Octopus Energy vs EDF Energy for Solar Export: Which Pays More?
Both Octopus Energy 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 Octopus Energy 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.
Octopus Energy vs EDF Energy at a Glance
| Feature | Octopus Energy | EDF Energy |
|---|---|---|
| Best export rate | Up to 12p/kWh flat | 18p/kWh |
| Rate open to any import supplier | 4.1p/kWh | 3p/kWh |
| Payment frequency | Monthly bill credit | Quarterly |
| Time-of-use option | Yes | No |
| Customer base | ~7 million UK accounts | ~5 million accounts |
| Parent company | Octopus Energy Group (UK-owned) | EDF (Électricité de France, French state-owned) |
| Annual export earnings (2,000 kWh, import customer) | £240 | £300 |
Export Rate: Octopus Energy vs EDF Energy
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 →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 | Octopus Energy | 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: Octopus Energy or EDF Energy?
Octopus edges it for most owners. Both reward import customers well (Octopus 12p, EDF 15p fixed), and EDF actually pays more on its flat 15p rate if you are an existing EDF customer. But Octopus pays monthly versus EDF's quarterly, and its Flux tariff is unbeatable for battery owners. Take EDF if you are already an EDF customer chasing the 15p fixed rate; take Octopus for speed, flexibility and the battery option.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who pays more for solar export, Octopus Energy or EDF Energy?
EDF Energy pays 15p/kWh versus Octopus Energy 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 Octopus Energy or EDF Energy for export without switching my import supplier?
Octopus Energy: yes, its open rate is 4.1p/kWh. EDF Energy: 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 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
- Octopus Energy, octopus.energy
- 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
Octopus Energy 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.