What the SEG pays for
When your panels make more than your home is using, the extra flows out to the grid. A smart meter records how much. Your SEG supplier pays you for every kWh, at the rate in your SEG contract.
Suppliers set their own rates and terms, but any SEG rate must be above zero (Ofgem). Rates can be fixed, follow wholesale prices, or change with the time of day. A supplier can change a tariff's price with 30 days' notice (Which?).
Who can apply
- Your system is 5MW or smaller, which covers every home system (Which?).
- The installation and the products are MCS certified. Your installer gives you the certificate.
- You have a meter that records exports, usually a smart meter.
Suppliers with at least 150,000 domestic customers must offer an SEG tariff. Smaller suppliers can choose to (Ofgem). The SEG covers Great Britain.
Plug-in kits aren't MCS-certified installations, so they aren't usually paid for exports. Plug-in solar explained covers the details.
Comparing rates
In April 2026, fixed SEG rates ran from 1p to 16p per kWh. Some time-of-day tariffs paid more at peak times, and the highest rates were often only for customers who also bought their electricity, panels or battery from the same supplier (Which?, 23 April 2026).
The difference adds up. Exporting 1,500kWh a year earns £240 at 16p per kWh, but £16 at 1p (Which?).
Before you sign up, check:
- whether the rate is fixed, and for how long;
- whether you must also buy your electricity from that supplier, and at what price;
- how readings are taken and how often you're paid;
- how much notice you need to give to leave.
Sources and dates
We checked every figure on this page on 4 November 2026. If a source changes, we update the page and the date at the top.
- Smart Export Guarantee explained, Which?. 23 April 2026 (rates checked April 2026)Fixed SEG rates from 1p to 16p per kWh; the eligibility rules; a worked example of a 3.7kWp system making 2,850kWh a year.
- Smart Export Guarantee: guidance for electricity suppliers, Ofgem. Viewed 4 November 2026Suppliers with at least 150,000 domestic customers must offer an SEG tariff, and any SEG rate must be above zero.
Questions
Do I have to use my energy supplier's SEG tariff?
No. You can choose an SEG tariff from a different supplier, although some of the best rates are only for their own customers.
Can I get SEG payments for a plug-in kit?
Not usually. SEG needs an MCS-certified installation, and plug-in kits are set up by the householder.
See what a system like this could save, then tell us about your home.