Octopus Energy vs British Gas: Solar Export Rates & Which Is Better
Both Octopus Energy and British Gas 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 28 August 2026
Fact-checked by John Rooney, Solar Energy Editor. Editorial policy
Quick Answer
Octopus Energy and British Gas pay the same headline export rate (12p/kWh) for an import customer, so neither wins on export earnings alone. The decision comes down to payment cadence, the rate open to non-customers, and your total annual bill.
Is Octopus Energy Better Than British Gas? At a Glance
| Feature | Octopus Energy | British Gas |
|---|---|---|
| Best export rate | Up to 12p/kWh flat | 12p/kWh |
| Rate open to any import supplier | 4.1p/kWh | 3p/kWh |
| Payment frequency | Monthly bill credit | Quarterly (within 28 days of reading) |
| Time-of-use option | Yes | No |
| Customer base | ~7 million UK accounts | ~7.5 million (Centrica group 10m+) |
| Parent company | Octopus Energy Group (UK-owned) | Centrica plc (UK-listed) |
| Annual export earnings (2,000 kWh, import customer) | £240 | £240 |
Export Rate: Octopus Energy vs British Gas
Octopus Energy
Up to 12p/kWh flat
Time-of-use export, peaking in the 4pm to 7pm window (the highest export prices on the UK market). Needs a home battery and an Octopus import tariff, so the headline peak rate is not a flat figure everyone gets.
Read full Octopus Energy review →British Gas
12p/kWh
12p/kWh for British Gas import customers, systems up to 15kW.
Read full British Gas review →Both Octopus Energy and British Gas pay the same 12p/kWh to an import customer, so there is no advantage on export earnings alone. The decision comes down to payment cadence, the rate open to non-customers, and your total annual bill, which we cover below.
Is Octopus Energy Cheaper Than British Gas? The Verdict
Octopus wins on flexibility and speed. Both pay 12p to their own import customers, but Octopus adds a time-of-use Flux tariff for battery owners and pays monthly rather than British Gas's quarterly cadence. British Gas's only edge is incumbency and its established sign-up flow. For export earnings alone, Octopus is the better home for your solar.
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.
Still shopping for the panels themselves? We've reviewed the install offer too: Octopus solar panels review and British Gas solar panels review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who pays more for solar export, Octopus Energy or British Gas?
Octopus Energy and British Gas pay the same 12p/kWh to an import customer. Use payment cadence, the open-to-all rate and total bill to decide.
Is Octopus Energy cheaper than British Gas?
On solar export the two are level: both pay 12p/kWh to an import customer. On import prices, most large suppliers track the Ofgem price cap closely, so the difference on a typical bill is usually small. The deciding factors are payment cadence, the rate open to non-customers, and any fixed-tariff discount rather than the export rate alone.
Is Octopus Energy better than British Gas for solar panels?
Neither clearly wins on export rate, since both pay 12p/kWh to an import customer. Octopus Energy edges it for battery owners with a time-of-use export tariff.
Can I use Octopus Energy or British Gas for export without switching my import supplier?
Octopus Energy: yes, its open rate is 4.1p/kWh. British Gas: yes, its open rate is 3p/kWh. In the UK your export supplier can always differ from your import supplier.
How often does Octopus Energy pay SEG?
Octopus Energy pays export credit monthly bill credit.
How often does British Gas pay SEG?
British Gas pays export credit quarterly (within 28 days of reading).
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
- Octopus Energy, octopus.energy
- British Gas, britishgas.co.uk
- Ofgem, Smart Export Guarantee, ofgem.gov.uk
Last verified: 28 August 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
Octopus Energy and British Gas are two of the ten UK suppliers we track for solar export. See how all of them rank on our full comparison.