The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) is a UK scheme that pays you for solar electricity you send to the grid. Suppliers set their own rates, and Energy Saving Trust says a typical payment is around 12p for every unit exported. You must be in England, Scotland or Wales, and your system must be certified.

You only get paid for power you do not use yourself. That matters, because a unit you use at home saves you the full price of buying one. This guide explains who can claim, how rates work, and how to pick a tariff.

How the Smart Export Guarantee works

The SEG started on 1 January 2020. It replaced the old Feed-in Tariff for new systems. Ofgem runs the scheme, but you apply to a supplier, not to Ofgem.

Ofgem’s guidance says licensed suppliers with at least 150,000 domestic electricity customers must offer at least one SEG tariff. Smaller suppliers can join in, although they do not have to. Ofgem also publishes a list of suppliers that offer SEG tariffs.

The rules for the tariff itself are light. The rate must be above zero. Beyond that, the supplier chooses the rate, whether it is fixed or variable, and how long it lasts. As a result, rates differ a lot between suppliers.

Payment rests on a meter reading. Your meter records how much power you send out, and the supplier pays for each unit. Without a suitable meter, there is no payment, because the supplier cannot see your export.

Who can claim SEG payments

Your home system needs to meet four tests, all set out in Ofgem’s generator guidance.

  • It must be a solar system (or another eligible type) of up to 5MW. Every home system sits far below that.
  • You need a meter that takes half-hourly readings, and an export meter point number (MPAN). A smart meter normally does this.
  • Your installation and installer need MCS certification, or an equivalent scheme. Our guide to MCS certification explains what that means.
  • You must not get Feed-in Tariff export payments.

The scheme covers England, Scotland and Wales. Energy Saving Trust says that people in Northern Ireland should ask their supplier about export tariffs.

Your installer usually handles the grid paperwork. Our guide to G98 and G99 grid connection shows how that works. Octopus Energy says getting an export MPAN from the network operator takes about one to four weeks. Its whole sign-up process takes around two to five weeks. Other suppliers may be quicker, although times vary.

What SEG rates look like in October 2026

Rates change often, so treat any figure here as a snapshot, because suppliers update them often. Energy Saving Trust, in its solar guide updated on 1 October 2026, says you typically get around 12p per unit through the SEG. It also notes that you would normally buy electricity for more than twice that.

Octopus Energy lists these export tariffs on its website, checked in October 2026:

  • Outgoing Octopus pays 12p per kWh. It is variable, so the rate can change with notice.
  • Prime Outgoing Octopus pays 16p per kWh from 4pm to 7pm and 9p at other times. It is a 12-month fixed-term tariff.
  • Agile Outgoing Octopus follows half-hourly wholesale prices. Those prices are uncapped, so payments can swing.

You must be an Octopus customer to join any of these. That is a common pattern. For example, Energy Saving Trust notes that you often get the best export rate by using the same company for import and export.

Compare this with what you pay. Ofgem’s price cap, from 1 October 2026, averages 26.32p per kWh for electricity on a default tariff paid by Direct Debit. Ofgem says that figure does not include VAT, which the government has removed from electricity bills until 31 March 2027.

A simple example of what you might earn

Say your panels send 1,000 kWh a year to the grid. At 12p, that earns £120 a year. At 16p, it earns £160.

These numbers are only an illustration. Your real export depends on your roof, your system size, and when you use power. However, the bigger lesson is the gap between 12p and 26p.

Each unit you use yourself saves about 26p at the average price cap rate. Each unit you export earns around 12p. So moving a washing cycle to midday beats exporting that power, because you avoid buying a unit at the higher price.

That is why a battery or a timer can pay off. Our guide to solar battery cost and sizing covers storage. A battery means less exported power, so SEG income falls. However, you buy fewer units later, which usually saves more.

How to choose and apply for a SEG tariff

Start by checking your meter and export set-up. Then work through these steps.

First, list the suppliers that offer SEG tariffs on Ofgem’s published list. Second, compare the rate, whether it is fixed or variable, and the payment terms. Third, check whether you must also buy your import power from them.

Next, look at the whole picture. However, a top export rate on a poor import tariff can cost you more than it earns. If you have a battery or an electric car, a smart tariff may suit you better. Our post on charging an electric car from solar panels covers one example.

Finally, apply through your chosen supplier. Ofgem says tariffs can change over time, so check your rate each year, because a good deal today may slip. You can switch SEG supplier, and Ofgem expects suppliers to explain how switching works.

What affects how much you export

Several things decide your export. System size is the first, since a bigger array makes more spare power. The more panels you have compared with your own use, the more you send to the grid. Our guide on how many solar panels you need helps you size a system to your use.

Roof direction matters too. Energy Saving Trust says east or west facing systems tend to produce around 15 to 20 percent less energy than south facing ones. Even so, an east-west or flat roof system can spread output across the day, which may suit a household that is out in the middle of the day.

Season also plays a part, because winter days are short. Output falls in winter, so you export less. Our post on solar panels in winter explains why, and how much of a drop to expect.

Last, your habits count. If you are home all day, you use more of your own power and export less. If you are out, you export more. Neither is wrong, although the savings differ.

Is the SEG enough to make solar worth it?

For most homes, export payments are a bonus, not the main saving. Energy Saving Trust bases its payback figures on a mix of bill savings and export payments. For a 4.5kWp system it gives paybacks of about nine to twelve years across five UK locations, using fuel prices from July 2026.

So the SEG helps. Still, it does not carry the case alone. Read our wider look at whether solar panels are worth it before you decide. Also see our hub on batteries and export and our guide to solar panel costs and savings.

If you plan an installation, the planning your installation guide covers the order of work, including grid and meter steps. For the basics, our page on how domestic solar panels work explains what generates and what you export.

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Common questions

Is the Smart Export Guarantee compulsory for suppliers?

Only larger suppliers must offer it. Ofgem says licensed suppliers with at least 150,000 domestic electricity customers must offer at least one SEG tariff. Smaller suppliers may offer one if they choose.

Do I need a smart meter to get SEG payments?

You need a meter that can take half-hourly readings and an export meter point number. In practice that usually means a smart meter. Your installer or supplier can tell you what your home needs.

Can I get SEG payments in Northern Ireland?

The scheme covers England, Scotland and Wales. Energy Saving Trust advises people in Northern Ireland to ask their supplier whether it offers an export tariff.

Can I claim SEG if I already get Feed-in Tariff payments?

No. Ofgem says generators must not receive an export tariff under the Feed-in Tariff scheme at the same time as SEG payments. Octopus Energy also says you cannot join if you took Feed-in Tariff payments in the past 12 months.

Is the best SEG rate always worth chasing?

Not always. Using your own solar power saves you the full price of a unit, which is usually more than any export rate pays. A good export rate is worth having, but it comes second to using more of your own power.