British Gas Export Rates for Solar Panel Owners
British Gas keeps its SEG simple: 12p/kWh for its own import customers on a domestic system, dropping to 3p if you are not. As the UK's incumbent supplier it offers the reassurance of scale and an established sign-up flow, but the 12p headline is mid-table and tied to taking British Gas for import. Export credit is paid quarterly, within 28 days of each reading.
Last verified 6 June 2026
Fact-checked by John Rooney, Solar Energy Editor. Editorial policy
Quick Answer
British Gas's best Smart Export Guarantee rate is 12p/kWh, though that rate requires switching your import electricity to British Gas. The rate anyone can take, with no need to switch your import supplier, is 3p/kWh. For a typical home exporting around 2,000 kWh a year, the open rate is worth about £60.
British Gas SEG Export Tariffs
Like most large UK suppliers, British Gas publishes more than one Smart Export Guarantee rate. The higher rates come with strings attached, usually that you take British Gas for your import electricity too, and sometimes that they installed your system. Here is every published tier.
| Tariff | Export rate | Type | Who can get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Export Premium | 12p/kWh | Variable | British Gas import customers |
| Export Extra | 8p/kWh | Variable | British Gas import customers |
| Export SEG | 3p/kWh | Variable | Anyone (any import supplier) |
- Export Premium: 12p/kWh for British Gas import customers, systems up to 15kW.
- Export Extra: 8p/kWh for British Gas import customers, systems over 15kW.
- Export SEG: 3p/kWh for non-British Gas customers and larger systems.
British Gas Import Prices for Solar Homes
Your export rate is only half the story. What you pay to import electricity at night and on dull days matters just as much, and in the UK you can choose to keep your current import supplier and take an export tariff elsewhere. British Gas's standard variable import prices track the Ofgem price cap. Here is the cap level for 1 July to 30 September 2026 alongside an estimated annual import cost at typical usage (2,500 kWh).
| Import unit rate | 26.11p/kWh |
| Standing charge | 57.19p/day |
| Est. annual import cost | £861 at 2,500 kWh/yr |
Ofgem price cap, GB national average, direct debit, incl. VAT, for 1 July to 30 September 2026. Actual prices vary by region and payment method. Before solar self-consumption and export credit.
What British Gas Export Pays You
Annual export earnings depend on system size and how much of your generation you self-consume. These figures use British Gas's best rate that does not require buying an install from them.
| System size | Typical annual export | British Gas earnings (12p/kWh) |
|---|---|---|
| 3.5 kWp (8 panels) | 1,600 kWh | £192 |
| 4.5 kWp (10-11 panels) | 2,000 kWh | £240 |
| 5.4 kWp (12-13 panels) | 2,400 kWh | £288 |
| 6.4 kWp (14-15 panels) | 2,900 kWh | £348 |
| 5.4 kWp + battery | 1,400 kWh | £168 |
A battery cuts your export volume because you self-consume more, but raises the share of your bill you avoid at the much higher import rate. See our battery storage guide for the trade-off.
How SEG Payments Work with British Gas
- Your system is MCS-certified. SEG payments require an MCS (or equivalent) certificate for the install and installer. British Gas cannot pay SEG without it.
- You have a smart meter recording exports. SEG pays for measured half-hourly exports, so you need a smart meter with an export reading set up.
- You apply to British Gas for SEG with your MCS certificate, MPAN and bank details. You can do this even if British Gas is not your import supplier.
- Export credit is paid quarterly (within 28 days of reading) as a bill credit or bank payment.
- Payments continue automatically unless you switch export supplier or move home.
Switching Your Export to or from British Gas
Switching export to British Gas
- You can take British Gas for export while keeping your current import supplier
- The higher tiers need you to switch import to British Gas too
- Apply with your MCS certificate, MPAN and bank details
- First payment lands at the next British Gas payment cycle
Switching export away from British Gas
- Check for any fixed-term tie-in on your export tariff
- Outstanding export credit clears on your final statement
- Re-apply for SEG with your new export supplier
- SEG is not portable, so there is a short gap during the switch
British Gas vs Other Suppliers for Solar Export
| Supplier | Best rate | Open to all | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Octopus Energy | Up to 12p/kWh flat | 4.1p/kWh | British Gas vs Octopus Energy |
| OVO Energy | 20p/kWh | 4p/kWh | British Gas vs OVO Energy |
| EDF Energy | 18p/kWh | 3p/kWh | British Gas vs EDF Energy |
| Scottish Power | 15p/kWh | 6p/kWh | British Gas vs Scottish Power |
See every supplier ranked on our SEG rate comparison page, or read the Smart Export Guarantee guide for how the scheme works.
British Gas Review: Good for Solar Export?
British Gas keeps it simple: 12p for its own import customers on a domestic system, dropping to 3p if you are not. As the UK's incumbent supplier it offers the reassurance of scale and an established sign-up flow, but the 12p headline is mid-table and tied to taking British Gas for import.
British Gas ranks 8th of 10 on best export rate. Whether it suits you depends on whether you want to switch your import supplier and on your full annual bill, not the export rate alone, which we weigh below.
Pros
Cons
- Best rate of 12p/kWh sits near the bottom of the market (ranked 8th of 10); higher-paying suppliers exist.
- Its open-to-all rate of 3p/kWh is among the lowest we track, so the good rates are locked behind switching import.
- The best rate requires switching your import electricity to this supplier too.
Bottom line: British Gas is hard to recommend on rate alone. Consider it mainly if you already take it for import, or if its install-tier rate applies to you.
British Gas SEG FAQ
What is the British Gas SEG export rate in 2026?
British Gas's best published Smart Export Guarantee rate is 12p/kWh. The rate open to anyone, with no need to switch your import supplier, is 3p/kWh. Rates are set by the supplier and can change, so confirm the live rate before applying.
Do I have to switch to British Gas for import to get their export rate?
Not for the 3p/kWh rate, which is open to customers of any import supplier. But British Gas's higher rates do require taking British Gas for your import electricity.
When does British Gas pay SEG?
British Gas pays export credit quarterly (within 28 days of reading).
Can I get British Gas SEG with any installer?
Yes, as long as your system is MCS-certified. British Gas's open SEG rate does not require buying your install from them.
Who owns British Gas?
British Gas is part of Centrica plc (UK-listed).
Is SEG income taxable?
For a typical household, SEG income is not taxable, provided you are not generating significantly more than you use. The £1,000 trading allowance also covers most solar owners. If your SEG and other side income exceed £1,000 in a tax year, check whether you need to declare it.
Is British Gas the best supplier for solar export?
British Gas's best rate of 12p/kWh ranks 8th of 10 on headline rate among the suppliers we track. The 'best' supplier depends on whether you are willing to switch your import account, and on your total bill rather than the export rate alone. See our hub page for the full ranking.
Sources
- British Gas, britishgas.co.uk
- Ofgem, Smart Export Guarantee, ofgem.gov.uk
Last verified: 6 June 2026
Fact-checked by John Rooney, Solar Energy Editor. Editorial policy
John Rooney is the founder of Solar Info and has been covering the UK solar energy market since 2023. He researches every battery and inverter brand against manufacturer datasheets, MCS and Ofgem data, and feedback from the MCS-certified installers in our directory before publishing.
Compare Every SEG Rate
The gap between the best and worst SEG rates is worth £100 to £400 a year on a typical system. See how every UK supplier ranks on our full Smart Export Guarantee comparison.