Smart Export Guarantee Rates 2026: Which Supplier Pays Most?

Best SEG Rates in 2026

The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) requires all licensed electricity suppliers with 150,000+ customers to offer a tariff for exported solar electricity. Over 270,000 installations were on SEG tariffs by March 2025 — a 63% annual increase. The best rates come from time-of-use tariffs rather than flat rates.

Octopus Intelligent Flux leads the market, paying up to 30.31p/kWh during peak 4-7pm exports. This requires a compatible battery and smart meter, but the returns are exceptional. For flat-rate simplicity, Octopus Outgoing pays 12-15p/kWh. Good Energy Solar Savings Exclusive offers 25p/kWh. The average rate across all SEG tariffs is approximately 13p/kWh.

Flat Rate vs Time-of-Use: Which Pays More?

Time-of-use tariffs pay more but require a battery and active management. With Octopus Flux, you charge your battery cheaply overnight (around 7p/kWh) and export during the 4-7pm peak at 26-30p/kWh. This arbitrage strategy can earn £300-£600 per year on top of self-consumption savings. Without a battery, a flat rate of 12-15p/kWh is simpler but earns significantly less.

For solar-only installations without battery storage, we recommend Octopus Outgoing or similar flat-rate tariffs. For solar-plus-battery systems, Octopus Flux or Intelligent Octopus Go maximise returns. We help every customer choose the right tariff during installation commissioning.

How Much Can You Earn from SEG?

A 4kW solar system in East Anglia exporting approximately 1,500-2,000 kWh per year earns £60-£300 annually at standard flat rates. With a battery and Octopus Flux, strategic exporting can boost this to £400-£800+. The key is that self-consumption savings (avoiding buying at 24.5p/kWh) are almost always more valuable than export income, so the battery should prioritise self-use and only export surplus during peak pricing windows.