EDF Energy Export Rates for Solar Panel Owners
EDF has the widest tier spread of the major suppliers, from 3p for non-customers up to 18p for its own solar install customers. The 15p fixed rate for existing EDF electricity customers is competitive, but the 3p open rate is among the lowest, so EDF mainly pays off if you are willing to take it for import too. Export credit is paid quarterly.
Last verified 6 June 2026
Fact-checked by John Rooney, Solar Energy Editor. Editorial policy
Quick Answer
EDF Energy's best Smart Export Guarantee rate is 18p/kWh, though that rate requires switching your import electricity to EDF Energy and having them install your system. 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.
EDF Energy SEG Export Tariffs
Like most large UK suppliers, EDF Energy publishes more than one Smart Export Guarantee rate. The higher rates come with strings attached, usually that you take EDF Energy 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 Exclusive 12m V3 | 18p/kWh | Fixed term | EDF Energy-installed systems |
| Export 12m | 15p/kWh | Fixed term | EDF Energy import customers |
| SEG Export Variable Value | 5.6p/kWh | Variable | EDF Energy import customers |
| SEG Export Variable | 3p/kWh | Variable | Anyone (any import supplier) |
- Export Exclusive 12m V3: 18p/kWh for customers who bought solar or battery from EDF after 2 March 2026 and take EDF for import.
- Export 12m: 15p/kWh, fixed 12-month, for existing EDF electricity customers.
- SEG Export Variable Value: 5.6p/kWh, exclusive to EDF electricity customers.
- SEG Export Variable: 3p/kWh, available to anyone, EDF customer or not.
EDF Energy 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. EDF Energy'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 EDF Energy Export Pays You
Annual export earnings depend on system size and how much of your generation you self-consume. These figures use EDF Energy's best rate that does not require buying an install from them.
| System size | Typical annual export | EDF Energy earnings (15p/kWh) |
|---|---|---|
| 3.5 kWp (8 panels) | 1,600 kWh | £240 |
| 4.5 kWp (10-11 panels) | 2,000 kWh | £300 |
| 5.4 kWp (12-13 panels) | 2,400 kWh | £360 |
| 6.4 kWp (14-15 panels) | 2,900 kWh | £435 |
| 5.4 kWp + battery | 1,400 kWh | £210 |
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 EDF Energy
- Your system is MCS-certified. SEG payments require an MCS (or equivalent) certificate for the install and installer. EDF Energy 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 EDF Energy for SEG with your MCS certificate, MPAN and bank details. You can do this even if EDF Energy is not your import supplier.
- Export credit is paid quarterly as a bill credit or bank payment.
- Payments continue automatically unless you switch export supplier or move home.
Switching Your Export to or from EDF Energy
Switching export to EDF Energy
- You can take EDF Energy for export while keeping your current import supplier
- The higher tiers need you to switch import to EDF Energy too
- Apply with your MCS certificate, MPAN and bank details
- First payment lands at the next EDF Energy payment cycle
Switching export away from EDF Energy
- 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
EDF Energy vs Other Suppliers for Solar Export
| Supplier | Best rate | Open to all | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Octopus Energy | Up to 12p/kWh flat | 4.1p/kWh | EDF Energy vs Octopus Energy |
| OVO Energy | 20p/kWh | 4p/kWh | EDF Energy vs OVO Energy |
| British Gas | 12p/kWh | 3p/kWh | EDF Energy vs British Gas |
| Good Energy | 25p/kWh | – | EDF Energy vs Good Energy |
See every supplier ranked on our SEG rate comparison page, or read the Smart Export Guarantee guide for how the scheme works.
EDF Energy Review: Good for Solar Export?
EDF has the widest tier spread we track, from 3p for non-customers up to 18p for its own solar install customers. The 15p fixed rate for existing EDF electricity customers is competitive, but the 3p open rate is among the lowest, so EDF mainly pays off if you are willing to take it for import too.
EDF Energy ranks 3rd 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
- Best rate of 18p/kWh is one of the highest SEG rates in the UK (ranked 3rd of 10).
Cons
- The top rate is reserved for systems this supplier installed, so an independent MCS installer won't qualify you for it.
Bottom line: EDF Energy is a reasonable option, best value if you are happy to take it for both import and export. Run your own numbers against the full ranking first.
EDF Energy SEG FAQ
What is the EDF Energy SEG export rate in 2026?
EDF Energy's best published Smart Export Guarantee rate is 18p/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 EDF Energy for import to get their export rate?
Not for the 3p/kWh rate, which is open to customers of any import supplier. But EDF Energy's higher rates do require taking EDF Energy for your import electricity, and the top rate requires them to have installed your system.
When does EDF Energy pay SEG?
EDF Energy pays export credit quarterly.
Can I get EDF Energy SEG with any installer?
Yes, as long as your system is MCS-certified. EDF Energy's open SEG rate does not require buying your install from them, although its very top tier is reserved for EDF Energy-installed systems.
Who owns EDF Energy?
EDF Energy is part of EDF (Électricité de France, French state-owned).
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 EDF Energy the best supplier for solar export?
EDF Energy's best rate of 18p/kWh ranks 3rd 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
- 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 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.