Getting paid for the electricity you export The Smart Export Guarantee explained
Under the Smart Export Guarantee, larger energy suppliers must pay you for electricity your solar panels send to the grid. You need an MCS certified system and a meter that records exports. Rates vary from about 1p to 25p a unit, so the tariff you choose matters.
How it works
- It started on 1 January 2020, replacing the Feed-in Tariff for new systems.
- Suppliers with at least 150,000 domestic customers must offer an export tariff. Smaller suppliers can choose to.
- Each supplier sets its own rate, fixed or variable, but it must always be above zero.
- You can choose any supplier's export tariff. It doesn't have to be the company you buy electricity from, though the best rates usually are.
- You can only have one export tariff at a time.
What you need
- An MCS certified system. For solar systems up to 50 kW, both the installation and the installer must be certified through MCS or an equivalent scheme.
- An export meter that can record half-hourly readings, with an export MPAN. In practice, a smart meter.
- Your network operator's record of the system, which your installer provides when they notify or apply to it.
Plug-in solar kits, legal since 27 August 2026, aren't installed under MCS, so they generally won't qualify for export payments.
Export rates compared
| Tariff | Rate per unit | Catch |
|---|---|---|
| Octopus Outgoing | 12p, variable | Octopus electricity customers only (checked 11 October 2026) |
| Octopus Prime Outgoing | 16p from 4pm to 7pm, 9p other times | Fixed for 12 months (checked 11 October 2026) |
| British Gas Export and Earn Plus | 15.1p | British Gas customers (April 2026) |
| EDF Export 12m | 15p | EDF customers (April 2026) |
| E.ON Next Export Exclusive | 13p | E.ON Next customers, systems up to 15 kW (April 2026) |
| Good Energy Solar Savings | 15p | April 2026 |
| Tariffs tied to buying your system from the supplier | 15p to 25p | Only if they installed it (April 2026) |
| Basic tariffs open to anyone | about 1p to 6p | Octopus's is 4.1p (checked 11 October 2026) |
Rates change often. April 2026 figures are from Which?; check the supplier's current rate before switching.
How to apply
- Wait for your MCS certificate. Your installer issues it, normally within 10 days of commissioning.
- Make sure you have a smart meter set up to record exports. Your supplier can arrange one.
- Choose a tariff and apply online with your MCS certificate number, your export MPAN and your installation details.
- Send readings if asked. With a smart meter, exports are usually read automatically.
Batteries and the Smart Export Guarantee
If your battery only stores solar, exporting from it is fine. If it also charges from the grid, the supplier doesn't have to pay for electricity exported from it, because that power came from the grid, though some suppliers choose to. Ask your supplier how its tariff treats batteries.
Some tariffs pay more at peak times, such as Octopus's 4pm to 7pm rate. A battery can hold solar back to export at the higher rate, so the right tariff and the right battery settings go together.
Questions people ask
How much do you get paid for exporting solar electricity?
Anywhere from about 1p to 25p a unit in 2026. Most suppliers' better tariffs for their own customers pay around 12p to 15p.
Do I have to use my electricity supplier for the Smart Export Guarantee?
No. You can choose any supplier's export tariff, but the best rates are usually for their own customers.
Do I need a smart meter for the Smart Export Guarantee?
You need a meter that records exports every half hour, which in practice means a smart meter.
Can I get the Smart Export Guarantee without MCS?
Not for a home system: systems up to 50 kW need MCS or equivalent certification for both installer and installation.
Is the Smart Export Guarantee the same as the Feed-in Tariff?
No. The Feed-in Tariff closed to new systems in 2019. Existing Feed-in Tariff payments continue under their own terms.
Read next
Sources
Figures and rules on this page were checked on 11 October 2026. Schemes, tariffs and prices change, so check the latest before you decide.
- Ofgem: Smart Export Guarantee, checked 11 October 2026
- Ofgem: SEG guidance for generators, December 2019, still current
- GOV.UK: Smart Export Guarantee, updated 1 October 2026
- Octopus Energy: Outgoing export tariffs, checked 11 October 2026
- Which?: Smart Export Guarantee rates, the best and worst tariffs, 24 April 2026
- MCS: Certificate queries, updated 20 May 2026
- GOV.UK: Households can save as plug-in solar panels come to market, 26 August 2026
Get an MCS certified system
Every home system we fit comes with an MCS certificate, so you can apply for an export tariff as soon as it arrives. We'll explain how.
Prefer to talk? Call 0333 577 6576, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
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