Every active SEG tariff in the UK ranked by 2026 export rate, plus the three switch traps that catch most homeowners.
What SEG actually is
The Smart Export Guarantee replaced the old Feed-in Tariff in 2020. Every licensed energy supplier with 150,000+ customers must offer at least one SEG tariff that pays you for the units you export to the grid. They set their own rate; the government sets only the floor (which is currently zero — yes, zero).
Eligibility: MCS-certified install, system under 5 MW, and a smart meter that reports half-hourly export readings. You don't have to import from your SEG supplier — you can buy electricity from supplier A and sell exports to supplier B. Most homeowners miss this and lose money on it.
The 2026 SEG league table
Rates for new exporters as reviewed in 2026. Variable tariffs move with wholesale prices; fixed tariffs lock for 12 months. Several of the highest rates are only open to that supplier's own import customers, which is the detail most comparison lists bury.
Best rate overall: Good Energy Solar Savings Exclusive at 25p, but it requires you to install with Good Energy — check their install price against your other quotes before committing.
Best rate open to any household with no need to switch supplier: Scottish Power SmartGen at 6p. The market floor sits at 1p.
Several of the highest rates (Flux, Ovo, So Energy, EDF Export Exclusive, E.ON Next Premium) require you to also import from that supplier — factor their import unit rate and standing charge into the comparison, not just the export rate.
How rate choice changes payback
On a typical 4 kWp install exporting ~2,000 kWh a year, the tariff you sign is worth more than the panel brand you argued about.
The gap between the bottom and top of that table is large over the panel warranty period — the tariff you sign matters as much as the hardware.
If your installer signed you up to the import supplier's default SEG, switch on day one. It takes five minutes and there's nothing to lose by it.
The three traps
Trap 1: Tied rates. Most of the headline rates require you to also import from that supplier — and the import rate is often above what you'd pay elsewhere. Always compare the import standing charge and unit rate before chasing an extra 1p on export.
Trap 2: Battery exclusions. Some tariffs cap or exclude export from grid-charged batteries. If you plan to arbitrage (charge cheap overnight, export at peak), read the battery clause carefully.
Trap 3: Smart meter polling rate. SEG only pays properly on half-hourly export readings. If your meter reports daily, you'll fall back to the supplier's flat-rate default. Ask your import supplier to switch your meter to half-hourly mode — free, usually within 24 hours.
How to switch
Apply directly via the new supplier's SEG portal. You'll need: MCS certificate (PDF from your installer), MPAN (top-right of any electricity bill), bank details, and the date your system was commissioned. Approval takes 10–28 days; backdated payments are not standard so apply the day your system goes live.
You can review SEG suppliers annually when fixed tariffs expire — there are no exit fees on a domestic SEG agreement.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best SEG rate in the UK right now?
Good Energy Solar Savings Exclusive tops the table at 25p/kWh, but requires a Good Energy install. Intelligent Octopus Flux pays 23p. The best rate open to any household with no need to switch is Scottish Power SmartGen at 6p (Which?, April 2026).
Do I have to take SEG from my electricity supplier?
No. SEG is independent of import. You can import from supplier A on a fixed tariff and export to supplier B on a different SEG tariff. It's almost always worth checking — the best SEG payer rarely matches the cheapest import supplier.
How much can I earn from SEG a year?
A 4 kWp system exporting around 2,000 kWh a year earns roughly £60 a year on the lowest SEG rates (British Gas, 3.02p) up to roughly £500 a year on the top rate (Good Energy, 25p). Most households with a battery export less but save more on import, so compare the two together rather than chasing export income alone.
Is SEG income taxable?
For most domestic homeowners, no. HMRC treats SEG payments under the £1,000 Trading Allowance for sole traders and as non-taxable for purely domestic micro-generation. If you're generating commercially or have other trading income, check with an accountant.
How is SEG paid?
Most suppliers credit your import account quarterly. Octopus and a few others pay direct to bank. Statements show export kWh × your rate.