Best SEG export tariff rates UK – July 2026
If you own solar panels and you are still on the original 5p–5.5p Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) tariff you signed back in 2020 or 2021, you are leaving £150–£480 a year on the table. With the Ofgem price cap rising on 1 July 2026, your imported electricity gets dearer — but your exported electricity can be worth far more if you switch to a top-paying SEG tariff. This guide lists every major UK SEG export tariff, rates verified July 2026, ranked by headline rate, with eligibility rules, flat-vs-variable guidance and a savings illustration.
- Best flat rate (no battery needed): Good Energy Solar Savings Exclusive at 25p/kWh.
- Best fixed rate for non-Octopus homes: EDF Export Exclusive 12m at 24p/kWh, fixed for twelve months.
- Highest peak rate (battery required): Octopus Intelligent Flux up to 32.17p/kWh in peak export windows.
- Why it matters now: the July 2026 price cap rose to £1,862/yr (+£221 / +13.5%) — strong export income offsets the import hike.
Quick answer: what is the best SEG export rate in the UK right now?
As of July 2026 the highest peak SEG export rate is Octopus Intelligent Flux at up to 32.17p/kWh, but it needs a home battery and an Octopus import tariff. The best flat rate with no battery requirement is Good Energy Solar Savings Exclusive at 25p/kWh; the best 12-month fixed rate for non-Octopus homes is EDF Export Exclusive at 24p/kWh. You can keep your existing electricity supplier and still switch your export contract — import and export are decoupled. Rates verified July 2026.
Compare every UK SEG export tariff in one place
The Smart Export Guarantee replaced the old Feed-in Tariff in January 2020 and obliges every electricity supplier with more than 150,000 customers to publish at least one SEG export tariff. As of July 2026 there are roughly thirty live SEG tariffs across the UK, ranging from a token 1p/kWh up to the headline 32.17p/kWh paid by Octopus Intelligent Flux during peak export windows.
Tell us your postcode, MPAN (or installation date if you don’t have it to hand) and battery status. We match you against the suppliers that will actually pay you the most for your exported kilowatt-hours given your kit, your import tariff and your region — rates verified July 2026, no out-of-date supplier marketing.
Find the best SEG export tariff for your home
Tell us your postcode and panel size and we’ll match the highest verified SEG rate you qualify for. Takes about 60 seconds.
Full UK SEG export rate table — verified July 2026
Rates below are the headline peak (or flat) export rates published by each supplier and verified within the last 14 days. Where a rate is time-of-use, the figure shown is the peak export-window rate; off-peak export pays considerably less. Always read the eligibility column — the very highest rates require you to be that supplier’s import customer too.
| Supplier & tariff | Headline rate | Type | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Octopus Intelligent Flux | Up to 32.17p/kWh | Time-of-use | Battery + Octopus electricity tariff |
| Octopus Flux | Up to 29.32p/kWh | Time-of-use | Solar + battery, Octopus electricity |
| Good Energy Solar Savings Exclusive | 25p/kWh | Flat | Good Energy import customer |
| EDF Export Exclusive 12m | 24p/kWh | 12-month fixed | EDF import customer, ≤5kW system |
| E.ON Next Export Exclusive | 16.5p/kWh | Flat | E.ON Next import customer |
| British Gas Export & Earn Plus | 15.1p/kWh | Flat | Existing British Gas dual-fuel |
| Octopus Outgoing Fixed | 15p/kWh | Flat | Octopus import customer, no battery needed |
| Ecotricity | 8.9p/kWh | Flat | Open market — any import supplier |
| Variable / standard SEG floor | 5–7p/kWh | Variable | Default with less competitive suppliers |
All rates verified July 2026. Peak time-of-use rates apply only during specified export windows — check supplier T&Cs at sign-up. SEG rates are set by suppliers and are not regulated by the Ofgem price cap.
Flat vs variable (time-of-use) SEG — which should you choose?
Flat-rate SEG (no battery)
A flat SEG tariff pays the same rate for every exported unit, whatever the time of day. For a solar-only home with no battery, a flat 25p (Good Energy) or 24p (EDF) deal is simpler and almost always pays more than a time-of-use tariff, because most of your export happens midday when time-of-use peak windows are closed. Predictable, easy to budget, and no kit beyond panels and a smart meter.
Variable / time-of-use SEG (battery)
Time-of-use tariffs such as Octopus Flux (up to 29.32p) and Intelligent Flux (up to 32.17p) pay their top rate only during early-evening peak windows — after solar has tailed off. They reward you for using a battery to store midday generation and discharge it to the grid at peak. Without a battery to time-shift, your blended rate often falls below a simple flat 25p deal. Great with storage, weaker without it.
How the Smart Export Guarantee actually works
The SEG is a government scheme that obliges every licensed electricity supplier in Great Britain with more than 150,000 domestic customers to offer at least one tariff that pays small-scale low-carbon generators for every kilowatt-hour they export back to the grid. It covers solar PV up to 5MW, onshore wind, hydro, micro-CHP and anaerobic digestion. For a residential solar owner the reality is simple: your smart meter measures every unit you export, the supplier credits your account, and you receive cash or bill credit monthly or quarterly.
Crucially, the supplier you import electricity from does NOT have to be the supplier you sell your exports to. That decoupling is the lever to pull in 2026: you can keep a cheap import tariff (a competitive 12-month fix sits well below the £1,862/yr July cap) and separately export to Good Energy at 25p/kWh or EDF at 24p/kWh. The two contracts are completely independent unless the export tariff explicitly bundles import — as Octopus Flux and Intelligent Flux do.
SEG eligibility checklist — verified July 2026
Generation technology
Solar PV, wind, hydro, micro-CHP or anaerobic digestion. Maximum 5MW total declared net capacity (50kW for micro-CHP). Domestic rooftop PV is overwhelmingly the most common applicant.
MCS or equivalent certificate
Your installation must hold MCS certification (or RECC-equivalent for non-MCS technologies). Without it you cannot register for SEG — keep your MCS handover pack safe.
Smart meter (SMETS2 or equivalent)
SEG payments depend on half-hourly export readings. A SMETS2 smart meter is effectively mandatory; SMETS1 is accepted if migrated to the DCC. No smart meter, no SEG income.
How to apply for or switch your SEG export tariff
- Gather your kit details. MCS certificate number, panel kW rating, battery capacity (if any), MPAN from your electricity bill, and a recent smart-meter export reading.
- Decide flat vs time-of-use. With a battery, time-of-use (Intelligent Flux 32.17p, Flux 29.32p) almost always pays more. With no battery, a flat tariff like Good Energy 25p or EDF 24p is simpler and competitive.
- Check import-tariff bundling. The best export rates (Flux, Intelligent Flux, EDF Export Exclusive, E.ON Next, British Gas Export & Earn Plus, Good Energy Solar Savings Exclusive) require you to be that supplier’s electricity import customer too. Factor in the import-tariff cost against the £1,862/yr cap.
- Use our comparison form. We confirm the best supplier match for your kit and region, then pass you the application link directly to the supplier — no aggregator middle fee.
- Cancel your old SEG. Notify your existing SEG supplier in writing (email is fine) at least 14 days before switching to avoid double-billing of export readings.
SEG savings illustration — 4kW PV system, July 2026
A typical 4kW domestic solar PV array in the south of England exports roughly 2,400 kWh a year (assuming 50% of about 4,800 kWh annual generation is exported and 50% self-consumed). Here is what that exported electricity is worth on each major SEG tariff, rates verified July 2026:
| Tariff | Rate (effective) | Annual SEG income (2,400 kWh) |
|---|---|---|
| Octopus Intelligent Flux (battery) | ~22p/kWh blended | ~£528 |
| Octopus Flux (battery) | ~19p/kWh blended | ~£456 |
| Good Energy Solar Savings Exclusive | 25p/kWh flat | £600 |
| EDF Export Exclusive 12m | 24p/kWh flat | £576 |
| E.ON Next Export Exclusive | 16.5p/kWh flat | £396 |
| British Gas Export & Earn Plus | 15.1p/kWh flat | £362 |
| Ecotricity | 8.9p/kWh flat | £214 |
| Default 5p SEG (legacy contracts) | 5p/kWh flat | £120 |
In other words, a solar owner stuck on a legacy 5p SEG contract who switches to Good Energy Solar Savings Exclusive at 25p/kWh adds £480/year of export income — more than offsetting the £221/year price-cap rise hitting import bills from 1 July 2026. Use the comparison form to confirm your eligibility.
Frequently asked questions — SEG export tariffs (July 2026)
What is the highest SEG export rate in the UK in 2026?
As of July 2026 the highest peak SEG export rate is Octopus Intelligent Flux at up to 32.17p/kWh during peak export windows, but it requires a battery and an Octopus import tariff. The best flat rate with no battery requirement is Good Energy Solar Savings Exclusive at 25p/kWh. Run the numbers using our comparison form.
Can I be on a different supplier for import and export?
Yes — the Smart Export Guarantee is fully decoupled from your import supply. You can import from one supplier on a competitive fixed tariff and export to Good Energy at 25p/kWh, as one example. The exception is bundled tariffs like Octopus Flux, which require Octopus on both sides. Verified July 2026.
Do I need a smart meter and MCS certificate to claim SEG?
Yes to both. SEG payments are based on half-hourly export readings from a SMETS2 (or DCC-enrolled SMETS1) smart meter, and your install must hold MCS certification. Without a smart meter your application is paused until installation — most suppliers arrange this free as part of onboarding when you sign up via our comparison form.
Will SEG income be affected by the July 2026 price cap?
No — SEG export rates are set independently by each supplier and are not regulated by the Ofgem default tariff price cap. The cap rose to £1,862/yr from 1 July 2026 (+13.5%) only affects import unit rates and standing charges, but it does make switching to a high-paying SEG tariff considerably more valuable as a net household-cost offset.
How long does a SEG switch take to process?
Once you submit the application with MCS certificate, MPAN and meter readings, most suppliers register the new SEG contract within 5–10 working days. The first payment or bill credit lands in the next billing cycle thereafter. Formally cancel your old SEG with 14 days’ notice via email — start the switch using our comparison form.
Are time-of-use SEG tariffs (Flux, Intelligent Flux) worth it without a battery?
Generally no. Flux and Intelligent Flux pay their headline 29.32p and 32.17p/kWh during early-evening export windows — exactly when solar generation has already fallen off. Without a battery to time-shift exports, your blended rate may end up below a simple flat 25p/kWh deal like Good Energy. Verified July 2026.
Is SEG income taxable?
For owner-occupiers generating electricity primarily for their own home, SEG income is generally exempt from income tax under HMRC’s micro-generation rules. Landlords or business owners should check with HMRC. Last verified July 2026.
Can I switch SEG suppliers if I still have a legacy Feed-in Tariff?
Yes, and you should. The Feed-in Tariff (FIT) and the SEG are separate schemes. You can keep your FIT generation and deemed-export payments running with your original FIT licensee while moving your real (smart-metered) export contract to a high-paying SEG supplier like Octopus Flux at 29.32p or EDF at 24p. Talk it through via our comparison form.
Lock in the best SEG export rate before the 1 July 2026 cap rise
The July 2026 Ofgem price cap rose to £1,862/yr (+13.5% / +£221), making your imported electricity dearer. Switching from a 5p legacy SEG to a 25p flat rate like Good Energy adds £480/year on a typical 4kW system — more than offsetting the import-side increase. Don’t leave that money on the table.
Send us your postcode and panel details. We match you to the top-paying SEG tariff you qualify for — rates verified July 2026, no out-of-date marketing.
Find your best SEG export rate
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