May 2026 · 6 min read · By Greener Solar Solutions
The Smart Export Guarantee — usually shortened to SEG — is the government-mandated scheme that pays solar panel owners for surplus electricity they export to the grid. It replaced the older Feed-in Tariff in 2020.
By 2026 the scheme has matured. SEG rates are now genuinely competitive, the application process is mostly automated, and the income contributes meaningfully to solar payback maths. This is the current state of play.
What is the Smart Export Guarantee?
SEG is a legal obligation on UK energy suppliers with 150,000+ customers to offer at least one export tariff to households with eligible renewable installations. Solar PV is the most common; small wind, hydro, anaerobic digestion and micro-CHP also qualify.
When your solar panels generate more electricity than you’re using, the surplus exports to the national grid. Your supplier pays you a rate per kWh exported, measured by your smart meter.
Current SEG rates by supplier (May 2026)
Rates change regularly. Here’s the current picture for the main UK SEG-offering suppliers:
| Supplier | Tariff | Rate (p/kWh) | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|
| Octopus Energy | Outgoing Fixed | 15.0 | 12 months fixed |
| Octopus Energy | Outgoing Lite | 8.0 | Variable |
| Octopus Energy | Outgoing Agile | Variable, half-hourly | Variable |
| EDF Energy | Export Variable Value | 7.5 | Variable |
| Scottish Power | SmartGen+ | 12.5 | 12 months fixed |
| British Gas | Export & Earn Flex | 6.4 | Variable |
| E.ON Next | Next Export | 7.0 | Variable |
| OVO Energy | OVO SEG Tariff | 4.0 | Variable |
| SO Energy | SO Export | 6.0 | Variable |
Rates are as published in May 2026. Always check the supplier’s website for current rates before committing.
Best fixed rate: Octopus Outgoing Fixed at 15p/kWh. Most competitive over a 12-month horizon.
Best variable rate for daytime exporters: Octopus Outgoing Agile — pays the half-hourly wholesale rate. Can be very high in spring and summer afternoons, lower in winter.
Can I use a different SEG supplier from my import supplier?
Yes. SEG is a separate contract. You can buy your electricity from one supplier (e.g. EDF) and sell your exports to another (e.g. Octopus). Many households do exactly this — they shop around for the cheapest import rate and the highest export rate independently.
The only catch: some suppliers offer their best SEG rates only to their own import customers. Octopus’s 15p Outgoing Fixed is an example — you need to be an Octopus import customer to access it.
How much SEG income should I expect?
A typical 4kW Sussex household exports about 1,500–2,000 kWh per year (depending on self-consumption rate and whether there’s a battery). At the rates above:
| SEG rate | Annual SEG income (4kW, no battery) |
|---|---|
| 4p/kWh | £60 – £80 |
| 8p/kWh | £120 – £160 |
| 15p/kWh | £225 – £300 |
Adding a battery typically reduces export (because you’re using more of your own generation) — but compensates with higher overall savings on grid imports.
What you need to qualify
To register for SEG you need:
- An MCS-certified installer — this is the critical one. We are MCS certified, so any installation we do qualifies you for SEG.
- An MCS certificate for your installation — we provide this after commissioning
- A smart meter (SMETS2 ideally) capable of recording half-hourly export data — most UK households now have one. If you don’t, your supplier can install one (free)
- A signed SEG tariff agreement with the supplier of your choice
Properties without smart meters can still apply but the supplier may install one as part of onboarding. Properties with older SMETS1 meters may need an upgrade — your supplier handles this.
How to apply
After your solar system is commissioned and MCS-registered, you can apply for SEG in five steps:
- Choose your SEG supplier — based on rates, contract type, and whether you also want to switch your import to the same supplier.
- Gather documents — MCS certificate, smart meter MPAN number, your bank account details for payments.
- Apply online — most suppliers have a SEG application form on their website. Octopus is the fastest (10 minutes).
- Confirmation — usually within 2–4 weeks. The supplier may need to switch your smart meter to half-hourly settlement.
- First payment — typically arrives 1–3 months after registration, then quarterly thereafter.
Tax treatment
SEG income is currently treated as tax-free under the Microgeneration Personal Allowance for most domestic installations. No need to declare it on a self-assessment unless your overall energy-business income exceeds the threshold.
Switching SEG suppliers
You can switch SEG suppliers at any time, subject to any fixed-term contracts you’ve signed. The process is similar to switching import suppliers — apply with the new SEG supplier, they handle the transfer. Typically 4–6 weeks.
Worth doing periodically — the most competitive SEG rate changes year to year as suppliers respond to wholesale electricity prices and policy.
Bottom line
The Smart Export Guarantee in 2026 adds £100–£300 a year to a typical 4kW solar install — meaningful, but not life-changing. The real money is in the electricity bills you avoid paying, not the SEG income.
That said, if you’ve got solar, get on the best SEG tariff you can. Octopus Outgoing Fixed at 15p/kWh is the standout in 2026; the others trail. You can switch SEG supplier independently of who you buy your electricity from.
We register every install with MCS as part of our service. After that you’re free to apply for whichever SEG tariff you prefer.
Related guides
- Solar Panel Cost Guide UK 2026 — Full cost picture including SEG income.
- 0% VAT on Solar Panels — How tax relief affects total cost.
- Solar Panel FAQs — More on SEG, batteries and finance.
