Best Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) Tariffs 2026 — Compare Rates

What Is the Smart Export Guarantee?

Here's how it works in practice. Your solar panels generate electricity during the day. You use what you need in your home first. Whatever you don't use gets sent back to the grid, and your supplier pays you for every kilowatt-hour (kWh) exported. Your smart meter tracks how much you export automatically.

The catch? Ofgem only requires suppliers to offer a rate above zero. That means some suppliers offer as little as 1-3p per kWh, while others pay 15p or more. Choosing the best SEG tariff can make a difference of hundreds of pounds per year, which is why a proper seg tariff comparison matters.

Every supplier with 150,000+ customers must offer at least one SEG tariff. Smaller suppliers can opt in voluntarily. The result is a competitive market where rates vary wildly between providers.

Best SEG Tariffs Compared (March 2026)

Rates correct as of March 2026. Smart export guarantee rates change periodically, so check with the supplier before signing up. The gap between the highest and lowest SEG tariff is enormous — exporting at 25p/kWh instead of 3.5p/kWh means seven times more income from the same electricity.

Good Energy leads the fixed-rate market at 25p/kWh, followed closely by EDF at 24p/kWh. For most households without a battery, these are the best solar export tariffs available right now — though you may need to be a customer of that supplier.

Fixed vs Variable vs Agile SEG Tariffs

Fixed Rate Tariffs

You get the same rate per kWh no matter when you export. Simple, predictable, and easy to budget around. The best fixed-rate SEG tariff is Good Energy at 25p/kWh, followed by EDF at 24p/kWh and OVO at 20p/kWh. Ecotricity offers 16p/kWh and is open to non-customers.

Best for: Households without battery storage, or anyone who wants a guaranteed return without monitoring wholesale prices.

Variable Rate Tariffs

The rate adjusts periodically (monthly or quarterly) based on wholesale electricity prices. Octopus Flux uses three daily rate bands — you earn more for exporting during the afternoon and evening peak (typically 16p-24p/kWh) and less overnight (around 5p/kWh).

Best for: Households with battery storage who can shift exports to higher-rate windows. Octopus Flux works on a similar principle, with three daily rate bands.

Agile Tariffs

Rates change every 30 minutes based on real-time wholesale market prices. On a cold winter evening when demand is high, you could earn 25-31p/kWh. On a sunny summer afternoon when the grid is flooded with solar, rates might drop to 4-5p/kWh.

Best for: Tech-savvy households with a battery and home energy management system who can time their exports to coincide with price spikes. The volatility means earnings vary month to month, but annual returns often beat fixed tariffs.

How Much Can You Earn from the SEG?

A household typically uses 40-50% of the solar electricity it generates and exports the rest. With a battery, self-consumption rises to 70-80%, meaning you export less but save more on your electricity bill. The table below assumes 50% export without a battery and 25% export with one.

The numbers speak for themselves. A 4 kW system on the best SEG tariff (25p/kWh fixed) earns £425 per year from exports alone. The same system on Scottish Power at 3.5p/kWh earns just £60. Over 25 years, that's a difference of over £9,000.

Earnings with a Battery

With battery storage, you export less overall but can time your exports to hit higher-rate windows. A 4 kW system with a battery on Octopus Flux might export only 850 kWh per year, but at an average effective rate of 20p/kWh during peak windows, that's still £170. The real saving comes from self-consumption — using your stored solar electricity in the evening instead of buying from the grid at 27.7p/kWh.

When you factor in bill savings from higher self-consumption, a battery almost always increases your total annual benefit — even though your raw SEG income drops. The best solar export tariff strategy combines a competitive rate with smart export timing.

How to Maximise Your SEG Earnings

1. Pick the Right Tariff for Your Setup

This sounds obvious, but many solar owners stick with whatever SEG tariff their electricity supplier offered by default. Run a seg tariff comparison every 6-12 months. Rates change, and switching is free with no exit fees.

2. Add Battery Storage

A battery lets you store solar electricity during the day and export it during the evening peak (4-7pm) when agile and variable rates are highest. Without a battery, most of your export happens around midday when rates are at their lowest. A 5 kWh battery typically costs £3,000-£5,000 and can increase your total annual benefit by £150-£300.

3. Use Time-of-Use Export Windows

If you're on Octopus Flux, the highest export rate applies between 4pm and 7pm. Set your battery to hold solar electricity during the day and discharge to the grid during this window. Some smart inverters and home energy management systems handle this automatically.

4. Shift Your Own Usage to Off-Peak Hours

Run your washing machine, dishwasher, and EV charger during the day when your panels are generating. This reduces the electricity you need to buy from the grid and leaves more surplus for exporting during peak-rate periods.

5. Monitor Your Export Data

Your smart meter data (available through your supplier's app or a home display unit) shows exactly when and how much you're exporting. Use this to spot patterns and adjust your behaviour. Some households find they're exporting heavily during cheap off-peak windows and hardly at all during expensive peak hours — a battery fixes that.

6. Keep Your Panels Clean and Unshaded

Dirty or shaded panels generate less electricity, which means less to export. An annual clean and trimming overhanging branches can boost output by 5-10%. On a 4 kW system, that's an extra 170-340 kWh per year.

SEG Eligibility Requirements

MCS Certification

Your solar panel system must be installed by an MCS-certified installer (Microgeneration Certification Scheme). The installer registers your system on the MCS database, and you receive an MCS certificate. This is the single most important eligibility requirement — without it, no supplier will accept you onto any SEG tariff.

If you bought panels from a non-MCS installer or installed them yourself, you won't qualify for SEG payments. Always check that your installer is MCS-certified before signing a contract.

Smart Meter

You need a working smart meter that can record your exports. Both SMETS2 meters and DCC-enrolled SMETS1 meters work. If you don't have a smart meter, your energy supplier will install one for free — it's a legal requirement for them to offer this.

System Size

SEG tariffs are available for systems up to 5 MW, but the rates listed in this guide apply to domestic installations (typically up to 10 kW). Larger commercial systems may get different rates.

Generation Meter (Sometimes)

Some suppliers require a separate generation meter alongside your smart meter. This measures total generation (not just export). Check with your chosen SEG supplier whether they need one.

DNO Notification

Your installer must notify your local Distribution Network Operator (DNO) about the solar installation. This is part of the standard MCS installation process and is usually done before the system is commissioned.

How to Switch Your SEG Tariff

Step 1: Check Your Current Rate

Log into your current SEG supplier's account or check your latest statement. Many households are on their electricity supplier's default SEG tariff, which is often one of the lowest rates available. If you're getting less than 15p/kWh, you can almost certainly do better.

Step 2: Gather Your Documents

You'll need:

• Your MCS certificate number (on the certificate your installer gave you)
• Your MPAN (Meter Point Administration Number — on your electricity bill)
• Your smart meter serial number
• Proof of installation (MCS certificate usually covers this)

Step 3: Apply to the New Supplier

Most suppliers let you sign up for their SEG tariff online. Octopus Energy, Ecotricity, and E.ON Next all have online application forms. The process typically takes 10-15 minutes.

Step 4: Wait for the Switch

The new supplier contacts your old one and handles the transfer. This usually takes 2-4 weeks. You won't lose any payments during the switch — the old supplier pays you up to the switch date, and the new one picks up from there.