British Gas vs EDF Energy for Solar Export: Which Pays More?
Both British Gas and EDF Energy pay solar households for the electricity they export to the grid under the Smart Export Guarantee, but the rates, the strings attached and the payment terms differ. Here is a side-by-side comparison from a solar owner's perspective: who pays more, who pays faster, and which suits which household.
Last verified 6 June 2026
Fact-checked by John Rooney, Solar Energy Editor. Editorial policy
Quick Answer
EDF Energy pays the higher export rate at 15p/kWh versus British Gas at 12p/kWh for an import customer. For a typical home exporting 2,000 kWh a year, that is about £60 more per year. But the cheaper headline rate isn't always the wrong call: the rate open to non-customers, payment speed and import prices can offset it.
British Gas vs EDF Energy at a Glance
| Feature | British Gas | EDF Energy |
|---|---|---|
| Best export rate | 12p/kWh | 18p/kWh |
| Rate open to any import supplier | 3p/kWh | 3p/kWh |
| Payment frequency | Quarterly (within 28 days of reading) | Quarterly |
| Time-of-use option | No | No |
| Customer base | ~7.5 million (Centrica group 10m+) | ~5 million accounts |
| Parent company | Centrica plc (UK-listed) | EDF (Électricité de France, French state-owned) |
| Annual export earnings (2,000 kWh, import customer) | £240 | £300 |
Export Rate: British Gas vs EDF Energy
British Gas
12p/kWh
12p/kWh for British Gas import customers, systems up to 15kW.
Read full British Gas review →EDF Energy
18p/kWh
18p/kWh for customers who bought solar or battery from EDF after 2 March 2026 and take EDF for import.
Read full EDF Energy review →For an import customer, EDF Energy wins by 3.0p/kWh. On a typical home exporting around 2,000 kWh per year, that adds up to £60 per year in extra export earnings. If you would rather not switch your import supplier, compare the 'open to all' rates above instead.
Earnings by System Size
| System | Annual export | British Gas | EDF Energy | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 kWp (8 panels) | 1,600 kWh | £192 | £240 | £48 |
| 4.5 kWp (10-11 panels) | 2,000 kWh | £240 | £300 | £60 |
| 5.4 kWp (12-13 panels) | 2,400 kWh | £288 | £360 | £72 |
| 6.4 kWp (14-15 panels) | 2,900 kWh | £348 | £435 | £87 |
| 5.4 kWp + battery | 1,400 kWh | £168 | £210 | £42 |
Verdict: British Gas or EDF Energy?
EDF has the edge for committed customers. Its 15p fixed rate for existing EDF customers beats British Gas's 12p, and its 18p install-tier rate goes higher still. British Gas matches on the open rate (both 3p) and both pay quarterly. If you will take either for import, EDF pays more; British Gas's appeal is mainly incumbency and brand familiarity.
Whichever you pick, also weigh the import unit rate, the payment cadence, and whether you are willing to switch your import supply. SEG income is rarely the deciding factor on its own. See our full SEG rate comparison.
Who Should Pick Which
Pick British Gas if...
British Gas wins if you'll take it for import but bought your panels elsewhere, since its 12p import-customer rate beats EDF's 5.6p variable and is reached without EDF's 12-month fixed sign-up.
Read the full British Gas review →Pick EDF Energy if...
EDF wins if you can lock into its 15p fixed 12-month rate as an existing electricity customer, three pence above British Gas's 12p, or if you have a system over 15kW where British Gas drops you to 3p but EDF still pays 5.6p.
Read the full EDF Energy review →Frequently Asked Questions
Who pays more for solar export, British Gas or EDF Energy?
EDF Energy pays 15p/kWh versus British Gas at 12p/kWh for an import customer, a difference of about £60 per year on a typical home exporting 2,000 kWh.
Can I use British Gas or EDF Energy for export without switching my import supplier?
British Gas: yes, its open rate is 3p/kWh. EDF Energy: yes, its open rate is 3p/kWh. In the UK your export supplier can always differ from your import supplier.
Does British Gas or EDF pay more if I don't switch my import supplier?
Neither is good for non-customers: British Gas pays 3p and EDF also pays 3p on their open SEG tiers. Both only become competitive once you take them for import, where British Gas pays 12p and EDF pays 5.6p variable or 15p on its fixed 12-month export tariff.
How does the 15kW system size affect British Gas versus EDF?
British Gas splits by capacity: 12p for import customers up to 15kW but only 8p above 15kW. EDF does not tier by size in the same way, so for a large domestic or small commercial array EDF's 15p existing-customer rate pulls comfortably ahead of British Gas's 8p.
How often does British Gas pay SEG?
British Gas pays export credit quarterly (within 28 days of reading).
How often does EDF Energy pay SEG?
EDF Energy pays export credit quarterly.
Is SEG income taxable?
For a typical household, SEG income is not taxable provided you are not generating significantly more than you consume, and the £1,000 trading allowance covers most owners. Check whether you need to declare it if your side income exceeds £1,000 in a tax year.
Sources
- British Gas, britishgas.co.uk
- EDF Energy, edfenergy.com
- 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 All SEG Rates
British Gas and EDF Energy are two of the ten UK suppliers we track for solar export. See how all of them rank on our full comparison.