026 |
| British Gas, Export Premium | 12p per kWh | Variable; British Gas electricity customers; systems up to 15kW | Page updated 27 August 2026 |
| British Gas, Export SEG | 3p per kWh | For anyone who is not a British Gas electricity customer | Page updated 27 August 2026 |
Check the supplier’s page on the day you apply, because these figures may have moved. Note that the 12p rates are for each supplier’s own electricity customers, while the 4.1p rate is open to export-only customers. British Gas pays 3p to people who are not its electricity customers.
What a rate difference means
Here is simple arithmetic, not a forecast. Suppose a home exports 1,000 kWh in a year. At 4.1p per kWh that earns £41. At 12p per kWh it earns £120. So the gap on 1,000 kWh is £79.
Your own export depends on your panels and how much power you use at home. Roof direction also changes when your panels generate, so read our article on east-west versus south-facing panels before you guess.
How to compare tariffs
Look past the headline rate, because the small print decides what you really earn. Ask these questions.
- Do I need to switch my import supply? Some top rates need it. Others are open to anyone.
- Is the rate fixed or variable? British Gas says its tariff can go up or down. Octopus calls its SEG tariff a flat rate.
- Is there a size limit? British Gas sets a different rate for systems over 15kW.
- How often is payment made? Ofgem says each supplier confirms its own frequency.
- How do you submit readings? Ofgem says suppliers need your export meter readings before they pay.
- How can you leave? Ofgem says the contract must set out your termination rights and how switching works.
If you have a battery, the best export tariff may differ. Read whether a solar battery is worth it or the guide to adding a battery to existing panels before you choose.
Put it into your savings forecast
Export income is only part of a solar saving. Since quotes treat it differently, check how yours does. Our guide to checking a payback forecast shows where the export rate fits.
When you compare solar quotes, look for the export rate each installer assumed. Then ask where it came from. If you would like quotes from MCS-certified installers, request free quotes through our form.
What to ask your installer about export
A savings forecast may include an export income line. Ask which rate they used and where it came from. Ask whether they included the cost of any export meter or network application. Then compare their figure with the live rates on the supplier pages above.
If you live in the North East of England, see what quotes in the North East usually include, so you know which questions to raise.
If something goes wrong
Ofgem says a SEG contract must describe a complaints procedure. You complain to your SEG supplier first. If you cannot agree after eight weeks, you can refer the complaint to the Energy Ombudsman. Meanwhile, keep copies of your meter readings and your tariff terms.