Do I get paid for the solar I use myself?

No. SEG only pays for the electricity you export to the grid. The power you use yourself is worth more, because it saves you the full price of buying that unit, but it is a saving rather than a SEG payment.

Do I apply to Ofgem for SEG?

No. You apply directly to a supplier that offers a SEG export tariff, using your MCS certificate and meter details. It does not have to be the supplier of your imported electricity, and you can switch tariffs later.

Is SEG the same as the Feed-in Tariff?

No. The Feed-in Tariff closed to new systems in 2019. SEG is the scheme for new installs. It pays for exported electricity, but the rates and structure are set by individual suppliers rather than fixed by government.

Which supplier pays the most for solar export?

Rates change often and the best one varies, so it is worth comparing current SEG tariffs rather than relying on a single name. The highest rates, towards the top of the 2 to 15p range, usually come with conditions such as a time-of-use tariff or buying your imported electricity from the same supplier. You can pick an export tariff separately from your import supplier.

Can I get SEG without a smart meter?

In practice no. SEG pays for metered export recorded half-hourly, which means a meter capable of that, normally a smart meter. Without one, a supplier cannot measure what you export and so cannot pay you under SEG. Getting a smart meter fitted is usually the step that unlocks export payments.

How much can I earn from SEG in a year?

It depends on how much you export and your tariff. A typical home with a 4 kW system might export around 2,000 to 2,500 units a year, which at about 5.5p is roughly £110 to £140. Exporting less by using more of your own solar earns less from SEG but saves more overall, because used units are worth far more than exported ones.

Cost & payback

The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG)

By Daniel Osei · Last checked 25 June 2026

When your panels generate more than you are using, the surplus flows out to the grid. The Smart Export Guarantee, or SEG, is the scheme that means a supplier pays you for that exported electricity. It replaced the old Feed-in Tariff for new systems, and it is a real part of how solar pays back.

The quick version

SEG pays you for the electricity your panels export to the grid
Every supplier with a large customer base must offer at least one export tariff above 0p
Rates are typically around 4 to 8p per unit, with a wider range of about 2 to 15p
You need an MCS-certified install and a smart meter that records export
You apply to a supplier, not to Ofgem, and you can switch to a better rate

What SEG is, and who has to offer it

SEG is a payment for the units of solar electricity you send back to the grid. You only get paid for what you export, not for power you use yourself in the house. Using your own solar is still worth far more, because it saves you the full price of buying that unit, so SEG is the value of the surplus rather than the main saving.

Ofgem sets the framework, but it does not set the price. Every electricity supplier with 150,000 or more customers must offer at least one SEG export tariff that pays more than 0p per unit. Smaller suppliers can offer one but are not obliged to. Suppliers set their own rates, which is why they vary and why it is worth comparing.

What you can expect to be paid

Most export tariffs land somewhere around 4 to 8p per unit. The full range runs from about 2p at the bottom to 15p at the top. The highest rates usually come with conditions, such as a time-of-use tariff or buying your imported electricity from the same supplier.

For modelling a typical system, around 5.5p per unit is a sensible middle figure. It is the value of a unit you export rather than use, which is why using more of your own solar, through daytime use or a battery, pays back faster than relying on export.

How payback works, and how to speed it up

What you need to claim it

Two things are required. The first is that your install is MCS-certified, or done under an equivalent recognised scheme. This is the same standard most grants need, and suppliers can ask for the certificate as proof. A non-certified install can shut you out of SEG even if the panels work perfectly.

The second is a meter that records your export half-hourly, which in practice means a smart meter. SEG applies in Great Britain to systems up to 5 megawatts, which covers any home install comfortably. Northern Ireland runs a separate market and does not use SEG.

What MCS certification means

How to apply, and switching for a better rate

You apply directly to a SEG supplier, not to Ofgem. You do not have to use the same company that supplies your electricity, so you can pick the export tariff that suits you and apply for that. You will need your MCS certificate and your meter details.

Rates change, and you are free to move to a different SEG tariff later if a better one comes along. It is worth a check every so often, the same way you would review any energy deal.

Get a cost and payback estimate for your home

Put in your postcode and a couple of details and we will model the likely system size, cost, output and payback for your roof.

Common questions

How much does the Smart Export Guarantee pay?: Most tariffs pay around 4 to 8p per unit exported, within a wider range of about 2 to 15p. The highest rates usually come with conditions such as a time-of-use tariff. Around 5.5p is a reasonable figure for modelling a typical system.
Do I get paid for the solar I use myself?: No. SEG only pays for the electricity you export to the grid. The power you use yourself is worth more, because it saves you the full price of buying that unit, but it is a saving rather than a SEG payment.
What do I need to qualify for SEG?: An MCS-certified install, or one under an equivalent recognised scheme, and a meter that records your export half-hourly, which in practice means a smart meter. SEG applies in Great Britain to systems up to 5 megawatts.
Do I apply to Ofgem for SEG?: No. You apply directly to a supplier that offers a SEG export tariff, using your MCS certificate and meter details. It does not have to be the supplier of your imported electricity, and you can switch tariffs later.
Is SEG the same as the Feed-in Tariff?: No. The Feed-in Tariff closed to new systems in 2019. SEG is the scheme for new installs. It pays for exported electricity, but the rates and structure are set by individual suppliers rather than fixed by government.
Which supplier pays the most for solar export?: Rates change often and the best one varies, so it is worth comparing current SEG tariffs rather than relying on a single name. The highest rates, towards the top of the 2 to 15p range, usually come with conditions such as a time-of-use tariff or buying your imported electricity from the same supplier. You can pick an export tariff separately from your import supplier.
Can I get SEG without a smart meter?: In practice no. SEG pays for metered export recorded half-hourly, which means a meter capable of that, normally a smart meter. Without one, a supplier cannot measure what you export and so cannot pay you under SEG. Getting a smart meter fitted is usually the step that unlocks export payments.
How much can I earn from SEG in a year?: It depends on how much you export and your tariff. A typical home with a 4 kW system might export around 2,000 to 2,500 units a year, which at about 5.5p is roughly £110 to £140. Exporting less by using more of your own solar earns less from SEG but saves more overall, because used units are worth far more than exported ones.