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What are the best SEG rates?

Exporting-to-the-gridLast updated on 23 July 30 min read

Here are the best export tariffs you can use to earn money from the excess solar electricity you send to the grid - and the best import tariffs to combine them with.

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Written byJosh Jackman

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Best SEG rates: at a glance

You can make money from sending your excess solar electricity to the grid with the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) – but to get the highest returns possible, you have to pick the right tariff.

There are dozens of options with different requirements, and even the best ones are often only the right choice for certain households. In this guide, we’ll run through the best export rates for the different types of solar homes.

To qualify for any of these tariffs, you’ll need a smart meter and documents that prove your solar installation is certified and approved. You can access these tariffs regardless of whether you've paid the upfront cost of solar panels or opted for a solar subscription.

But be wary of solar products that require a roof lease, as some of these packages will stop you from accessing an export tariff.

It’s worth getting on board, as hundreds of thousands of households have discovered. 283,666 solar installations signed up to a tariff between April and March , according to Ofgem’s Annual Report – three times more than the previous year.

Overall, households on export tariffs earned £30.7 million – a 327% increase on the income received the year before.

This equates to 13p per kilowatt-hour (kWh) – up from 9p in the previous year – but as you’ll see in the table below, you can earn a lot more if you’re willing to shop around. 

If you would like to see the savings you could get from a solar & battery system, just answer a few questions below, and we’ll provide an estimate.

What are the best Smart Export Guarantee rates?

The best overall export tariffs include British Gas Export and Earn Plus, Good Energy Solar Savings, and Intelligent Octopus Flux.

However, which export tariff will work best for you depends on your circumstances.

This includes how much of your solar panels' electricity you consume, whether you have a heat pump and/or electric vehicle, and which installer you choose. 

Some export tariffs are only accessible to households that go solar through that supplier, which can be a major limitation – especially if you already have a solar panel system. We’ll go into detail about all of these factors further down in this article.

You should also consider which import tariffs you can use with each export rate. That’s why we’ve matched every export tariff with the best import rate you can get alongside it, and calculated how much each pair can save you on your electricity bills.

After all, signing up for an SEG rate without properly assessing your potential overall savings may mean you’re not making the most of your system.

Language has evolved since the SEG’s beginnings in , and the term ‘SEG’ is now often used to refer to all export tariffs, even those that aren't part of the scheme. They all perform the same function, so we've included all of them in our article.

Provider Tariff Export rate (p/kWh)* Customers only? Best import tariff** Avg annual savings† Good Energy Solar Savings 15 Yes Good Energy EV Charge £1,082 British Gas Export and Earn Plus 15.1 Yes British Gas Electric Driver £1,044 Octopus Intelligent Octopus Flux ††

4pm-7pm: 30.69

Other times: 23.02

Yes Intelligent Octopus Flux £1,019 E.ON Next Export Exclusive 16.5 Yes - or install with E.ON E.ON Next Fixed 12m v66 £930 EDF Export 12m 15 Yes Simply Fixed Jul26v13 £897 Octopus Outgoing Fixed 15 Yes Octopus 12M Fixed June v1 § £859 ScottishPower SmartGen 6 No British Gas Electric Driver £836 ScottishPower SmartGen Premium 12 Yes ScottishPower Cap Tracker Sept £833 OVO SEG Beyond Exclusive 12 Yes OVO 1 Year Fixed £825 Pozitive Energy SEG tariff 5 No British Gas Electric Driver £813 So Energy So Export Flex 4.5 No British Gas Electric Driver £802 Octopus SEG tariff 4.1 No British Gas Electric Driver £792 Good Energy Export Only 4 No British Gas Electric Driver £790 OVO SEG tariff 4 No British Gas Electric Driver £790 Tomato Energy SEG Export Tariff 4 No British Gas Electric Driver £790 EDF Export Variable Value 5.6 Yes Simply Fixed Jul26v13 £784 British Gas Export & Earn Flex 3.02 No British Gas Electric Driver £768 Voltx Power SEG Tariff 3.02 No British Gas Electric Driver £768 EDF Export Variable 3 No British Gas Electric Driver £767 E.ON Next Export 3 No British Gas Electric Driver £767 Ruby Energy SEG Tariff 3 No British Gas Electric Driver £767 Utilita Utilita Smart Export Guarantee 3 No British Gas Electric Driver £767 Utility Warehouse UW Smart Export Guarantee - Bundle 8 Yes Utility Warehouse Double Gold £762 Utility Warehouse UW Smart Export Guarantee - Standard 2 No British Gas Electric Driver £744 E E SEG Januaryv.1 1 No British Gas Electric Driver £721

The best SEG rates: explained

Here are the top seven export tariffs, along with all the information you need about which households are eligible and how you can apply.

You can access these tariffs regardless of who installs – or installed – your system.

In most cases, you’ll have to switch import suppliers to be eligible, but it’s usually worth it.

1. Good Energy Solar Savings

This 15p per kWh export rate is elevated by Good Energy's excellent EV Charge tariff, which provides you with electricity for 6.6p per kWh between 12am and 5am every night, whether or not you have an electric car.

You can charge your battery on this rate – one of the lowest on the market – then use it to run your home during the day, when the rate is 29.06p per kWh.

The average household (i.e. a home using 3,400kWh of electricity per year) can cover most of its electricity usage in this way.

The major drawback for EV Charge customers is the £75 exit fee, but the tariff's low rate means you'll struggle to find a better deal elsewhere anyway.

Make sure you lock it in though, as Good Energy has offered three different off-peak rates in the past few months: 6.75p per kWh, then 8p per kWh, then the current 6.6p per kWh rate.

To join the Solar Savings tariff, you do have to own solar panels and a battery, but you don’t have to go through Good Energy to get them installed.

Everything you need to know

Information Export rate (p/kWh) 15 Need to become a customer? Yes Installer? Any Best import tariff to pair with Good Energy EV Charge Import rate (p/kWh)

12am-5am: 6.6

Peak: 29.06

Avg annual savings† £1,082 Payment schedule Quarterly Exit fee None Tariff type Fixed

How to sign up for Good Energy Solar Savings

Before you sign up for this export tariff, make sure you’re on one of the qualifying import tariffs, which you can see below.

Here are the main eligibility criteria:

• Receive grid electricity on one of these tariffs: Good Energy Standard Electricity, EV Charge, or Heat Pump
• Own solar panels

To fill in the online form, you’ll need your Good Energy account number, proof that you own your solar panels, and your MCS or Flexi-Orb certificate.

You’ll also need to know your system’s capacity and commissioning date.

With the right tariffs and solar panels, you can make huge savings

2. British Gas Export and Earn Plus

In October , British Gas raised this tariff from 15p to 15.1p per kWh, positioning it just above the 15p per kWh tariffs.

Its qualifying conditions are pleasingly limited: households don’t need a full solar installation to be eligible – so if you don’t have panels yet, you can start using this tariff with just a battery.

You can also use British Gas’s top-tier Electric Driver tariff, which like Good Energy EV Charge is available to all households, regardless of whether you have an EV.

This allows you to charge your battery from 12am to 5am for 7.9p per kWh.

If Sunsave or Hive installs your system, you can also get the Hive Solar Saver discount, which cuts your peak electricity rate by 25%.

As of July , this reduces a household’s rate from 27p per kWh to 20.25p per kWh. Click here to learn more.

Everything you need to know

Information Export rate (p/kWh) 15.1 Need to become a customer? Yes Installer? Any Best import tariff to pair with British Gas Electric Driver Avg annual savings† £1,044 Payment schedule Quarterly Exit fee None Tariff type Variable

How to sign up for British Gas Export and Earn Plus

As long as you get your electricity from British Gas, you can sign up for this tariff, which is a big advantage for households that already have a solar installation or don’t want to go solar with British Gas.

Here are the eligibility criteria:

• Receive grid electricity from British Gas
• Own solar panels or a battery

To apply, download the application form, fill it in, and attach the relevant documents, including a photo of your smart meter showing an export reading and its serial number, your Flexi-Orb or Microgeneration Certificate Scheme (MCS) certificate, a copy of your G98 or G99, and proof of ownership.

This can be a copy of the invoice you received from your solar installer, or – if the system has ever changed owners – either a copy of the deed including it with the property’s sale, or the solicitor’s letter that proves you’ve inherited it.

Then you can either scan all these documents and them to , or post them to British Gas.

The company has indicated that after your application arrives, it can take up to 28 days to complete the process.

3. Intelligent Octopus Flux

Intelligent Octopus Flux is an excellent choice for Octopus customers who have solar panels and a compatible brand of battery.

As it pays such a high export rate, it’s best for households that don't actually consume the majority of the electricity they produce.

With Intelligent Octopus Flux, you’ll receive around 30.69p per kWh you send to the grid from 4pm to 7pm, and 23.02p per kWh for the rest of the day.

This is a very profitable pair of rates – and you’ll earn more thanks to Octopus automatically exporting more of your excess electricity at peak times.

The supplier uses smart battery controls to set your battery to import and export, maximising your profits through electricity arbitrage – that is, buying cheap grid electricity at night, storing it in your battery, then selling it to the grid at peak times, when its price is highest.

Since import rates match your export rates, you can also cut your electricity bills by shifting your consumption away from peak hours.

To learn much more, head to our full guide on Intelligent Octopus Flux.

And if you'd like to sign up for Intelligent Octopus Flux, click the button below.

Everything you need to know

Information Export rate (p/kWh)

4pm-7pm: 30.69

Other times: 23.02*

Need to become a customer? Yes Installer? Any Best import tariff to pair with Intelligent Octopus Flux Import rate (p/kWh)

4pm-7pm: 30.69

Other times: 23.02

Avg annual savings† £1,019 Payment schedule Monthly Exit fee None Tariff type Variable

How to sign up for Intelligent Octopus Flux

Signing up for Intelligent Octopus Flux is relatively straightforward. The first step is to become an Octopus customer, which is a simple process.

The only sticking point is that you have to own an eligible battery. The list of qualifying batteries currently only includes Enphase and GivEnergy models.

Here are the main eligibility criteria:

• Receive grid electricity from Octopus
• Own solar panels & an eligible battery
• Own an Apple or Android smartphone or tablet
• Own a smart meter

Your smart meter must be either a SMETS1 edition made by Secure or any SMETS2 model – and if you haven’t had one before, Octopus will need about 14 days to establish a connection.

Once you’ve signed up to Octopus import and export tariffs and have a qualifying smart meter, you’ll just need to provide three key documents.

These are your system’s MCS or Flexi-Orb certificate, G98 or G99 application, and approval from your District Network Operator (DNO) – that is, the organisation that runs the hardware supplying electricity to your region. 

Octopus will sort through these documents in about two days, and apply to your DNO for an export MPAN.

One to four weeks later, your DNO will provide your export MPAN, it’ll be added to your Octopus account, and once you’ve provided an initial meter reading, you can switch to Intelligent Octopus Flux via Octopus’s app or website.

Verified expert

Once you’ve got solar panels, it can be tempting to stick with your current energy supplier and not go through the faff of switching, even if another supplier offers higher export tariffs - but in most cases it’s worth the switch. It may only be a matter of a few extra pence per kWh, but over several years this will mount up and make a huge difference to your energy bills.

Alfie Ireland

Head of Operations & Technical at Sunsave

Alfie has worked in green tech for over a decade. During his four years at OVO, he helped develop the world’s largest domestic vehicle-to-grid trial.

4. E.ON Next Export Exclusive

You can take advantage of this Next Export Exclusive without needing to get E.ON-installed solar panels or a battery.

16.5p per kWh is the highest flat rate you can get without needing to either buy your solar installation through the same company or get a specific piece of solar gear.

It does come with a 15kWp upper limit, though. Most domestic systems won't exceed that, but it's worth taking into consideration if you're looking to make the most of your roof space with a large system.

Just like with OVO and Good Energy, you’ll be guaranteed to receive this export rate until your contract ends – but you have to request quarterly payments, or E.ON will pay you annually.

Everything you need to know

Information Export rate (p/kWh) 16.5 Need to become a customer? Yes - or go solar through E.ON Installer? Same as supplier - or become a customer Best import tariff to pair with E.ON Next Fixed 12m v66 Import rate (p/kWh) 23.81 Avg annual savings† £930 Payment schedule Annually, or quarterly if requested Exit fee None Tariff type Fixed

How to sign up for E.ON Next Export Exclusive

It’s relatively easy to qualify for this tariff.

You can qualify for Next Export Exclusive by getting E.ON to either supply your electricity or carry out your solar installation.

Here are the crucial eligibility criteria:

• Receive grid electricity from E.ON, or
• Buy solar panels or a battery from E.ON

Signing up for Next Export Exclusive also involves filling in an online form.

Make sure you have these documents ready: your MCS or Flexi-Orb certificate, a photo of your smart meter, your DNO approval letter, and a schematic diagram of your system if you have a battery.

E.ON can take up to four weeks to process your application, and will then apply to your DNO for an export MPAN.

Somewhere between one and four weeks later, your DNO should provide this number, at which point the switch will happen almost instantly.

To find out how much a solar & battery system could save you, fill in a few details below and we'll generate an estimate for you.

Shifting your consumption on a time of use tariff can boost your savings

5. Octopus Flux

Octopus Flux is a variable tariff that pays you different amounts depending on when you export your solar electricity, and also where you live in the UK.

This tariff will almost always be worse for solar homes than Intelligent Octopus Flux, but if you’re looking for an Octopus export tariff and don't have a compatible battery, Octopus Flux is still a great choice.

If you export between 2am and 5am, you’ll only be paid about 4.99p per kWh – but if you send your electricity to the grid between 4pm and 7pm, the rate will rocket up to around 29.32p per kWh.

Export your electricity at other times will earn you about 10.11p per kWh – but if you export as much electricity as you can during peak hours, you can earn a lot more.

When it comes to importing electricity, you should make the most of the 2am-5am slot, when you can buy electricity from the grid for around 16.4p per kWh. This shoots up to roughly 38.26p per kWh between 4pm and 7pm, and hovers around 27.33p per kWh for the rest of the day.

All you need to access this rate is to be an Octopus customer, and own a solar & battery system.

However, you’ll have to use your solar app – usually created by your inverter’s manufacturer – to manually set your battery to export at a certain time every day, unlike Intelligent Octopus Flux.

To learn much more, head to our full guide on Octopus Flux.

If you're interested in signing up for Octopus Flux, click the button below.

Everything you need to know

Information Need to become a customer? Yes Installer? Any Best import tariff to pair with Octopus Flux Import rate (p/kWh)

2am-5am: 16.4

4pm-7pm: 38.26

Other times: 27.33

Avg annual savings† £926 Payment schedule Monthly Exit fee None Tariff type Variable

How to sign up for Octopus Flux

It’s easier to sign up for Octopus Flux than most of the top SEG rates, since you don’t have to get your system installed by a particular supplier or own any specific branded gear.

Here are the key eligibility criteria:

• Receive grid electricity from Octopus
• Own solar panels and a battery

If you qualify, you’ll have to be an Octopus customer before you can use Octopus Flux.

After you’ve switched, which should be a simple process, you’ll just need a valid smart meter. A SMETS2 model or a SMETS1 meter made by Secure will do.

If Octopus hasn’t connected to your smart meter before, it’ll take the supplier around 14 days to establish a remote link.

The company will then send you an asking you to agree to the terms and conditions – and once you have, you can start benefiting from Octopus Flux straight away.

6. EDF Export 12m

If you want to stay with EDF to the extent that you don't mind giving up extra earnings, this is the tariff for you.

All you need to do is get your grid electricity from EDF, and every three months you’ll receive 15p for every kWh your solar panels export, which is a reasonably good rate.

If you’re not looking to get a solar battery, this is also a decent choice, though your import tariff options will be limited.

EDF's EV tariffs aren't accessible to households without an electric car, so you'll be left with a standard tariff. We've included the current best choice in the table below.

Everything you need to know

Information Export rate (p/kWh) 15 Need to become a customer? Yes Installer? Any Best import tariff to pair with Simply Fixed Jul26v13 Import rate (p/kWh) 24.7 Avg annual savings† £897 Payment schedule Quarterly Exit fee None Tariff type Fixed

How to sign up for EDF Export 12m

The requirements for Export 12m are pretty limited, though as with all tariffs at 15p per kWh and above, you do still have to get your electricity from the same supplier.

Here are the main eligibility criteria:

• Receive grid electricity from EDF
• Own solar panels

If you fulfil these conditions, gather your Flexi-Orb or MCS certificate, Meter Point Administration Number (MPAN) – a 13-digit code that’s unique to your electricity meter and is available online – and bank details.

Then you just have to complete an application form, which you can access online or by emailing .

If you haven't applied for an export tariff before, EDF will request and register your export MPAN. The supplier will then ask you for a smart meter reading, and you’ll be ready to go.

7. Octopus Outgoing Fixed

This is Octopus’s simplest export tariff.

Just move to Octopus for your electricity supply, and you can qualify for Outgoing Fixed and its monthly payments of 15p per kWh.

If you’re not looking to get a solar battery, this is a decent option – though you'll still likely be better off with EDF or E.ON.

Everything you need to know

Information Export rate (p/kWh) 15 Need to become a customer? Yes Installer? Any Best import tariff to pair with Octopus 12M Fixed June v1 Import rate (p/kWh) 25.6 Avg annual savings† £859 Payment schedule Monthly Exit fee None Tariff type Fixed

How to sign up for Octopus Outgoing Fixed

The requirements for Outgoing Fixed are minor and achievable.

Here are the main eligibility criteria:

• Receive grid electricity from Octopus
• Own solar panels

If you meet these criteria, go ahead and fill in the online application. You’ll just need to provide your MCS certificate number and a scan of your DNO notification letter.

Octopus will process your application in around two days, then if necessary, will apply to your DNO for an export MPAN.

It’ll generally take one to four weeks for your DNO to provide an export MPAN, after which point Octopus will add it to your account and begin enrolling you. This should take around five days.

Then all you’ll have to do is provide Octopus with an initial meter reading, and you can start earning.

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The best export tariffs for households with an EV

Export tariff Rate (p/kWh) Import tariff Rate (p/kWh) E.ON Next Export Premium v2 21 E.ON Next Drive Fixed V9

12am-7am: 6.7

Other times: 28.53

Next Export Exclusive 16.5 E.ON Next Drive Fixed V9

12am-7am: 6.7

Other times: 28.53

Octopus Outgoing Fixed 15 Intelligent Octopus Go

11:30pm-5:30am: 7

Other times: 27.88

The best export tariff for households with an EV is usually either Octopus’s 15p per kWh Outgoing Fixed tariff, one of E.ON's Next Export Premium v2 and Next Export Exclusive tariffs, or Good Energy Solar Savings.

The Octopus tariff provides good value for your exported electricity and enables you to use Intelligent Octopus Go for your imports.

This smart import tariff includes an off-peak rate of 7p per kWh between 11:30pm and 5:30am. You can use this electricity for your EV and household, which is where it differs from some of the other best EV tariffs.

And as long as you give your charger enough notice of when you need your EV to be charged by, you can fill up your car’s battery for 7p per kWh at any time of day.

Octopus will charge your car when it’s the cheapest time to buy grid electricity – but whenever it happens, you’ll pay the same low price. This makes you part of a virtual power plant.

E.ON’s 21p per kWh Next Export Premium v2 tariff and 16.5p per kWh Next Export Exclusive tariff both pay more than Octopus Outgoing Fixed, though the former is only available to households that go solar through E.ON.

Both tariffs allow you to sign up to E.ON Next Drive. This fixed import tariff provides households with an off-peak rate of 6.7p per kWh from 12am to 7am, which you can use to charge your EV and power anything in your home.

It doesn’t come with the same flexibility as Intelligent Octopus Go, but does offer a slightly cheaper rate for a longer fixed period.

Good Energy's export rate can be paired with the supplier's EV Charge import tariff, which offers an off-peak rate of 6.6p per kWh between 12am and 5am.

This is slightly lower than E.ON Next Drive's rate, but for a shorter amount of time.

Which of these import tariffs is better for you will depend on your situation, but they’re all excellent options.

The best export tariffs for households with a heat pump

The best export tariff if you have a heat pump is usually Octopus Outgoing Fixed, British Gas Export and Earn Plus, or Good Energy Solar Savings.

Battery size is a big factor. If you have a large battery, one of British Gas or Good Energy's tariffs will generally be the better option, while households with smaller batteries should usually go with Octopus.

Signing up for Octopus’s tariff, which pays 15p per kWh, lets you also use Cosy Octopus as your import tariff. This tariff comes with three off-peak periods – from 4am to 7am, 1pm to 4pm, and 10pm to 12am – which are all 51% cheaper than the standard variable rate.

You effectively get eight hours every day to use half-price electricity to power any appliances, including your heat pump. This should more than offset the 4pm-7pm peak period, when electricity costs 50% more than the standard variable rate.

You could also choose British Gas Export and Earn Plus, which pays 15.1p per kWh, and sign up to British Gas Electric Driver, an import tariff that charges you 7.9p per kWh between 12am and 5am.

Or you could opt for Good Energy Solar Savings, which pays 15p per kWh, and choose Good Energy EV Charge for your import tariff. This time of use tariff has an off-peak rate of 6.6p per kWh from 12am to 5am.

The bigger your battery, the more you can take advantage of either of these generous import rates. If you can also shift your electricity consumption as well, you can cut your costs substantially.

This is crucial when you have a heat pump, which generally increases your annual electricity consumption by more than 90%.

The best export tariffs with limited installer options

Some suppliers offer tariffs that could net you higher savings and earnings than the options listed above – but you’ll have to get that same supplier to carry out your solar installation.

This can be a significant drawback, particularly if their services are expensive, below par, or both.

None of these companies are on our list of the best solar panel installers in the UK, for instance, and anyone who already has a solar & battery system will have to look elsewhere.

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Also, if you’re thinking that Good Energy Solar Savings Exclusive’s 25p per kWh export rate is worth the investment: it’s only temporary. After 12 months, you’ll be shifted onto the supplier’s 15p per kWh Solar Savings export tariff.

Provider Tariff Rate (p/kWh) Customers only? Installer? Best import tariff* Avg annual savings** Good Energy Solar Savings Exclusive 25 Yes Same as supplier Good Energy EV Charge £1,311 EDF Export Exclusive 12m V2 24 Yes Same as supplier Empower Tracker Exclusive 12m £1,278 British Gas Export and Earn Plus 15.1 Yes Same as supplier British Gas Electric Driver with Hive Solar Saver £1,053 OVO SEG Install Exclusive 20 Yes Same as supplier OVO Extended Fixed + Battery Boost † £1,023 E.ON Next Export Premium v2 21 Yes Same as supplier E.ON Next Fixed 12m v66 £984 So Energy So Bright 20 Yes Same as supplier So Dean Two Year Tariff £910 ScottishPower SmartGen Premium Plus 15 Yes Same as supplier ScottishPower Cap Tracker Sept £869

1. Good Energy Solar Savings Exclusive

To access this generous 25p per kWh rate, you have to get a solar & battery system installed through Good Energy.

This means using either Good Energy’s in-house solar installers or JPS Renewable Energy, a Kent-based company owned by Good Energy that operates across the south of England.

And this tariff only lasts for 12 months, after which point customers are moved onto a different, less profitable tariff.

You'll also have to get your grid electricity from Good Energy, though the supplier's EV Charge tariff is one of the best on the market.

It comes with a 6.6p per kWh off-peak rate between 12am and 5am that you can use to power the whole household, regardless of whether you have an electric car.

However, if you switch import tariffs early, you'll have to pay a £75 exit fee.

Everything you need to know

Information Export rate (p/kWh) 25 Need to become a customer? Yes Installer? Same as supplier Best import tariff to pair with Good Energy EV Charge Avg annual savings** £1,311 Payment schedule Quarterly Exit fee None Tariff type Fixed

How to sign up for Good Energy Solar Savings Exclusive

This tariff offers a high export rate, but comes with strict requirements.

Here are the eligibility criteria:

• Receive grid electricity on Good Energy’s Standard Electricity, EV Charge, or Heat Pump tariff
• Buy a solar & battery system from Good Energy or JPS Renewables

First, fill out the company’s online application form.

Once you’ve pressed submit, someone from Good Energy’s export tariff team will contact you to discuss the next steps.

Or if you don’t want to apply online, you can or call 034 to start the process.

It's usually worth switching suppliers to get a better combination of tariffs

2. EDF Export Exclusive 12m V2

Energy giant EDF launched this tariff in June at a 20p per kWh rate, after more than four years of paying solar customers a maximum of 5.6p per kWh,

The supplier then changed its name from Empower Exclusive in January , before raising its rate to 24p per kWh in April and tacking on 'V2' at the end.

You have to receive your grid electricity from EDF to qualify, but thankfully, Empower Tracker Exclusive 12m is a great option. This import tariff comes without an electricity standing charge, saving you around £200 per year.

The requirements are less stringent than Good Energy’s, with households only needing to install solar panels or a storage battery through EDF, instead of both.

However, being limited to using EDF to fit your system means you won’t necessarily get the most affordable deal or highest quality installation.

Watch out too, because offerings like these with bonus features don’t always last long, and can be scrapped at a moment’s notice – like E.ON’s now-defunct 40p per kWh rate.

So if you’re getting a system through EDF purely so you can sign up to this tariff, be aware that it can disappear at any time.

Also, the rest of EDF’s pricing is less generous. The tariff tracks the Ofgem price cap, matching it for most of the day before increasing by 10p per kWh from 4pm to 7pm, and dropping by 10p per kWh between 1am and 4am.

Charging your battery for less is always good, and you should be able to fill a 5.2kWh battery with relatively cheap electricity, then use it during peak periods, when the import rate shoots up to 35.73p per kWh.

However, a three-hour 15.73p per kWh rate (as of the July price cap) is both more expensive and much shorter than many other suppliers’ off-peak periods.

Everything you need to know

Information Export rate (p/kWh) 24 Need to become a customer? Yes Installer? Same as supplier Best import tariff to pair with EDF Empower Tracker Exclusive 12m Import rate (p/kWh)

1-4am: 15.73

4-7pm 35.73

Other times: 25.73

Avg annual savings** £1,278 Payment schedule Quarterly Exit fee None Tariff type Variable

How to sign up for EDF Export Exclusive 12m V2

Export Exclusive 12m V2 is a little more flexible than some tariffs, requiring you to install only solar panels or a battery through EDF.

Here are the primary eligibility criteria:

• Receive grid electricity from EDF
• Buy solar panels or a battery through EDF subsidiary Contact Solar

The first step is filling in an application form.

Before you begin, make sure you have your Flexi-Orb or MCS certificate, MPAN, and bank details.

Unusually, it’s not possible to submit your application online. You can either scan the form into an and send it to , or post it to EDF.

If it’s your first SEG tariff application, EDF will then request and register your export MPAN. When this process is complete, the supplier will ask for your first smart meter reading, and you’ll be good to go.

3. British Gas Export and Earn Plus (with Hive Solar Saver)

This is British Gas’s most generous combination of tariffs, but it’s only open to households that get solar panels and/or a battery installed through Sunsave or British Gas.

Those who do can access the supplier’s Electric Driver import tariff – which offers a cheap off-peak rate of 7.9p per kWh between 12am and 5am – with Hive Solar Saver.

This add-on provides you with the bonus of a 25% discount on peak electricity.

That means you can charge up your battery at off-peak times, then use this cheap supply throughout the day, along with the electricity your solar panels generate.

And on the rare occasions you need to import from the grid at peak times, your Hive Solar Saver will ensure you pay 25% less than other people on Electric Driver.

As of July , that means bringing your rate down from around 27p per kWh to 20.25p per kWh.

Everything you need to know

Information Export rate (p/kWh) 15.1 Need to become a customer? Yes Installer? Same as supplier Best import tariff to pair with British Gas Electric Driver with Hive Solar Saver Avg annual savings** £1,053 Payment schedule Quarterly Exit fee None Tariff type Variable

How to sign up for British Gas Export and Earn Plus (with Hive Solar Saver)

Qualifying for this tariff is simple: just contact us or British Gas, and if you accept a quote and get your installation within three months, you’ll get an inviting you to register for Hive Solar Saver.

Sign up for Hive Solar Saver in the two weeks after you receive that message, and you’ll get a 25% discount on your peak electricity for the next 12 months, paid as credit on your bills.

Here are the key eligibility criteria:

• Receive grid electricity from British Gas
• Buy solar panels and/or a battery through us or British Gas

You can tick off both of these requirements by switching to a standard British Gas import tariff, then arranging your solar installation through us or British Gas.

Once you have your solar equipment in place, you can switch your import tariff to Electric Driver and sign up to Export and Earn Plus simply by logging in to your British Gas account.

All you’ll need to have is a photo of your smart meter that shows an export reading and its serial number, your system’s Flexi-Orb or MCS certificate, a copy of your G98 or G99, and proof of ownership.

It can take up to 28 days for British Gas to complete your move onto these two tariffs.

After that’s all done and dusted, you’ll receive an emailed invitation to Hive Solar Saver, which will include a couple of simple steps to getting your 25% discount on peak electricity.

4. OVO SEG Install Exclusive

If you receive electricity from OVO, and buy its solar package – which includes a storage battery – you can access the company’s highest SEG rate of 20p per kWh.

The main drawback of this tariff is that you have to buy solar panels, a battery, and grid electricity through OVO, meaning you don’t have any choice when it comes to which installer you use.

If you don't want OVO to install your battery, but don't mind getting your solar panels and electricity through the supplier, you can still qualify for this tariff – but you'll only receive 15p per kWh.

When OVO Solar launched in , its 20p per kWh rate was only available in Wales and south-west England – some of the best places in the UK to have solar panels – but it’s now open to the great majority of mainland Britain.

And since October , some customers have been able to use Battery Boost, an add-on that enables OVO to charge your battery with off-peak electricity for 10p per kWh, then sell it back to the grid at peak times for 20p per kWh.

Roughly speaking, OVO will charge 70% of your battery every day during winter, when your solar panels will generate less electricity, and 40% in the summer.

With a 5.2kWh battery, this will result in OVO importing and exporting around 1,030kWh per year, netting you £103.

To learn more, check out our full guide to OVO's SEG tariffs.

Everything you need to know

Information Export rate (p/kWh) 20 Need to become a customer? Yes Installer? Same as supplier Best import tariff to pair with OVO Extended Fixed + Battery Boost Import rate (p/kWh)

23.75

Avg annual savings** £1,023 Payment schedule Quarterly Exit fee None Tariff type Fixed

How to sign up for OVO SEG Install Exclusive

To access the tariff's 20p per kWh rate, you’ll need to have solar panels and a battery installed through OVO.

If you’re going to qualify for Battery Boost too, you must have an OVO-installed solar panel system, smart meter, and compatible battery.

Here are the important eligibility criteria for OVO SEG Install Exclusive:

• Receive grid electricity through OVO
• Buy solar panels and a battery through OVO
• Live in an eligible area (i.e. most of mainland Britain)
• Your solar panel system isn't larger than 30kWp

Signing up for this tariff involves completing an online form and providing OVO with your MCS or Flexi-Orb certificate, DNO approval letter, G98 or G99 application, MPAN, and a schematic of your system.

You may also have to supply proof of identity – like a copy of your passport – and proof of address, like a utility bill with your name on it. 

As with most suppliers, the process can take up to 11 weeks in total.

5. E.ON Next Export Premium v2

This is E.ON's highest export tariff, after the company ended its 40p per kWh Premium Plus rate in October , just six months into its existence.

The Premium v2 tariff should be less of a flash in the pan: it comes with a fixed two-year contract, and has already lasted more than a year.

However, it does require you to buy your solar panels or battery through E.ON's Solar and Storage team, and import your electricity from E.ON too.

You don't need to have solar panels and a battery to qualify, but it's usually more profitable to get both – and if you have them installed at the same time, it typically cuts your battery costs.

A 21p per kWh export tariff is appealing, as long as you’re comfortable with E.ON installing your system and supplying your electricity.

Everything you need to know

Information Export rate (p/kWh) 21 Need to become a customer? Yes Installer? Same as supplier Best import tariff to pair with E.ON Next Fixed 12m v66 Import rate (p/kWh) 23.81 Avg annual savings** £984 Payment schedule Annually, or quarterly if requested Exit fee None Tariff type Fixed

How to sign up for E.ON Next Export Premium v2

This 21p per kWh tariff is only available to households that install solar panels and buy electricity through E.ON.

Here are the major eligibility criteria:

• Receive grid electricity through E.ON
• Buy solar panels through E.ON

To sign up, you’ll have to fill in an online form and attach your MCS or Flexi-Orb certificate, a photo of your smart meter, your DNO approval letter, and a schematic diagram of your system if you have a battery.

E.ON can take up to four weeks to process this application, after which point the company will apply to your DNO for an export MPAN.

It’ll usually take between one and four weeks for the DNO to provide this number, after which point the switch will happen instantly.

6. So Energy So Bright

This is So Energy's attempt to attract new customers with a 20p per kWh rate – but it only lasts for 12 months.

After that, you'll be moved onto the supplier's other export tariff, So Export Flex, which pays a paltry 4.5p per kWh.

Considering you have to get a solar & battery system installed through So Energy to qualify, this is a subpar choice.

So Export Flex operates on a 30-day rolling contract with no exit fee, so you can easily sign up to a different company's tariff, but it's not worth the hassle.

Temporary promotional rates like this are only worth it if they pay significantly more than other tariffs, which So Bright doesn't.

Also, So Energy isn't offering a time of use import tariff that allows you to boost your savings – and its current best option falls flat, thanks to its £75 exit fee and pricey standing charge of 53.98p per day.

Everything you need to know

Information Export rate (p/kWh) 20 Need to become a customer? Yes Installer? Same as supplier Best import tariff to pair with So Dean Two Year Tariff Import rate (p/kWh) 23.75 Avg annual savings** £910 Payment schedule Monthly Exit fee None Tariff type Fixed

How to sign up for So Energy So Bright

You can only sign up to this temporary 20p per kWh tariff if So Energy installs your solar & battery system and provides you with electricity.

Here are the main eligibility criteria:

• Receive grid electricity through So Energy
• Buy a solar & battery system through So Energy

First, gather your MCS or Flexi-Orb certificate, G98 or G99 application, and proof that you own your solar & battery system – all of which So Energy should give you during or after your installation.

Once you've filled in an online form with the help of these documents, So Energy will ask your DNO for an export MPAN, if you don't already have one. This can take up to five working days, according to the supplier.

So Energy will then get in touch to complete the sign-up process, and you'll be ready to start earning export income.

7. ScottishPower SmartGen Premium Plus

In July , ScottishPower changed its export tariffs for the first time in more than two years.

The supplier's previous 15p per kWh export tariff, SmartGen+, was available to households who bought either solar panels or a battery from ScottishPower, but not their grid electricity.

This flexibility made SmartGen+ distinctive, and allowed its customers to choose the best import tariff on the market.

Unfortunately, you can only qualify for SmartGen Premium Plus if you import your electricity from ScottishPower.

So this tariff leaves you with no choice but to rely on ScottishPower’s solar installation team and unimpressive import rates.

SmartGen Premium Plus is variable, so you could technically end up making more than you would on rates higher up this list – but all else being equal, you probably won’t.

Everything you need to know

Information Export rate (p/kWh) 15 Need to become a customer? Yes Installer? Same as supplier Best import tariff to pair with ScottishPower Cap Tracker Sept Import rate (p/kWh) 26.012 Avg annual savings** £869 Payment schedule Every 90 days Exit fee None Tariff type Variable

How to sign up for ScottishPower SmartGen Premium Plus

Qualifying for this tariff is relatively simple – you just have to decide whether you want ScottishPower to carry out your solar installation and provide your import tariff.

Here are the important eligibility requirements:

• Receive grid electricity through ScottishPower
• Buy solar panels and/or a battery through ScottishPower

To fill in the application form for this tariff, you’ll need your MCS or Flexi-Orb certificate, proof of ownership, and a photo of your smart meter that shows the serial number and an export reading.

If you have a message from your DNO approving your export grid connection, that’s preferable but not necessary.

ScottishPower warns customers that it can take up to six weeks to process an application, though the supplier will backdate your payments to the initial meter reading you provided in your form.

The best short-term tariffs

Some energy companies have introduced temporarily high tariffs designed to persuade customers to go solar with them.

To qualify, you have to get your solar panels and battery through the supplier – but once the initial 12-month export contract ends, you’ll be rolled onto a lower tariff.

Here are the three most high-profile short-term tariffs, though one of them has now concluded, as temporary rates do.

1. Good Energy Solar Savings Exclusive

This tariff offers a 25p per kWh rate – but there are many strings attached.

First, you have to pay for a solar & battery installation carried out by either Good Energy Solar or JPS Renewable Energy – which the supplier acquired in – and sign up to a Good Energy import tariff, too.

Then, after 12 months, you’ll be moved to Good Energy’s Solar Savings tariff, which only pays 15p per kWh.

This means you could miss out on higher, less temporary tariffs from the likes of EDF, which also require you to install through them – and unless you get a compatible battery installed, you also won’t be able to access Intelligent Octopus Flux.

2. So Energy So Bright

If So Energy installs your solar & battery system and supplies your grid electricity, you can access the supplier’s 20p per kWh So Bright tariff.

This rate will apply for 12 months from the date your system was turned on.

But after that point, you’ll be shifted onto the company’s other export tariff, So Export Flex – which pays just 4.5p per kWh.

3. E.ON Next Export Premium Plus

E.ON’s groundbreaking 40p per kWh rate made headlines when it launched in April , but it wasn’t long for this world.

The tariff, which required households to use E.ON for their solar & battery system installation and electricity supply, ended in October – after just six months.

Customers who made the move during this period gained access to the 40p per kWh rate for 12 months, after which time they were moved to E.ON’s next-best rate.

How to choose the best SEG rate for you

The export rate is of course a big part of choosing the best SEG tariff for your household, but there are other important factors – not least which import tariff you can get alongside it.

We’ll run through the main elements, and explain how you should think about them.

At Sunsave, we’ll always help you choose the best export and import tariffs for your situation.

System size and consumption

Consider the size of your solar panel system in the context of how much electricity your household uses per year.

The average solar household exports 34% of the electricity its panels generate – a figure we’ve based on a property with average UK irradiance (850kWh per kWp), a 4.6kWp solar panel system, a 5.2kWh battery, and an annual consumption of 3,400kWh.

If your system produces substantially more electricity than you consume, you may export a good deal more than 34% – in which case you should probably choose a high export tariff, and place less value on getting a good import rate.

Intelligent Octopus Flux is usually an excellent choice in this scenario, as it offers an extremely generous peak export rate.

Alternatively, you could get an electric vehicle and/or a heat pump to take advantage of the excess electricity your panels generate.

If your system is relatively undersized compared to your consumption levels, your export tariff may be less significant than getting on a top import rate, like British Gas Electric Driver.

Whether you can change your energy supplier

It’s always possible to leave your energy supplier – but make sure you don’t accidentally incur a penalty charge that makes the move feel pointless.

If you change suppliers before the last 49 days of your fixed-term contract, you could be charged an exit fee. After that, you’ll be protected by Ofgem’s switching windows rule.

Exit fees from fixed tariffs range from £25 per fuel all the way up to an eye-watering £150 per fuel, so make sure you don’t fall into an expensive trap.

If you already have solar panels on your roof, you obviously won't be able to switch to an export tariff that requires you to use a certain installer, but there are still great options out there.

And if you’re simply too fond of your supplier to move, you could potentially earn more export income without switching – though in most cases, you'll need to switch to maximise your earnings.

Which installer you use

Several energy suppliers offer special export tariffs to households that pay them to install their solar panel system.

They tend to be some of the best rates on the market, but if you’d rather choose a different installer – or if you already have a solar installation – they’re closed to you.

And even if you could qualify for these higher tariffs because you haven’t yet gone solar, choosing one of them would lock you in to using a certain installer, which could backfire in the long run.

You may not get the highest quality kit or installation, leading to issues further down the line – and if the installer doesn’t offer any maintenance support, you could be left high and dry with a malfunctioning system.

To ensure your installation goes as smoothly and professionally as possible, check out our guide to the best solar panel installers in the UK.

Whether you have a battery

Many export tariffs require you to have a battery, meaning you’ll limit your options if you decide against getting one alongside your solar panels.

A battery allows you to use more of your solar electricity, take full advantage of time of use tariffs, and sign up to the best export tariffs.

That explains why 73% of UK households with solar panels also have solar batteries, according to certification body Flexi-Orb – equating to more than a million homes.

At Sunsave, we always recommend a battery to our customers – so we encourage you to get one too.

Whether you want your battery managed for you

Some suppliers can control your battery to maximise your export earnings and import savings.

If you choose Intelligent Octopus Flux, for example, Octopus will use smart controls that ensure your battery is fully charged and ready to discharge everything to the grid when the peak 4pm-7pm period rolls around.

OVO’s Battery Boost add-on is slightly different, in that it’s the only way to turn OVO’s 20p per kWh export rate into a time of use tariff like Intelligent Octopus Flux.

It gives OVO permission to charge your battery with off-peak electricity for 10p per kWh, then sell it back to the grid at peak times for 20p per kWh.

In all cases, battery controls are a welcome bonus feature that takes a task off your daily to-do list and may add to your earnings, but it’s also pretty easy to schedule when your battery charges and discharges through the relevant app.

Whether you have an EV

There are several import tariffs that have been created specifically for electric car owners.

However, some of these tariffs don’t actually require you to have an EV. Instead of charging your EV, you can fill your battery on cheap overnight electricity, then export or use it during the day.

If it makes financial sense for you to sign up to one of these rates, the best solution is usually to go with the same supplier for import and export, as that’ll net you the best export rate possible.

Whether you have a heat pump

In a similar fashion, heat pump owners may want to pick an import tariff that saves them the most money on their heating bills – which limits the number of export rates they can get.

Suppliers including Octopus, EDF, ScottishPower, and Good Energy offer time of use tariffs with daily off-peak periods that are only available to households with a heat pump.

If one of these is too profitable to give up, it’ll reduce your export tariff options.

You’ll have to either sign up to an export rate from the same supplier, or export to a supplier that doesn’t require you to also be on one of its import tariffs.

How long it takes to sign up (and get paid)

If you’re especially keen on earning export income as soon as possible, it’s worth checking how long it takes to join different export tariffs – and how the supplier’s payment schedule works.

Both of these factors vary. According to the companies themselves, it may take up to four weeks to get on one of E.ON or OVO's export tariffs, whereas ScottishPower’s given time frame is up to six weeks.

And depending on which supplier you choose, you could receive your export earnings every month, quarter, six months, or – in E.ON’s case – once per year, unless you request quarterly payments.

If you’re planning on switching to the same import tariff provider, make that move in advance of changing your export tariff, as it’ll speed up the process.

What’s the best SEG rate for you?

Which SEG rate is best for you will depend on your home.

Take into account all the factors we’ve run through above, decide how important they are to you, make your own calculations, and you should find the right solution.

If you end up picking one of the SEG rates we’ve explained in detail, you’ve probably made a good decision – and the fact that you're doing your research means you're unlikely to choose something totally wrong for your setup.

It’s a complicated process, though. To ensure you end up with a tariff that benefits you, consider choosing Sunsave for your solar installation, as we'll help you figure out the right tariff for your household.

If you’re interested in how much you could save with a solar & battery system, just answer a few questions below, and we’ll provide an estimate.

Full methodology

Here are all the bases and assumptions we made to create an example household, enabling us to compare dozens of export and import tariffs.

• A 4.6kWp system (which was the average size across , according to the MCS) that produces 3,910kWh of electricity per year because its irradiance is 850kWh per kWp, which is the average solar irradiance in the UK

• A household that uses 3,400kWh of electricity per year, which is the nationwide household average, according to government data

• A standard 5.2kWh battery with a round trip efficiency of 90% – meaning 10% of the electricity it takes in is lost across a full charging and discharging cycle

• In an off-peak period lasting three hours or longer, a 5.2kWh battery is able to charge to full with electricity, which can then be used during peak times

• If this kind of off-peak period is available, a household will take full advantage of it every day

• If you set your battery to charge up during this kind of off-peak period, you'll export 65% of your solar-generated electricity and self-consume 35%

• Similarly, if you're signed up to Intelligent Octopus Flux or Octopus Flux, you will export 65% of your solar-generated electricity and self-consume 35%

• If neither of these situations apply, you'll export 34% of your solar-generated electricity and self-consume 66%

• We've combined import and export savings, and compared this figure with what the typical household would spend on electricity per year on the July price cap

Best SEG rates: FAQs

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Written byJosh Jackman

Josh has written about the rapid rise of home solar for the past six years. His data-driven work has been featured in United Nations and World Health Organisation documents, as well as publications including The Eco Experts, Financial Times, The Independent, The Telegraph, The Times, and The Sun. Josh has also been interviewed as a renewables expert on BBC One’s Rip-Off Britain, ITV1’s Tonight show, and BBC Radio 4 and 5.

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