British Gas vs Scottish Power for Solar Export: Which Pays More?
Both British Gas and Scottish Power 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
British Gas and Scottish Power 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.
British Gas vs Scottish Power at a Glance
| Feature | British Gas | Scottish Power |
|---|---|---|
| Best export rate | 12p/kWh | 15p/kWh |
| Rate open to any import supplier | 3p/kWh | 6p/kWh |
| Payment frequency | Quarterly (within 28 days of reading) | Every 90 days, paid to your bank |
| Time-of-use option | No | No |
| Customer base | ~7.5 million (Centrica group 10m+) | ~4.5 million |
| Parent company | Centrica plc (UK-listed) | Iberdrola (Spanish utility group) |
| Annual export earnings (2,000 kWh, import customer) | £240 | £240 |
Export Rate: British Gas vs Scottish Power
British Gas
12p/kWh
12p/kWh for British Gas import customers, systems up to 15kW.
Read full British Gas review →Scottish Power
15p/kWh
15p/kWh for Scottish Power import customers who also installed their solar or battery with Scottish Power.
Read full Scottish Power review →Both British Gas and Scottish Power 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.
Verdict: British Gas or Scottish Power?
Scottish Power is the better choice for most. Its open SmartGen rate of 6p doubles British Gas's 3p open rate, so if you want export income without switching import, Scottish Power pays more. Their import-customer rates tie at 12p. Scottish Power also offers a 15p install tier that British Gas lacks. British Gas's only real advantage is brand familiarity; on rate, Scottish Power leads.
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 suits you if you'll take it for import and want a 12p rate with bill credit, especially appealing if you already hold a Centrica or British Gas account.
Read the full British Gas review →Pick Scottish Power if...
Scottish Power wins if you can't or won't switch your import supplier, because its open SmartGen rate of 6p doubles British Gas's 3p open rate, and its 15p install tier beats British Gas's 12p ceiling.
Read the full Scottish Power review →Frequently Asked Questions
Who pays more for solar export, British Gas or Scottish Power?
British Gas and Scottish Power pay the same 12p/kWh to an import customer. Use payment cadence, the open-to-all rate and total bill to decide.
Can I use British Gas or Scottish Power for export without switching my import supplier?
British Gas: yes, its open rate is 3p/kWh. Scottish Power: yes, its open rate is 6p/kWh. In the UK your export supplier can always differ from your import supplier.
If I keep my current import supplier, is British Gas or Scottish Power better for export?
Scottish Power, clearly. Its open SmartGen rate is 6p with no import switch needed, while British Gas pays only 3p to non-customers. For an import-anywhere household Scottish Power pays double.
How does export get paid by British Gas versus Scottish Power?
British Gas applies export as a quarterly bill credit within 28 days of a reading. Scottish Power pays every 90 days directly to your bank account rather than as credit against your bill, which suits owners who'd rather receive cash than offset their energy bill.
How often does British Gas pay SEG?
British Gas pays export credit quarterly (within 28 days of reading).
How often does Scottish Power pay SEG?
Scottish Power pays export credit every 90 days, paid to your bank.
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
- Scottish Power, scottishpower.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 All SEG Rates
British Gas and Scottish Power are two of the ten UK suppliers we track for solar export. See how all of them rank on our full comparison.