EDF Energy vs E.ON Next for Solar Export: Which Pays More?
Both EDF Energy and E.ON Next 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 E.ON Next at 13p/kWh for an import customer. For a typical home exporting 2,000 kWh a year, that is about £40 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.
EDF Energy vs E.ON Next at a Glance
| Feature | EDF Energy | E.ON Next |
|---|---|---|
| Best export rate | 18p/kWh | 17.5p/kWh |
| Rate open to any import supplier | 3p/kWh | 6p/kWh |
| Payment frequency | Quarterly | Annually (up to 4 payments/year on request) |
| Time-of-use option | No | No |
| Customer base | ~5 million accounts | ~5 million |
| Parent company | EDF (Électricité de France, French state-owned) | E.ON SE (German utility) |
| Annual export earnings (2,000 kWh, import customer) | £300 | £260 |
Export Rate: EDF Energy vs E.ON Next
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 →E.ON Next
17.5p/kWh
17.5p/kWh fixed for 12 months, for systems installed by E.ON Installation Services from 10 November 2025, up to 15kW.
Read full E.ON Next review →For an import customer, EDF Energy wins by 2.0p/kWh. On a typical home exporting around 2,000 kWh per year, that adds up to £40 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 | EDF Energy | E.ON Next | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 kWp (8 panels) | 1,600 kWh | £240 | £208 | £32 |
| 4.5 kWp (10-11 panels) | 2,000 kWh | £300 | £260 | £40 |
| 5.4 kWp (12-13 panels) | 2,400 kWh | £360 | £312 | £48 |
| 6.4 kWp (14-15 panels) | 2,900 kWh | £435 | £377 | £58 |
| 5.4 kWp + battery | 1,400 kWh | £210 | £182 | £28 |
Verdict: EDF Energy or E.ON Next?
Very close: both reward import customers and their own installs. EDF's 15p fixed (existing customers) edges E.ON Next's 13p import rate, and EDF's 18p install tier beats E.ON Next's 17.5p. But E.ON Next's 6p open rate beats EDF's 3p for non-customers. The deciding factor is cadence: both are slow, but E.ON Next pays annually by default while EDF pays quarterly, giving EDF the nod for cashflow.
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 EDF Energy if...
EDF wins if you're an existing EDF electricity customer who wants its 15p fixed 12-month rate without buying an install, since E.ON Next's equivalent import-customer rate is 13p.
Read the full EDF Energy review →Pick E.ON Next if...
E.ON Next wins uniquely if its own installation service fitted your system, because its 17.5p install tier does not require you to take E.ON for import, unlike EDF's 18p tier which demands EDF import too.
Read the full E.ON Next review →Frequently Asked Questions
Who pays more for solar export, EDF Energy or E.ON Next?
EDF Energy pays 15p/kWh versus E.ON Next at 13p/kWh for an import customer, a difference of about £40 per year on a typical home exporting 2,000 kWh.
Can I use EDF Energy or E.ON Next for export without switching my import supplier?
EDF Energy: yes, its open rate is 3p/kWh. E.ON Next: yes, its open rate is 6p/kWh. In the UK your export supplier can always differ from your import supplier.
EDF and E.ON Next both have install-linked tiers near 18p, what's the catch?
EDF pays 18p only if you bought solar or battery from EDF and also take EDF for import. E.ON Next pays 17.5p for systems fitted by E.ON Installation Services but, unusually, does not require you to buy E.ON import electricity. So E.ON's top tier has one fewer condition.
Which pays export credit faster, EDF or E.ON Next?
EDF, by a wide margin. EDF pays quarterly, while E.ON Next pays annually by default (you can request up to four payments a year). If you want your export money sooner without asking, EDF's standard cadence is much better.
How often does EDF Energy pay SEG?
EDF Energy pays export credit quarterly.
How often does E.ON Next pay SEG?
E.ON Next pays export credit annually (up to 4 payments/year on request).
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
- EDF Energy, edfenergy.com
- E.ON Next, eonnext.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
EDF Energy and E.ON Next are two of the ten UK suppliers we track for solar export. See how all of them rank on our full comparison.