Blog · Published 2026-05-12

The best Smart Export Guarantee tariffs for UK businesses in 2026

The Smart Export Guarantee market has shifted dramatically since the FIT closed in 2019. Where the original SEG floor in 2020 was 1p/kWh and many suppliers paid less, 2026 sees fixed-tariff rates above 15p/kWh available from Octopus, Good Energy and E.ON Next — high enough to materially shift the economics of commercial solar.

Why 2026 is different

SEG was launched as a market-based replacement for the Feed-in Tariff. The initial expectation was that competition between suppliers would lift rates. For three years (2020-2023) that didn't really happen — most suppliers paid the regulatory floor of 1-3p/kWh. The shift came in late 2023, when wholesale electricity price volatility made export generation strategically valuable to retail suppliers. Octopus Energy launched Outgoing Fixed at 15p/kWh, others followed, and by 2025 the SEG market was the most competitive it has ever been.

For commercial solar in 2026, this means SEG income is no longer a marginal nice-to-have — on a 250 kWp system exporting 35% of generation, the difference between a 3p floor tariff and a 15p fixed tariff is roughly £8,200 per year. Over a 25-year system life that's £205,000 of avoided revenue if you stay on a poor tariff.

The current top fixed-tariff rates (May 2026)

Octopus Energy Outgoing Fixed — 15.0p/kWh (12-month fixed). Best fixed rate in the market. Requires you to also import from Octopus on one of their commercial tariffs. Annual rebill — set a reminder.

E.ON Next Export Exclusive — 16.5p/kWh. Highest headline rate. Only available to E.ON Next import customers.

Good Energy Solar Savings — 13.0p/kWh fixed. Strong fixed rate without import lock-in. Good for businesses with strong sustainability positioning that don't want to switch import supplier.

So Energy Export Plus — 8.0p/kWh. Open to non-So Energy customers. Mid-table but accessible.

Octopus Outgoing Agile — half-hourly variable. Tracks wholesale price; can spike to 30p+ in evening peaks. Averages ~12p over 12 months. Worth it if you can shape your export pattern (e.g. batteries that release in peak).

Variable tariffs to avoid

British Gas Export & Earn Flex — 6.4p/kWh variable. Better than the floor but well behind market leaders.

OVO Energy Export — 5.0p/kWh. Standard variable. No fixed option.

EDF Export Variable — 5.6p/kWh. Reliable, accessible to non-EDF customers but well below market top.

Shell Energy SEG — 3.5p/kWh. Near the regulatory floor.

If you are currently on any of these and have not reviewed in 12+ months, you are almost certainly leaving money on the table. The switch process is straightforward — most fixed-tariff suppliers will accept your existing SEG accreditation and start paying within 4-6 weeks of switch.

How to switch SEG suppliers

Switching SEG is a separate process from switching your import supplier — you don't need to switch both. The steps:

1. Identify which fixed tariff you want (review the list above; the best rate without import lock-in is currently Good Energy at 13p). 2. Apply via the supplier's SEG application form. Most suppliers process this within 4-6 weeks. 3. Provide your existing MPAN (Metering Point Administration Number), MCS certificate or engineering sign-off, smart meter serial number, and current SEG supplier details. 4. The new supplier coordinates the transfer with your existing supplier and your DNO. 5. You'll receive a confirmation date — payments transfer from the old supplier to the new from that date.

If you do not yet have SEG arranged (i.e. you've just commissioned a system), apply directly to your preferred supplier — there's no need to take a 'default' SEG from your import supplier first.

Stacking SEG with REGOs

For systems above 50kWp, you can claim Ofgem REGO certificates alongside SEG income. REGOs are sold separately to brokers (£8-£20 per certificate, or 0.8p-2p/kWh equivalent). On a 100 kWp system generating 95,000 kWh/year, that's an additional £760-£1,900/year of revenue on top of SEG.

REGO accreditation costs £375 + £30/year, so it's worthwhile for systems above 50kWp. Full REGO sales guide.

What the future holds

Ofgem is reviewing the SEG framework in 2026-2027. Two changes under consultation could affect rates:

- Mandatory minimum tariff floor. Currently suppliers can set the rate as low as zero. A regulatory floor at 5-7p/kWh has cross-party support and may be in place by 2027. - Half-hourly settlement. Moving SEG to half-hourly settlement (currently optional) would let suppliers offer time-of-use SEG tariffs — paying more during evening peaks.

Both changes would raise the effective rate received by commercial generators. If you're planning a system for installation in 2027+, factor in the likelihood of higher SEG rates than current.

FAQs

FAQs on this topic

Can I have SEG with one supplier and import from another?

Yes — and many businesses do. SEG and import are separate contracts. Your SEG supplier reads your meter for export; your import supplier reads it for import. The smart meter handles both.

Does SEG require MCS certification?

Yes for systems up to 50kWp. Above 50kWp, Ofgem accepts engineering sign-off from a competent contractor — most installers provide this as part of commissioning.

How much SEG income does a typical commercial system generate?

Depends on system size and self-consumption rate. A 100 kWp commercial system with 50% self-consumption exports ~47,500 kWh/year. At 5p/kWh = £2,375/year. At 15p/kWh = £7,125/year. Always size the system for high self-consumption first — saved imports at 28p/kWh always beat exports.

Are SEG payments taxable?

Yes for commercial generators — SEG income is treated as trading income and is subject to corporation tax (limited companies) or income tax (sole traders/partnerships).