British Gas SEG Tariff: Is It Worth It? (2026)

If you have solar panels and are wondering where to send your surplus electricity, the British Gas export tariff is one of the most widely recognised options in the UK — but recognisable does not always mean best-paying. This review unpacks the current British Gas Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) rates, explains who qualifies, and gives you a clear picture of whether it is worth switching to or staying with British Gas for your export payments.

What is the Smart Export Guarantee?

The SEG is a government-backed scheme that requires large energy suppliers to pay solar panel owners for electricity exported to the grid. Introduced in January 2020 and regulated by Ofgem, it replaced the Feed-in Tariff export stream. Any licensed supplier with 150,000 or more domestic customers is legally obligated to offer at least one SEG tariff — though Ofgem rules only require the rate to be above zero. There is no minimum rate beyond that threshold, which means suppliers have wide latitude to set their own prices.

Because you get paid per kilowatt-hour exported, the rate you choose has a direct impact on your solar panel payback period. Switching SEG provider costs nothing and can be done independently of who supplies your electricity — you do not have to buy and sell from the same company.

British Gas SEG tariff: the current rate

British Gas offers a variable export tariff with rates that depend on your customer status:

• Export Premium — 12p/kWh: available to existing British Gas electricity customers with a system of 15kW or under. This is the headline rate.
• Export Extra — 8p/kWh: for British Gas electricity customers with systems above 15kW.
• Export VoidCare SEG — 6p/kWh: for social landlords and VoidCare customers with systems up to 15kW.
• Export SEG — 3p/kWh: for everyone else — non-British Gas electricity customers, developers, and VoidCare customers with systems over 15kW.

The tariff is variable: British Gas can change the rate without notice. The 12p/kWh Export Premium is competitive for a big-six supplier, but it is only available if you already buy your electricity from British Gas. If you do not, you would receive just 3p/kWh — one of the lower rates in the market.

Eligibility and sign-up

To qualify for any British Gas SEG tariff you must meet these criteria:

• Your installation technology must be solar PV, wind, hydro, anaerobic digestion, or micro-CHP with a total installed capacity of no more than 5MW (50kW for micro-CHP), as set by Ofgem.
• Your system must hold a valid MCS certificate (or equivalent accreditation such as Flexi-Orb) — the certification scheme overseen by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme that verifies your installer and equipment meet quality standards.
• You must have proof of G98 or G99 connection notification from your Distribution Network Operator.
• Your property must be in England, Scotland, or Wales.

Unusually for a big supplier, British Gas does not require you to be an existing customer to apply — but if you are not, the rate drops sharply to 3p/kWh.

Smart meter requirement

You must have a smart meter that records export readings every 30 minutes — this half-hourly metering is a mandatory Ofgem requirement across all SEG tariffs, not just British Gas. If you do not already have one, British Gas will arrange a free installation for its electricity customers. Non-customers may need to arrange installation separately before applying.

Half-hourly metering is necessary because SEG payments are calculated on your actual exported units, not an estimate. Without a smart meter capable of half-hourly data, you cannot receive SEG payments from any provider.

How it compares to other SEG tariffs

For existing British Gas electricity customers, the 12p/kWh Export Premium is competitive — but it is variable and not the only option. Octopus Energy's Outgoing Octopus tariff currently pays a flat 12p/kWh and is open to all, regardless of who supplies your electricity. Octopus also offers its Agile Outgoing tariff, which tracks wholesale prices and can pay significantly more during peak demand periods — as well as its Flux tariff for solar-and-battery households. For a full breakdown of Octopus Energy's export tariffs including Flux, see our dedicated review.

At the other end of the scale, the standard British Gas Export SEG rate of 3p/kWh for non-BG customers is among the lowest on the market. Good Energy and OVO Energy also offer SEG tariffs; rates vary and all are variable, so it is worth checking comparison tools such as the Ofgem SEG tariff comparison tool before committing.

A key practical point: you are free to use a different provider for your electricity supply and your SEG payments. If you are not a British Gas electricity customer, it almost certainly makes more sense to export through Octopus or another specialist tariff rather than accept 3p/kWh from British Gas.

Is British Gas SEG worth it?

For existing British Gas electricity customers with a system under 15kW: yes, conditionally. At 12p/kWh the Export Premium matches the current Outgoing Octopus flat rate, so there is no compelling financial reason to switch supplier just for SEG — though Octopus's variable Agile Outgoing can beat that on high-demand days.

For everyone else: no. The 3p/kWh non-customer rate is not competitive. If you already use another electricity supplier, apply for SEG through a specialist solar-friendly tariff instead. This is a meaningful difference when you consider that whether solar panels are worth it depends partly on how much you earn from export over the system's lifetime.

The variable nature of the British Gas tariff is also worth noting. There is no contractual guarantee the rate will not fall; if you are export-heavy (for example, a larger system with no battery), you may find more certainty with a fixed-rate export arrangement where available.

How to apply

Applications are made online through the British Gas website. You will need your MCS certificate number, your G98 or G99 connection notification, your bank details for quarterly payments, and proof of your smart meter installation. British Gas aims to complete setup within four weeks of a successful application. You can also contact their dedicated SEG team at smartexportguarantee@britishgas.co.uk or on 0333 202 9483.

Once registered, payments are made quarterly based on your actual half-hourly export meter readings. You can also use our quotes tool to find MCS-certified installers who can ensure your system meets all SEG eligibility criteria before you apply.