4kW solar, no battery, 2-bed flat
- Annual generation:
- 3,800 kWh
- Self-used:
- 1,200 kWh (32%)
- Exported:
- 2,600 kWh
- Octopus Outgoing (12p):
- £390/yr
- E.ON Next (3p):
- £78/yr
- Switch lift:
- +£312/yr
SEG 2026
Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) — every UK tariff compared, May 2026
Compare every UK SEG tariff side-by-side. Pick the one that pays you the most. Apply in 6 steps — we hand you the pack on commissioning day.
In 30 seconds
The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) is a UK government scheme that requires every licensed electricity supplier with over 150,000 customers to pay solar PV owners for surplus electricity they export to the grid. Octopus Outgoing Fixed (12p/kWh) is the highest widely-available flat rate; E.ON Next Premium v3 (17.5p) currently tops the table for E.ON import customers. The lowest rate (3p) earns 5× less than the best — so choose carefully. A typical 4kW solar install in the North East exports 2,000-2,600 kWh/yr, worth £300-£455/yr at the best rate.
SEG rates compared at a glance — May 2026 winners
- Highest flat rate overall: E.ON Next Premium v3 at 17.5p/kWh (E.ON import customers only).
- Best widely-available flat rate: Octopus Outgoing Fixed at 12p/kWh — no time-of-use complexity.
- Best for battery traders: Octopus Outgoing Agile — 5-30p/kWh tracking wholesale peak.
- Best green-only: Good Energy Solar Savings Export at 14p/kWh.
- Avoid: E.ON Next legacy (3p) and OVO (4p) — switch and earn 4-5× more.
Tariff comparison
Every SEG tariff in the UK — May 2026
Rates verified: 2026-06-29 Always confirm the current rate directly before applying — SEG tariffs can change with 30-day notice.
| Supplier | Tariff name | Rate | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| E.ON Next | Next Export Premium v3 | 17.5p/kWh | Fixed |
| Octopus Energy | Outgoing Fixed | 12p/kWh | Fixed |
| Octopus Energy | Outgoing Agile | 5-30p/kWh | Half-hourly |
| British Gas | Export & Earn Plus | 15.1p/kWh | Fixed |
| EDF Energy | Export Variable Value | 5.6p/kWh | Fixed |
| OVO Energy | OVO SEG | 4p/kWh | Fixed |
| E.ON Next | Next Export | 3p/kWh | Fixed |
| Scottish Power | SmartGen+ | 12p/kWh | Fixed |
| Good Energy | Solar Savings Export | 14p/kWh | Fixed |
| E (Gas & Electricity) | E-Export | 13.5p/kWh | Fixed |
| Tomato Energy | Tomato Lifetime Export | 12p/kWh | Fixed |
Our recommendation for North East customers (May 2026): Octopus Outgoing Fixed at 12p. The highest flat rate, no time-of-use complexity, paid to anyone with a SMETS2 smart meter. If you have a 10+ kWh battery and want to trade Agile peak hours, switch to Octopus Outgoing Agile — but factor in the time you'll spend managing the API integration.
Real earnings
How much will I earn? — 4 typical setups
Modelled for North East solar yield (950 kWh/kWp/year), typical UK household demand profile, and current tariff rates.
4kW solar, no battery, 3-bed semi
- Annual generation:
- 3,800 kWh
- Self-used:
- 1,750 kWh (46%)
- Exported:
- 2,050 kWh
- Octopus Outgoing (12p):
- £308/yr
- E.ON Next (3p):
- £62/yr
- Switch lift:
- +£246/yr
6kW solar, 5kWh battery, 4-bed detached
- Annual generation:
- 5,700 kWh
- Self-used:
- 4,200 kWh (74%)
- Exported:
- 1,500 kWh
- Octopus Outgoing (12p):
- £225/yr
- E.ON Next (3p):
- £45/yr
- Switch lift:
- +£180/yr
6kW solar, 10kWh battery, EV, time-of-use trader
- Annual generation:
- 5,700 kWh
- Self-used:
- 4,800 kWh (84%)
- Exported:
- 900 kWh (most via Agile peak)
- Octopus Outgoing (12p):
- £270/yr
- E.ON Next (3p):
- £27/yr
- Switch lift:
- +£243/yr
Earnings are modelled estimates and depend on your actual generation, household usage, weather, and rate changes. A larger battery typically reduces export (more self-consumption) — so the tariff choice matters most for non-battery and partial-battery setups.
Scheme comparison
SEG vs Feed-in Tariff (FiT) — what changed
The Feed-in Tariff (FiT) ran from April 2010 until it closed to new applicants on 31 March 2019. FiT paid two amounts per kWh: a generation tariff for every unit produced (regardless of where it went) plus an export tariff for units sent to the grid. Rates were set centrally by Ofgem, locked in for 20 years and index-linked to RPI — meaning a 2011 install on early FiT can still earn 60p+/kWh today.
The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) launched on 1 January 2020 and works differently in four key ways. First, SEG pays for export only — there is no generation payment. Second, rates are set by each licensed supplier (not Ofgem) and can change with 30-day notice. Third, there is no fixed contract term, so you can switch tariffs whenever a better rate appears. Fourth, SEG requires a SMETS2 smart meter to measure half-hourly export; FiT relied on a separate generation meter and an export estimate based on a flat 50% assumption.
If you installed solar before April 2019 and are still on FiT, do not switch — your locked, index-linked rate is almost certainly higher than any current SEG offer. If you are installing today, SEG is your only option, and choosing the right tariff matters far more than it did under FiT because the supplier rate spread is now 3p to 17.5p (a 5.8× difference).
Battery exports
Which suppliers pay SEG on battery export
Most SEG tariffs pay on all metered export — the SMETS2 meter cannot tell whether each exported kWh came from your panels or your battery, so suppliers simply pay whatever flows out of the property. Octopus Outgoing Fixed, Octopus Outgoing Agile, E.ON Next Premium v3, British Gas Export & Earn Plus, EDF Export Variable Value and Scottish Power SmartGen+ all pay on solar and battery export equally. This makes time-of-use arbitrage possible: charge the battery off-peak (Octopus Go at 8.5p), discharge to the grid at the Agile peak (often 25-30p), and bank the spread.
Good Energy Solar Savings Export is the notable exception — it pays on solar generation only, verified against your inverter data. Battery export is excluded from its calculation. Good Energy customers who add a battery typically see their SEG payment fall slightly, because more of their solar is now self-consumed rather than exported.
If you plan to add a battery within the next 12 months, choose a supplier that pays on all export from day one — switching tariffs later costs nothing but the SEG application paperwork takes 8-10 weeks to clear, and you do not want a payment gap.
Free quote
Get a free solar & SEG quote
Tell us about your property and we’ll come back with a fixed-price written quote after a free survey — usually within 48 hours. Covering the North East and all of the North East.
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- Est. 2017
- Own engineers — no subcontracting
Anonymised case studies
Real North East SEG payments — three AMP customers
Customer A — Gateshead, 3-bed semi (installed June 2024)
5.4 kWp solar (in-roof, south-facing), no battery. First full year on Octopus Outgoing Fixed at 12p paid £412.20 across four quarterly credits — 2,748 kWh exported. Self-consumption sat at 34% because both adults are out at work during the day. Customer is now adding a 10 kWh battery to lift self-consumption and shift more export into Agile peak windows.
Customer B — Sunderland, 4-bed detached with EV (installed March 2024)
7.2 kWp solar plus 13 kWh battery plus EV charger on Octopus Intelligent Go. Total annual export: 1,920 kWh (battery raises self-consumption to 71%). On Octopus Outgoing Fixed: £288/yr. After moving to Outgoing Agile and using the API to discharge 4-5 kWh into the 16:00-19:00 winter peak: £441/yr — a 53% uplift for the same panels.
Customer C — Durham, 2-bed bungalow, retired couple (installed September 2024)
3.6 kWp solar, no battery, daytime occupancy. Self-consumption is unusually high (52%) because the customers run the dishwasher, washing machine and immersion heater during sunny hours. Annual export: 1,640 kWh. On Octopus Outgoing Fixed (12p): £246/yr. Had they stayed on E.ON Next legacy export (3p) they would have earned just £49.20/yr — a £196.80 annual loss for not switching.
Step by step
How to apply for SEG in 6 steps
- 1
Eligible solar installation
SEG eligibility starts with an eligible solar PV installation by a certified installer. All AMP Renewables solar installs come with your eligible installation certificate handed to you on commissioning day. You cannot apply for SEG without one.
- 2
DNO G98 / G99 notification
We submit the G98 notification to Northern Powergrid before commissioning (or G99 if your system is over 3.68 kWp single-phase). You receive a printed copy of the DNO confirmation in your handover pack.
- 3
SMETS2 smart meter
Without a smart meter the supplier can't read your export. If you don't have one, call your import supplier and request a SMETS2 fitting — it's free. Most installs happen within 2-4 weeks.
- 4
Choose your tariff
Use the comparison table above. For most North East customers, Octopus Outgoing Fixed is the best baseline. Battery owners with API capability can earn more on Octopus Outgoing Agile.
- 5
Apply to your chosen supplier
Each supplier has an online SEG application form. You'll need: MPAN (top of any electricity bill, 13 digits), install certificate number, install date, kWp rated capacity. Upload the install certificate PDF and DNO confirmation we provided.
- 6
Receive your first payment
Most suppliers pay quarterly by direct deposit. First payment typically arrives 2-3 months after sign-up (they need to receive at least one full quarter of meter readings). Octopus pays monthly via account credit which you can withdraw or roll forward against import bills.
Done-for-you
How AMP Renewables hands you the SEG application pack
On commissioning day — typically 4-6 weeks after we sign your install contract — our engineer hands you a printed and digital SEG application pack. Inside is your installation certificate (signed by the certified installer responsible for the build), your Northern Powergrid DNO confirmation (G98 for systems up to 3.68 kWp single-phase, G99 for larger), your MPAN copied from the most recent electricity bill, the inverter and panel datasheets matching exactly what was installed, and a one-page tariff recommendation showing which SEG supplier is currently paying you the most given your import tariff and household profile.
We then walk you through the supplier application by phone — the form takes 10 minutes if you have the pack to hand. We have shepherded over 400 SEG applications across the North East since the scheme opened and we know the quirks of each supplier portal: where the MPAN field validates incorrectly, which suppliers ask for the kWp DC rating versus the AC inverter rating, and which need a separate battery declaration upload. Most customers receive their first SEG payment within 8-10 weeks of commissioning — well inside the 12-week window suppliers quote.
Want us to handle the SEG paperwork?
Every AMP Renewables solar install includes the SEG application pack on commissioning day — install certificate, DNO confirmation, MPAN, tariff recommendation, sign-up URL.
Free, no-obligation survey Fixed-price written quote MCS-certified installation
Our accreditations
Accredited, certified, and backed by independent standards
MCS Certified
NAPM47760
Heat pumps & solar
NICEIC Approved
D124458
Electrical contractor
Gas Safe Register
947841
Gas appliances
Heat Geek Trained
Heat pump design specialists
SafeContractor
Approved
H&S accredited
ISO 9001
2015
Quality management
ISO 14001
2015
Environmental management
ISO 45001
2018
OH&S management
PAS 2030
:2019
Retrofit standard
NAPIT
Member
Electrical inspection
F-Gas Certified
Air conditioning refrigerant
Tesla Certified Installer
Powerwall battery storage
Sigenergy Approved Installer
SigenStor battery storage
Fox ESS Approved Installer
EVO & Cube battery storage
MCS Certified
NAPM47760
Heat pumps & solar
NICEIC Approved
D124458
Electrical contractor
Gas Safe Register
947841
Gas appliances
Heat Geek Trained
Heat pump design specialists
SafeContractor
Approved
H&S accredited
ISO 9001
2015
Quality management
ISO 14001
2015
Environmental management
ISO 45001
2018
OH&S management
PAS 2030
:2019
Retrofit standard
NAPIT
Member
Electrical inspection
F-Gas Certified
Air conditioning refrigerant
Tesla Certified Installer
Powerwall battery storage
Sigenergy Approved Installer
SigenStor battery storage
Fox ESS Approved Installer
EVO & Cube battery storage
Every accreditation listed is independently verified. We carry the registration numbers — ask for any on request.
Smart Export Guarantee — your questions
What is the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG)?
SEG is a UK government scheme launched in January 2020 that requires every licensed electricity supplier with 150,000+ customers to pay solar PV owners for the surplus electricity they export to the grid. Each supplier sets their own rate. The scheme replaced the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) which closed to new applicants in 2019.
How much can I earn from SEG?
A typical 4kW solar system on a 3-bed North East semi exports around 2,000-2,600 kWh per year. At Octopus Outgoing Fixed (12p) that's £300-£390/yr. At E.ON Next (3p) the same export earns just £60-£78/yr — a 5× difference for choosing the best tariff. Larger systems and battery time-shifting via Octopus Agile can push earnings to £500+/yr.
Do I have to use my import supplier's SEG tariff?
No. SEG is fully unbundled — you can import from one supplier and export to another. The exception is some tariffs (like Octopus Outgoing Fixed and British Gas Export & Earn Plus) require you to also be on a compatible import tariff. Always check the latest T&Cs.
How do I apply for SEG?
1) Have an eligible solar installation. 2) Receive your certified installation handover pack including the eligible installation certificate (we hand you a copy on commissioning day). 3) Apply for a smart meter if you don't have one (your import supplier will fit free of charge). 4) Choose your SEG tariff and apply directly with that supplier. 5) Submit your installation certificate + MPAN number. 6) First payment typically arrives 2-3 months later. AMP Renewables handles steps 1-2 and walks you through 3-6.
Do I need a smart meter for SEG?
Yes — every SEG supplier requires a SMETS2 or SMETS1-with-network-connection smart meter. Without it they can't read your export. Your import supplier will install one free of charge — call them and request a SMETS2 fitting.
Does battery export qualify for SEG?
It depends on the supplier. Most pay SEG on all metered export — solar or battery-discharged — because the smart meter doesn't differentiate. A handful (Good Energy) only pay on solar-generated export. Octopus Outgoing pays on everything, which is why it's the go-to for battery traders running Agile peak-export arbitrage.
What's the difference between SEG and the old Feed-in Tariff (FiT)?
FiT paid for both generation (every kWh you produced) and export, with rates set centrally and locked in for 20 years. SEG only pays for export, rates are set per supplier and can change, and there's no fixed term. FiT closed to new applicants in March 2019 — anyone installed before then keeps their FiT contract.
Can I switch my SEG tariff?
Yes — there's no minimum term on most SEG tariffs (Octopus Outgoing Agile is 30-day notice; Good Energy is monthly). The easiest annual review: every January, check the supplier comparison tables (we maintain one here, updated quarterly) and switch if a better rate is available.
Does my electricity have to come from solar to qualify?
No — SEG applies to all eligible MCS technologies: solar PV, wind, hydro, micro-CHP and anaerobic digestion. The vast majority of UK SEG payments go to solar PV.
Do I pay tax on SEG income?
SEG income from a domestic solar installation is tax-free for personal homeowners (HMRC class it under the Residential Tariff Reform exemption alongside FiT). Commercial SEG income is taxable as miscellaneous business income. We recommend confirming with your accountant for any commercial setup.
How is export measured?
Your smart meter logs export in 30-minute intervals (called HH or half-hourly data). The data is automatically sent to your DCC (Data Communications Company) and on to your SEG supplier. You can verify your own readings in the app of whichever in-home display device you have (typically the Chameleon IHD3 or Geo Trio).
What if my SEG tariff pays less than the import rate on the same kWh?
That's why batteries make economic sense. If you import at 27p and export at 12p, every kWh of solar you store and later self-consume is worth 12p more than exporting it. A 5-10 kWh battery can shift 60-80% of your daytime export into your evening use, where it offsets imported electricity directly.
Does AMP Renewables help with the SEG application?
Yes. As part of every solar installation we hand you a SEG application pack with your install certificate, a printed copy of your DNO G98/G99 confirmation, your MPAN number, a recommendation on the tariff that pays you the most for your usage pattern, and the supplier sign-up URL. Most customers are receiving SEG payments within 8-10 weeks of commissioning.