4kW solar, no battery, 2-bed flat
- Annual generation:
- 3,800 kWh
- Self-used:
- 1,200 kWh (32%)
- Exported:
- 2,600 kWh
- Octopus Outgoing (15p):
- £390/yr
- E.ON Next (3p):
- £78/yr
- Switch lift:
- +£312/yr
SEG 2026
Smart Export Guarantee tariffs & earnings — 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 scheme that pays you for solar electricity you export to the grid. Every major supplier with 150,000+ customers must offer a tariff. Octopus Outgoing Fixed (15p/kWh) is currently the highest flat-rate available; Octopus Agile can pay 30p+ at grid-peak hours for battery owners. 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-£390/yr at the best rate.
Tariff comparison
Every SEG tariff in the UK — May 2026
Rates verified on supplier sites 2026-05-31. Always confirm the current rate directly before applying — SEG tariffs can change with 30-day notice.
| Supplier | Tariff name | Rate | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Octopus Energy | Outgoing Fixed | 15p/kWh | Fixed |
| Octopus Energy | Outgoing Agile | 5-30p/kWh | Half-hourly |
| British Gas | Export & Earn Plus | 15p/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 |
| Rebel Energy | Rebel SEG | 5p/kWh | Fixed |
Our recommendation for North East customers (May 2026): Octopus Outgoing Fixed at 15p. 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 (15p):
- £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 (15p):
- £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 (15p):
- £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.
Step by step
How to apply for SEG in 6 steps
- 1
fully-certified install
SEG eligibility starts with an fully-certified installation. All AMP Renewables solar installs come with the install 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.
Want us to handle the SEG paperwork?
Every AMP Renewables solar install includes the SEG application pack on commissioning day — MCS cert, DNO confirmation, MPAN, tariff recommendation, sign-up URL.
Free, no-obligation survey Fixed-price written quote Fully-certified installation
Our accreditations
Accredited, certified, and backed by independent standards
NICEIC Approved
D124458
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947841
Gas appliances
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Heat pump design specialists
TrustMark
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Quality scheme
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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
NICEIC Approved
D124458
Electrical contractor
Gas Safe Register
947841
Gas appliances
Heat Geek Trained
Heat pump design specialists
TrustMark
Government endorsed
Quality scheme
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
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 (15p) 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 fully-certified solar installation. 2) Receive your install certificateificate (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 install 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 15p, 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 MCS solar installation we hand you a SEG application pack with your install certificateificate, 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.