The best SEG tariffs: at a glance

You can make money from sending your excess solar electricity to the grid with the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) – but to get the highest returns possible, you have to pick the right tariff.

There are dozens of options with different requirements, and even the best ones are often only the right choice for certain households. In this SEG tariff comparison, we’ll run through the best export rates for the different types of solar homes.

To qualify for any of these tariffs, you’ll need a smart meter and documents that prove your solar installation is certified and approved. You can access these tariffs regardless of whether you've paid the upfront cost of solar panels or opted for a solar subscription.

It’s worth getting on board, as hundreds of thousands of households have discovered. 270,395 solar installations were signed up to a tariff at the end of March 2025 – 63% more than the previous year.

Overall, households on export tariffs earned £56.97 million – an 86% increase on the income received the year before.

This equates to 13p per kilowatt-hour (kWh), but as you’ll see in the table below, you can earn a lot more if you’re willing to shop around. 

If you would like to see the savings you could get from a solar & battery system, just answer a few questions below, and we’ll provide an estimate.

What are the best Smart Export Guarantee rates?

The best overall export tariffs include EDF Export 12m, 100green Export Tariff, and Fuse Energy Single Rate Variable.

Intelligent Octopus Flux is currently unavailable to new customers, and has been since it was taken offline in April 2026.

Smart Pay Energy has been a voluntary SEG supplier since April 2026, but has not yet released an export tariff that we know of.

Which of these export tariffs work best for you depends on your circumstances.

This includes how much of your solar panels' electricity you consume, whether you have a heat pump and/or electric vehicle, and which installer you choose.

We go into these factors in more detail at the bottom of the page.

Some export tariffs are only accessible to households that go solar through that supplier, which can be a major limitation – especially if you already have a solar panel system. We discuss these tariffs further down.

You should also consider which import tariffs you can use with each export rate. That’s why we’ve matched every export tariff with the best import rate you can get alongside it, and calculated how much each pair can save you on your electricity bills.

After all, signing up for an SEG rate without properly assessing your potential overall savings may mean you’re not making the most of your system.

Language has evolved since the SEG’s beginnings in 2020, and the term ‘SEG’ is now often used to refer to all export tariffs, even those that aren't part of the scheme. They all perform the same function, so we've included all of them in our article.

How does the SEG work?

The UK government launched the SEG in 2020 to replace the Feed-in Tariff.

It compels large electricity suppliers to provide export tariffs for solar homes, meaning you can get paid for all the energy you send to the grid.

To learn more, check out our full guide to the Smart Export Guarantee.

However, it's no longer just about what export tariff you choose. To maximise your savings, you also need to be signed up for a competitive time-of-use import tariff.

The tariff markets change frequently though, with providers increasing or decreasing their rates, tweaking their requirements, and adding new offerings.

That's why we always monitor the market, and make sure our customers are on the best tariffs.

The best SEG tariffs: explained

Here’s more detail on the top seven solar export tariffs, along with all the information you need about which households are eligible and how you can apply.

You can access these tariffs regardless of who installs – or installed – your system.

In most cases, you’ll have to switch import suppliers to be eligible, but it’s usually worth it.

1. EDF Export 12m

This decent EDF offering has risen up the rankings mainly thanks to its top-tier import tariff.

EDF Empower Fixed gives solar homes the opportunity to fill their battery overnight for just 10.361p per kWh, as long as your inverter can do so in three off-peak hours.

With the right size battery, they can then use this cheap electricity to power their home for the rest of the day, while they make export most of their solar electricity for a decent 15p per kWh.

And that's not all: while you will be charged a 30.22p per kWh peak rate between 4pm and 7pm, you'll only pay 20.22p per kWh at all other times. That's 23% lower than the July 2026 price cap.

Previously, EDF's time-of-use tariffs were exclusively aimed at EV drivers – but this one's for solar homes.

Everything you need to know

If you fulfil these conditions, gather your Flexi-Orb or MCS certificate, and bank details.

Then you just have to complete an application form, which you can access online or by emailing hello@edfenergy.com.

EDF will request and register your export MPAN, then ask you for a smart meter reading – and you’ll be ready to go.

And if you'd like to see the savings you could get from a Sunsave solar & battery system, just answer a few questions below, and we’ll provide an estimate.

2. 100green Export Tariff

100green has provided a consistent export tariff for years, but its 12p rate is nothing special – until you combine it with 100green Tide Smart.

This time-of-use tariff comes with an off-peak rate of roughly 7.43p per kWh, which is one of the lowest around.

It also runs for seven hours – from 12am to 7am – allowing you plenty of time to charge your battery, run your dishwasher, and even do a couple of loads of laundry if you fancy.

Make sure you get a large enough battery to run your household on this cheap power throughout the day though, as grid electricity otherwise costs 34.63 per kWh – apart from the 4pm-7pm peak period, when the price rises to 46.96p per kWh.

Everything you need to know

You can’t sign up for this tariff online, so you’ll need to call 01920 486 156 or email generation@100green.com to let 100green’s staff know that you want to register.

They’ll send you an application form, which you’ll need to return with a copy of one of your photo identification documents (like a passport or driving licence).

You’ll also have to include your Flexi-Orb or Microgeneration Certificate Scheme (MCS) certificate and a single-line diagram of your battery (if applicable). 100green may also ask for your G98 or G99.

If you’re successful, the supplier will ask you to sign a terms and conditions document, then apply to your District Network Operator (DNO) – the organisation running the electricity in your region – for an export Meter Point Administration Number (MPAN).

This is a 13-digit code that’s unique to your electricity meter, and will let 100green identify when you’re sending power to the grid, so the company can pay you accurately.

Once it’s registered on the supplier’s system, you should be good to go. 100green says the whole process “can take up to eight weeks”, so be prepared.

3. Fuse Energy Single Rate Variable

Between April 2025 and March 2026, Fuse shot past 150,000 domestic electricity customers, so on 1 April 2026, it became mandatory for the supplier to offer an SEG tariff to every small-scale generator.

Fuse has been slow to reveal many details about its export tariff, as is often the case for new SEG suppliers.

From our research, we understand that Single Rate Variable is currently Fuse's only export tariff, and is therefore open to all solar homes, regardless of your electricity provider.

It also seems like different parts of the country will receive different rates, with London households getting 13p per kWh.

If Fuse is paying similar rates to the rest of the country, this would make Single Rate Variable the best no-strings tariff on the market, by far.

Everything you need to know

How to sign up for Fuse Energy Single Rate Variable

Here is the only requirement:

To sign up, you'll need your G98 or G99 paperwork, bank details, MCS certificate, and export MPAN.

This is all standard, but the supplier has also said that "if we generate the [export] MPAN for you, it must be switched to another supplier first before it can be moved to Fuse Energy."

This doesn't really make sense, and is worth raising with a Fuse representative if you approach the supplier for a quote.

4. Octopus Flux

After being temporarily taken offline in April 2026, Octopus Flux returned with the same export rates and noticeably more generous import rates.

With these tweaks, the younger sibling of the currently unavailable Intelligent Octopus Flux has kept its place on our list.

This variable tariff pays you different amounts depending on when you export your solar electricity, and also where you live in the UK.

If you export between 2am and 5am, you’ll only be paid about 4.99p per kWh – but if you send your electricity to the grid between 4pm and 7pm, the rate will rocket up to around 29.32p per kWh.

Exporting your electricity at other times will earn you about 10.11p per kWh – but if you sell as much electricity as you can during peak hours, you can earn a lot more.

When it comes to importing electricity, you should make the most of the 2am-5am slot, when you can buy electricity from the grid for around 15.31p per kWh. This shoots up to roughly 35.72p per kWh between 4pm and 7pm, and hovers around 25.51p per kWh for the rest of the day.

All you need to access this rate is to be an Octopus customer, and own a solar & battery system.

However, you’ll have to use your solar app – usually created by your inverter’s manufacturer – to manually set your battery to export at a certain time every day, unlike some tariffs.

To learn much more, head to our full guide on Octopus Flux.

If you're interested in signing up for Octopus Flux, click the button below.

How to sign up for Octopus Flux

It’s easier to sign up for Octopus Flux than most of the top SEG rates, since you don’t have to get your system installed by a particular supplier or own any specific branded gear.

Here are the key eligibility criteria:

If you qualify, you’ll have to be an Octopus customer before you can use Octopus Flux.

After you’ve switched, which should be a simple process, you’ll just need a valid smart meter. A SMETS2 model or a SMETS1 meter made by Secure will do.

If Octopus hasn’t connected to your smart meter before, it’ll take the supplier around 14 days to establish a remote link.

The company will then send you an email asking you to agree to the terms and conditions – and once you have, you can start benefiting from Octopus Flux straight away.

5. Good Energy Solar Savings

In July 2026, this export tariff's rate dropped from 15p per kWh to 12p per kWh – but it still makes this list, thanks to Good Energy's Heat Pump tariff, which comes with a 14p per kWh import rate for seven hours every day, whether or not you have a heat pump.

You can charge your battery on this rate from 5am to 9am and 1pm to 4pm, then use this low-cost power to run your home during the rest of the day, when the rate is around 30.59p per kWh.

The average household (i.e. a home using 3,400kWh of electricity per year ) can cover most of its electricity usage in this way.

The major drawback for Heat Pump customers is the £75 exit fee, but the tariff's low rate still makes it an excellent deal.

It's worth locking this in while you can, too, as Good Energy has a habit of regularly changing its time-of-use rates.

Its former best import tariff, EV Charge, racked up six distinct off-peak rates in 15 months before the supplier made it EV-only in April 2026.

But if you do pick the right moment, you could lock in a lower rate for 12 months.

To join the Solar Savings tariff, you just have to own solar panels. You don’t have to go through Good Energy to get them installed.

Everything you need to know

How to sign up for Good Energy Solar Savings

Before you sign up for this export tariff, make sure you’re on one of the qualifying import tariffs, which you can see below.

Here are the main eligibility criteria:

To fill in the online form, you’ll need your Good Energy account number, proof that you own your solar panels, and your MCS or Flexi-Orb certificate.

You’ll also need to know your system’s capacity and commissioning date.

6. Outgoing Octopus

This is Octopus’s simplest export tariff.

Just move to Octopus for your electricity supply, and you can qualify for Outgoing Octopus and its monthly payments of 12p per kWh.

This rate dropped from 15p per kWh in March 2026, in the tariff's first rate change since September 2022.

If you’re not looking to get a solar battery, Outgoing Octopus is a decent option – though you'll still likely be better off with Good Energy or British Gas.

Everything you need to know

How to sign up for Outgoing Octopus

The requirements for Outgoing Octopus are minor and achievable.

Here are the main eligibility criteria:

If you meet these criteria, go ahead and fill in the online application. You’ll usually need to provide your MCS certificate number and a scan of your DNO notification letter.

Octopus will process your application in around two days, then will ask your DNO for an export MPAN.

It’ll generally take one to four weeks for your DNO to provide an export MPAN, after which point Octopus will add it to your account and begin enrolling you. This should take around five days.

Then all you’ll have to do is provide Octopus with an initial meter reading, and you can start earning.

7. Ecotricity Smart Export Tariff

In December 2025, Ecotricity replaced its 5p and 8.9p per kWh export tariffs with a 16p per kWh rate that instantly entered our top seven list.

This is the highest flat rate you can get without needing to either buy your solar installation through the same company or get a specific piece of solar gear.

It'd be higher if solar homes could pair it with a time-of-use tariff, but Ecotricity's EV tariff is only open to households with an electric car.

Everything you need to know

How to sign up for Ecotricity Smart Export Tariff

The requirements for Ecotricity Smart Export Tariff are minor and achievable.

Here are the main eligibility criteria:

If you meet these criteria, go ahead and fill in the online application.

You’ll just need to provide your MCS certificate number, bank details, and a scan of your DNO notification letter.

Ecotricity will also ask for proof of ownership, which can be an invoice for the system that names you as the buyer.

The supplier will process your application, then will ask your DNO for an export MPAN.

It’ll generally take one to four weeks for your DNO to provide an export MPAN, after which point Ecotricity will add it to your account within the next five working days.

Then all you’ll have to do is provide Ecotricity with an initial meter reading, and you can start earning.

The best export tariffs for households with an EV

The best choice for households with solar panels and an electric car is usually either Ecotricity Smart 1 Year Fixed Green Electricity EV, EDF Go Electric 12m, or Intelligent Octopus Go.

These time-of-use tariffs allow you to charge your EV for a massively reduced cost overnight. However, they're all import tariffs, so you'll need to pair them with export tariffs.

It's usually a good idea to combine Ecotricity's import offering with its Smart Export Tariff, and Intelligent Octopus Go with the supplier's Outgoing Octopus tariff.

EDF Go Electric 12m usually pairs best with the company's Export 12m tariff.

If you get EDF to carry out your solar installation, you can access its higher Export Exclusive 12m tariff – but this comes with drawbacks.

Which of these import tariffs is better for you will depend on your situation, but they’re all excellent options.

The best export tariffs for households with a heat pump

The best export tariff if you have a heat pump is usually EDF Export 12m or British Gas Export Premium.

Signing up for EDF's tariff, which pays 15p per kWh at the moment, lets you use EDF Heat Pump Tracker as your import rate.

This tariff comes with two off-peak periods – from 4am to 7am and 1pm to 4pm – when electricity costs 14.9p per kWh.

You effectively get six hours every day to use cheap electricity to run any appliances, including your heat pump – and the price at other times is 24.9p per kWh, which is still below the price cap.

Or you could opt for British Gas Export Premium, which pays 12p per kWh, and choose British Gas Heat Power for your import tariff.

This time-of-use tariff has an off-peak rate of 16.8p per kWh from 12am to 7am and 1pm to 4pm.

A larger battery could help you make the most of either of these generous import rates. If you can also shift your electricity consumption as well, you could cut your costs substantially.

This is crucial when you have a heat pump, which generally increases your annual electricity consumption by more than 90%.

For more information, read our comprehensive guide to the best heat pump tariffs.

The best export tariffs with limited installer options

Some suppliers offer tariffs that could net you higher savings and earnings than the options listed above – but you’ll have to get that same supplier to carry out your solar installation.

This can be a significant drawback, particularly if their services are expensive, below par, or both.

None of these companies are on our list of the best solar panel installers in the UK, for instance, and anyone who already has a solar & battery system will have to look elsewhere.

Also, if you’re thinking that Good Energy Solar Savings Exclusive’s 25p per kWh export rate is worth the investment, be aware that it's only temporary.

After 12 months, you’ll be shifted onto the supplier’s 15p per kWh Solar Savings export tariff.

1. EDF Export Exclusive 12m V3

Energy giant EDF launched this tariff in June 2024 at a 20p per kWh rate, after more than four years of paying solar customers a maximum of 5.6p per kWh.

The supplier raised its rate to 24p per kWh in April 2025, but imposed a drastic cut to 18p per kWh less than a year later, in March 2026.

You have to receive your grid electricity from EDF to qualify, but thankfully, the rebranded Empower Fixed Exclusive 12m is a great option.

This import tariff comes without an electricity standing charge for the first year, saving you around £200 – though it's just a one-time deal.

And even outside the 10p per kWh off-peak period, you can buy grid electricity for just 20p per kWh – significantly less than the price cap. Just watch out for the 30p per kWh peak rate from 4pm to 7pm.

The requirements are also less stringent than Good Energy’s, with households only needing to install solar panels or a storage battery through EDF, instead of both.

However, being limited to using EDF to fit your system means you won’t necessarily get the most affordable deal or highest quality installation.

Watch out too, because offerings like these with bonus features don’t always last long, and can be scrapped at a moment’s notice – like E.ON’s now-defunct 40p per kWh rate.

So if you’re getting a system through EDF purely so you can sign up to this tariff, be aware that it can disappear at any time.

Charging your battery for less is always good, and you should be able to fill a 10kWh battery with relatively cheap electricity, then use it during peak periods, when the import rate shoots up.

Everything you need to know

How to sign up for EDF Export Exclusive 12m V3

Export Exclusive 12m V3 is a little more flexible than some tariffs, requiring you to install only solar panels or a battery through EDF.

Here are the primary eligibility criteria:

The first step is filling in an application form.

Before you begin, make sure you have your Flexi-Orb or MCS certificate, import MPAN, and bank details.

Unusually, it’s not possible to submit your application online. You can either scan the form into an email and send it to hello@edfenergy.com, or post it to EDF.

EDF will then request and register your export MPAN. When this process is complete, the supplier will ask for your first smart meter reading, and you’ll be good to go.

2. Good Energy Solar Savings Exclusive

To access this generous 25p per kWh rate, you have to get a solar & battery system installed through Good Energy.

This means using either Good Energy’s in-house solar installers or JPS Renewable Energy, a Kent-based company owned by Good Energy that operates across the south of England.

And this tariff only lasts for 12 months, after which point customers are moved onto a different, less profitable tariff.

You'll also have to get your grid electricity from Good Energy, though the supplier's Heat Pump tariff is one of the best on the market.

It comes with a 14p per kWh off-peak rate from 5am to 9am and 1pm to 4pm, which you can use to power your whole household, regardless of whether you have an heat pump.

The company also shifted export payments for Solar Savings Exclusive from a quarterly to monthly schedule in April 2026, which is a nice bonus.

However, if you switch import suppliers early, you'll have to pay a £75 exit fee.

Everything you need to know

How to sign up for Good Energy Solar Savings Exclusive

This tariff offers a high export rate, but comes with strict requirements.

Here are the eligibility criteria:

First, fill out the company’s online application form.

Once you’ve pressed submit, someone from Good Energy’s export tariff team will contact you to discuss the next steps.

Or if you don’t want to apply online, you can email solarsavings@goodenergy.co.uk or call 0345 034 2400 to start the process.

3. E.ON Next Export Premium v3

This is E.ON's highest export tariff, after the company ended its 40p per kWh Premium Plus rate in October 2024, just six months into its existence.

The Premium tariff isn't a flash in the pan, as it's been around since April 2024 – though E.ON cut its rate from 25p to 21p per kWh in October 2024, then again to 17.5p per kWh in November 2025.

To qualify, you have to buy your solar panels or battery through E.ON's Solar and Storage team, and import your electricity from E.ON too.

You don't need to get solar panels and a battery to qualify, but it's usually more profitable to get both – and if you have them installed at the same time, it typically cuts your battery costs.

Since April 2025, the tariff has also come with a 15kWp limit, which is increasingly common among suppliers worried about paying out too much money to solar homes.

A 17.5p per kWh export tariff is appealing though, as long as you’re comfortable with E.ON installing your system and supplying your electricity.

Everything you need to know

How to sign up for E.ON Next Export Premium v3

This 17.5p per kWh tariff is only available to households that install solar panels and buy electricity through E.ON.

Here are the major eligibility criteria:

To sign up, you’ll have to fill in an online form and attach your MCS or Flexi-Orb certificate, a photo of your smart meter, your DNO approval letter, and a schematic diagram of your system if you have a battery.

E.ON can take up to four weeks to process this application, after which point the company will apply to your DNO for an export MPAN.

It’ll usually take between one and four weeks for the DNO to provide this number, after which point the switch should happen instantly.

4. So Energy So Bright

This is So Energy's attempt to attract new customers with a 20p per kWh rate – but it only lasts for 12 months.

After that, you'll be moved onto the supplier's other export tariff, So Export Flex, which pays a paltry 4.5p per kWh.

Considering you have to get a solar & battery system installed through So Energy to qualify, this is a subpar choice.

So Export Flex operates on a 30-day rolling contract with no exit fee, so you can easily sign up to a different company's tariff, but it's not worth the hassle.

Temporary promotional rates like this are only worth it if they pay significantly more than other tariffs, which So Bright doesn't.

Also, So Energy isn't offering a time-of-use import tariff that allows you to boost your savings. Its current best option has a £75 exit fee and a high standing charge.

Everything you need to know

How to sign up for So Energy So Bright

You can only sign up to this temporary 20p per kWh tariff if So Energy installs your solar & battery system and provides you with electricity.

Here are the main eligibility criteria:

First, gather your MCS or Flexi-Orb certificate, G98 or G99 application, and proof that you own your solar & battery system – all of which So Energy should give you during or after your installation.

Once you've filled in an online form with the help of these documents, So Energy will ask your DNO for an export MPAN. This can take up to five working days, according to the supplier.

So Energy will then get in touch to complete the sign-up process, and you'll be ready to start earning export income.

5. ScottishPower SmartGen Premium Plus

In July 2025, ScottishPower changed its export tariffs for the first time in more than two years.

The supplier's previous 15p per kWh export tariff, SmartGen+, was available to households who bought either solar panels or a battery from ScottishPower, but not their grid electricity.

This flexibility made SmartGen+ distinctive, and allowed its customers to choose the best import tariff on the market.

Unfortunately, you can only qualify for SmartGen Premium Plus if you import your electricity from ScottishPower.

So this tariff leaves you with no choice but to rely on ScottishPower’s solar installation team and unimpressive import rates.

SmartGen Premium Plus is variable, so you could technically end up making more than you would on rates higher up this list – but all else being equal, you probably won’t.

Everything you need to know

How to sign up for ScottishPower SmartGen Premium Plus

Qualifying for this tariff is relatively simple – you just have to decide whether you want ScottishPower to carry out your solar installation and provide your import tariff.

Here are the important eligibility requirements:

To fill in the application form for this tariff, you’ll need your MCS or Flexi-Orb certificate, proof of ownership, and a photo of your smart meter that shows the serial number and an export reading.

If you have a message from your DNO approving your export grid connection, that’s preferable but not necessary.

ScottishPower warns customers that it can take up to six weeks to process an application, though the supplier will backdate your payments to the initial meter reading you provided in your form.

6. OVO SEG Install Exclusive

If you receive electricity from OVO, and buy its solar package – which includes a storage battery – you can access the company’s highest SEG rate of 20p per kWh.

The main drawback of this tariff is that you have to buy solar panels, a battery, and grid electricity through OVO, meaning you don’t have any choice when it comes to which installer you use.

If you don't want OVO to install your battery, but don't mind getting your solar panels and electricity through the supplier, you can still qualify for this tariff – but you'll only receive 15p per kWh.

When OVO Solar launched in 2023, its 20p per kWh rate was only available in Wales and south-west England – some of the best places in the UK to have solar panels – but it’s now open to the great majority of mainland Britain.

From October 2024 to January 2026, customers were able to use Battery Boost, an add-on that enabled OVO to charge a battery with off-peak electricity for 10p per kWh, then sell it back to the grid at peak times for 20p per kWh.

This resulted in more than £100 of annual savings for the average household with a 10kWh battery, but it's no longer available.

To learn more, check out our full guide to OVO's SEG tariffs.

Everything you need to know

How to sign up for OVO SEG Install Exclusive

To access the tariff's 20p per kWh rate, you’ll need to have solar panels and a battery installed through OVO.

Here are the important eligibility criteria for OVO SEG Install Exclusive:

Signing up for this tariff involves completing an online form and providing OVO with your MCS or Flexi-Orb certificate, DNO approval letter, G98 or G99 application, import MPAN, and a schematic of your system.

You may also have to supply proof of identity – like a copy of your passport – and proof of address, like a utility bill with your name on it. 

As with most suppliers, the process can take up to 11 weeks in total.

If you would like to see the savings you could get from a solar & battery system, just answer a few questions below, and we’ll provide an estimate.

The best short-term SEG tariffs

Some energy companies have introduced temporarily high tariffs designed to persuade customers to go solar with them.

To qualify, you have to get your solar panels and battery through the supplier – but once the initial 12-month export contract ends, you’ll be rolled onto a lower tariff.

Here are the three most high-profile short-term tariffs, though one of them has now concluded, as temporary rates do.

1. Good Energy Solar Savings Exclusive

This tariff offers a 25p per kWh rate – but there are many strings attached.

First, you have to pay for a solar & battery installation carried out by either Good Energy Solar or JPS Renewable Energy – which the supplier acquired in 2024 – and sign up to a Good Energy import tariff, too.

Then, after 12 months, you’ll be moved to Good Energy’s Solar Savings tariff, which only pays 15p per kWh.

This means you could miss out on high, less temporary tariffs from the likes of EDF, which also require you to install through them.

2. So Energy So Bright

If So Energy installs your solar & battery system and supplies your grid electricity, you can access the supplier’s 20p per kWh So Bright tariff.

This rate will apply for 12 months from the date your system was turned on.

But after that point, you’ll be shifted onto the company’s other export tariff, So Export Flex – which pays just 4.5p per kWh.

3. E.ON Next Export Premium Plus

E.ON’s groundbreaking 40p per kWh rate made headlines when it launched in April 2024, but it wasn’t long for this world.

The tariff, which required households to use E.ON for their solar & battery system installation and electricity supply, ended in October 2024 – after just six months.

Customers who made the move during this period gained access to the 40p per kWh rate for 12 months, after which time they were moved to E.ON’s next-best rate.

How to choose the best SEG rate for you

The import-export tariff market is constantly changing, which can be overwhelming and cause you to miss out on some great offers.

We track the tariff market to make sure Sunsave Plus customers are always on the best options around.

The export rate is of course a big part of choosing the best SEG tariff for your household, but there are other important factors – not least which import tariff you can get alongside it.

Here are the main elements to consider:

1. System size and consumption
2. Whether you can change your energy supplier
3. Which installer you use
4. Whether you have a battery
5. Whether you want your battery managed for you
6. Whether you have an EV
7. Whether you have a heat pump
8. How long it takes to sign up (and get paid)

Let’s dive into more detail about each one.

1. System size and consumption

Consider the size of your solar panel system in the context of how much electricity your household uses per year.

A solar household generally exports around 20% of the electricity its panels generate – a figure we’ve based on a property with average UK irradiance (850kWh per kWp), a 4.9kWp solar panel system, a 10kWh battery, and an annual consumption of 3,400kWh.

If your system produces substantially more electricity than you consume, you may export a good deal more than 20% – in which case you should probably choose a high export tariff, and place less value on getting a good import rate.

Octopus Flux is usually an excellent choice in this scenario, as it offers an extremely generous peak export rate.

Alternatively, you could get an electric vehicle and/or a heat pump to take advantage of the excess electricity your panels generate.

If your system is relatively undersized compared to your consumption levels, your export tariff may be less significant than getting on a top import rate.

2. Whether you can change your energy supplier

It’s always possible to leave your energy supplier – but make sure you don’t accidentally incur a penalty charge that makes the move feel pointless.

If you change suppliers before the last 49 days of your fixed-term contract, you could be charged an exit fee. After that, you’ll be protected by Ofgem’s switching windows rule.

Exit fees from fixed tariffs range from £25 per fuel all the way up to an eye-watering £150 per fuel, so make sure you don’t fall into an expensive trap.

If you already have solar panels on your roof, you obviously won't be able to switch to an export tariff that requires you to use a certain installer, but there are still great options out there.

And if you’re simply too fond of your supplier to move, you could potentially earn more export income without switching – though in most cases, you'll need to switch to maximise your earnings.

3. Which installer you use

Several energy suppliers offer special export tariffs to households that pay them to install their solar panel system.

They tend to be some of the best rates on the market, but if you’d rather choose a different installer – or if you already have a solar installation – they’re closed to you.

And even if you could qualify for these higher tariffs because you haven’t yet gone solar, choosing one of them would lock you in to using a certain installer, which could backfire in the long run.

You may not get the highest quality kit or installation, leading to issues further down the line – and if the installer doesn’t offer any maintenance support, you could be left high and dry with a malfunctioning system.

To ensure your installation goes as smoothly and professionally as possible, check out our guide to the best solar panel installers in the UK.

4. Whether you have a battery

Many export tariffs require you to have a battery, meaning you’ll limit your options if you decide against getting one alongside your solar panels.

A battery allows you to use more of your solar electricity, take full advantage of time-of-use tariffs, and sign up to the best export tariffs.

That explains why around 94% of new solar panel installations in the UK include a battery, according to data from Flexi-Orb and EPVS.

At Sunsave, we always recommend a battery to our customers – so we encourage you to get one too.

5. Whether you want your battery managed for you

Some suppliers can control your battery settings to maximise your export earnings and import savings.

The energy company will use smart controls that ensure your battery is fully charged and ready to discharge everything to the grid when the peak 4pm-7pm period rolls around.

In all cases, battery controls are a welcome bonus feature that takes a task off your daily to-do list and may add to your earnings, but it’s also pretty easy to schedule when your battery charges and discharges through the relevant app.

You can also give up control to a virtual power plant, which will pay you to store and draw electricity from your battery.

6. Whether you have an EV

There are several import tariffs that have been created specifically for electric car owners, with off-peak rates that allow you to charge cheaply overnight.

Solar homes with an EV can maximise their savings on one of these tariffs, as they usually allow you to also charge your battery and power your home during these off-peak hours.

653,000 households have made the switch as of January 2026, which represents a 120% increase since April 2024.

The best option is usually to go with the same supplier for import and export, as that’ll net you the best export rate possible.

To see the top offerings on the market right now, read our guide to the best EV tariffs.

7. Whether you have a heat pump

In a similar fashion, heat pump owners may want to pick an import tariff that saves them the most money on their heating bills – which limits the number of export rates they can get.

Suppliers including Octopus, EDF, ScottishPower, and Good Energy offer time-of-use tariffs with daily off-peak periods that are only available to households with a heat pump.

If one of these is too profitable to give up, it’ll reduce your export tariff options.

You’ll have to either sign up to an export rate from the same supplier, or export to a supplier that doesn’t require you to also be on one of its import tariffs.

To see the current pecking order, check out our guide to the best heat pump tariffs.

8. How long it takes to sign up (and get paid)

If you’re especially keen on earning export income as soon as possible, it’s worth checking how long it takes to join different export tariffs – and how the supplier’s payment schedule works.

Both of these factors vary. According to the companies themselves, it may take up to four weeks to get on one of E.ON or OVO's export tariffs, whereas ScottishPower’s given time frame is up to six weeks.

And depending on which supplier you choose, you could receive your export earnings every month, quarter, six months, or – in E.ON’s case – once per year, unless you request quarterly payments.

If you’re planning on switching to the same import tariff provider, make that move in advance of changing your export tariff, as it’ll speed up the process.

Next steps

Which SEG rate is best for you will depend on your home.

Take into account all the factors we’ve run through above, decide how important they are to you, make your own calculations, and you should find the right solution.

If you end up picking one of the SEG rates we’ve explained in detail, you’ve probably made a good decision – and the fact that you're doing your research means you're unlikely to choose something totally wrong for your setup.

It’s a complicated process, though. To ensure you end up with a tariff that benefits you, consider choosing Sunsave for your solar installation, as we'll help you figure out the right tariff for your household.

If you’re interested in how much you could save with a solar & battery system, just answer a few questions below, and we’ll provide an estimate.

Full methodology

Here are all the bases and assumptions we made to create an example household, enabling us to compare dozens of export and import tariffs.

Best SEG rates: FAQs