SEG Registration Guide for Plug-In Solar
The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) pays you for electricity your plug-in solar kit sends back to the grid. It's separate from G98 — notify your network first, then compare suppliers.
What is the SEG?
The SEG requires UK energy suppliers with more than 150,000 domestic customers to offer at least one export tariff. Plug-in solar becomes legal from 27 August 2026, so SEG only comes after the kit is lawful and your network notification evidence is ready. It replaced the Feed-in Tariff (FIT), which closed to new applicants in March 2019. The SEG has been in force since 1 January 2020.
Unlike FIT, the SEG only pays for electricity you export — not everything you generate. A smart meter measures your export, installed free by your supplier. The tariff must be above zero, but suppliers set their own rates and offer better deals if you also buy electricity from them.
How much can you earn?
Honestly, it depends on your export volume, the tariff, and whether you're already a customer. A typical plug-in kit (300–800 VA) might export 200–600 kWh per year.
| Annual export | At 4p/kWh | At 15p/kWh | At 25p/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200 kWh | £8 | £30 | £50 |
| 400 kWh | £16 | £60 | £100 |
| 600 kWh | £24 | £90 | £150 |
Illustrative only. Actual earnings depend on generation, consumption, and tariff terms.
Top SEG rates (August 2026)
Five highest published rates. Always confirm on the supplier’s site before registering.
| Supplier | Tariff | Rate | Open to all? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good Energy | Solar Savings Exclusive | 25p/kWh | No — customers only |
| So Energy | So Bright Export | 20p/kWh | No — customers only |
| OVO Energy | OVO SEG Tariff (solar + battery) | 20p/kWh | No — customers only |
| EDF Energy | Export Exclusive 12m V3 | 18p/kWh | No — customers only |
| E.ON Next | Next Export Premium v3 | 17.5p/kWh | No — customers only |
Open-to-all tariffs
Don't want to switch import supplier? These are available to any SEG-eligible generator:
- Ecotricity — Smart Export: 16p/kWh
- Fuse Energy — Single Rate Variable: 13p/kWh
- Octopus Energy — Smart Export Guarantee: 4.1p/kWh
- OVO Energy — OVO SEG (non-customers): 4p/kWh
- British Gas — British Gas SEG (non-customers): 3p/kWh
- EDF Energy — Export Variable (non-customers): 3p/kWh
- Utilita — Utilita Smart Export Guarantee: 3p/kWh
Eligibility
- Renewable installation. Solar PV, wind, hydro, or anaerobic digestion up to 5MW. Plug-in kits under 800 VA qualify.
- MCS certificate or equivalent. Most suppliers want one. Some accept alternative evidence for small installations — check first.
- Export-capable smart meter. The supplier needs half-hourly export readings. A SMETS2 meter is usually easiest, but some suppliers can also use compatible SMETS1 meters. Ask the supplier before you switch.
- G98 notification. If you haven’t notified your network yet, use our G98 form generator first.