What is the Smart Export Guarantee and how much will I be paid?
Short answer
The SEG obliges large electricity suppliers to offer a tariff paying for solar you export, at any rate above zero. Basic SEG rates checked on 24 September 2026 range from 3p to 6p per kWh, while import-customer tariffs pay about 12-13p and supplier-install exclusives 15-25p.
Last checked 24 September 2026 · 4 sources
In more detail
- Mandatory for suppliers with >=150,000 domestic customers; others voluntary
- Installations up to 5 MW in Great Britain; not Northern Ireland
- You can pick any SEG licensee, not just your import supplier, but only one at a time
- Examples: Octopus Outgoing 12p (Octopus customers), E.ON Next Export Exclusive 13p, EDF Export 12m 13p, BG Export Premium 12p, EDF Export Variable 3p
The facts, dated
- 01Mandatory SEG licensee threshold — 150000 domestic customers
scheme · GB · checked 24 September 2026 · Ofgem
- 02SEG tariffs must always be above zero — >0 p/kWh
scheme · GB · checked 24 September 2026 · Ofgem
- 03Octopus Outgoing (variable) pays 12p/kWh — 12 p/kWh
market_data · GB · checked 24 September 2026 · Octopus Energy
- 04EDF SEG Export Variable pays 3.0p/kWh to anyone — 3.0 p/kWh
market_data · GB · checked 24 September 2026 · EDF
What we saw in the field
[QA review 2026-09-24] H-7 UNVERIFIABLE (plausible 2023 Flux figures; no bills). | Earlier notes: Homeowner (2023) earned ~£840 export credit vs ~£438 import on Octopus Flux and notes payback worsened as export rates fell - consistent with current basic SEG rates of 3-6p but import-linked rates of 12-13p remain.
Sources
- Ofgem — www.ofgem.gov.uk/sites/default/files/docs/2020/02/seg_generator_guidance_-_final…
- Ofgem — www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-and-social-schemes/smart-export-guarantee-seg
- Octopus Energy — api.octopus.energy/v1/products/
- EDF — www.edfenergy.com/energy-efficiency/smart-export-tariff
Last checked: 24 September 2026