Compare Smart Export Guarantee Tariffs
Which Smart Export Guarantee offers solar panel owners the highest potential earnings for exported power? We've compared the latest solar export tariffs on offer here so you can find the best deal for your home.
Please note: While we will be updating this table regularly, suppliers may alter their solar export tariff at any time so you should always confirm the exact rates, terms and conditions with your chosen supplier before committing.
| Position | Supplier | Tariff Name | Tariff Type (fixed, currently fixed or variable rate) | Tariff Length | Tariff Rate (per kWh) | Payment Cycle | Includes Battery Storage? | Requirement to be on the supplier’s import tariff? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Social Energy | Smarter Export | Currently Fixed | No Fixed End Date | 5.6p | 3 months | Yes (must be SE battery) | Yes |
| 2 | Bulb Energy | Export Payments (Exclusive Rate) | Fixed | No Fixed End Date | 5.57p (3p standard rate) | 6 months | Yes | No |
| 3 | Octopus Energy | Outgoing Fixed or Outgoing Agile | Fixed or Variable | 12-month fixed term | Fixed 5.5p, Variable is pegged to half-hourly wholesale rate | Monthly | Yes | Yes |
| - | E.ON Energy | Fix & Export Exclusive | Fixed | 12-month fixed term | 5.5p | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| 4 | OVO Energy | OVO SEG Tariff | Fixed | 12-month fixed term | 4.0p | 3 months | Case by case basis | No |
| - | ScottishPower | Smart Export Variable Tariff | Variable | No Fixed End Date | 4.0p | 6 months | Unknown | No |
| 5 | SSE | Smart Export Tariff | Variable | No Fixed End Date | 3.5p | 12 months | Case by case basis | Yes |
| - | EDF Energy | Export+Earn | Fixed | 12-month fixed term | 3.5p | 3 months | No | No |
| - | Shell Energy | SEG V1 Tariff | Variable | No Fixed End Date | 3.5p | 12 months | No | No |
| 6 | British Gas | Export & Earn Flex | Variable | No Fixed End Date | 3.2p | 6 months | Yes | No |
| 7 | E.ON Energy | Fix & Export | Fixed | 12-month fixed term | 3.0p | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| - | Utilita | Smart Export Guarantee | Unknown | Unknown | 3.0p | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| 8 | Utility Warehouse | UW Smart Export Guarantee | Standard variable | No Fixed End Date | 2p | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| 9 | Green Network Energy | SEG Tariff | Currently Fixed | No Fixed End Date | 1.0p | Quarterly | No | No |
To apply for one of the Smart Export Guarantee tariffs, contact your preferred energy supplier directly as soon as your solar panels have been installed.
Smart Export Guarantee Tariffs Explained
The Smart Export Guarantee is a scheme introduced by the government to enable owners of certain renewable energy technologies to earn an income by selling their excess electricity to the National Grid. Solar PV panels which are accredited by MCS, Flexi-orb or an equivalent scheme are eligible for the Smart Export Guarantee. The solar PV system you install needs to include a smart meter which is capable of tracking how much electricity is being exported every 30 minutes.
The scheme legally requires energy suppliers with more than 150,000 customers to pay owners of solar PV panels for electricity they contribute to the National Grid. This means that you can receive payments for any solar generated electricity you don't use (or store) at home.
How much you receive, however, will vary depending on which SEG licensed energy supplier's solar export tariff you choose. The government has said that energy suppliers must offer more than 0p per kWh at all times in order to encourage competitive rates. Your SEG licensee does not need to be the same company which supplies your electricity, so you have the option to shop around for the best deal.
Fixed or Variable?
At the moment most SEG tariffs are fixed price meaning that the price you receive per kWh will not change no matter what happens to the wholesale price of electricity or the time of day your electricity is exported. Fixed means that the price is set for a specific contract length while ‘currently fixed’ means the price may change.
However, the intention is that more and more tariffs will become ‘smart’ and variable. With a smart tariff you could, for example, receive a higher price for electricity you export during times of peak demand. Prices could vary on a half-hourly basis while some tariffs may offer a different rate depending on whether you export at night or during the day. Octopus Agile tariff is pegged to the wholesale rate so will fluctuate accordingly.
Payment cycles
If you would like to be paid for your exported electricity regularly, you should choose a tariff with a monthly or quarterly payment cycle rather than those which pay out every 6 or 12 months.
Battery storage included?
Some people choose to include a solar storage battery in their solar PV system to store their surplus solar electricity rather than export it. If they want the option to be able to sell this stored electricity they need to choose an SEG licensee which will accept it.
What happened to the FiT scheme?
You may have heard of the FiT scheme which paid solar panel owners for electricity generated and exported. The FiT scheme closed in March 2019 because uptake had been much higher than anticipated. Anyone already registered will continue to receive their FiT payments for the full 20-25 year term; the Smart Export Guarantee takes the place of the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) for new solar panel owners. However, if you already have solar panels and are receiving Feed-in Tariff (FiT) payments, you have the option to switch to the Smart Export Guarantee. Find out how the SEG compares to FiT.
Get free solar panel quotes today
Installing solar panels on your home will enable you to generate your own free electricity, earn money through the Smart Export Guarantee and reduce your carbon footprint. You can get up to 4 free quotes from MCS certified (or equivalent) solar panel installers in your area. All you need to do is complete our quick enquiry form and we'll find you competitive quotes to compare today. It's quick, free and there's no obligation to use any quotes you receive.
We only work with reputable MCS certified (or equivalent) companies which have passed our strict quality criteria, so you can rest assured you'll receive only the very best service.
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