EDF Energy vs OVO Energy for Solar Export: Which Pays More?
Both EDF Energy and OVO 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 OVO 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.
EDF Energy vs OVO Energy at a Glance
| Feature | EDF Energy | OVO Energy |
|---|---|---|
| Best export rate | 18p/kWh | 20p/kWh |
| Rate open to any import supplier | 3p/kWh | 4p/kWh |
| Payment frequency | Quarterly | Quarterly (every 3 months) |
| Time-of-use option | No | No |
| Customer base | ~5 million accounts | ~4 million |
| Parent company | EDF (Électricité de France, French state-owned) | OVO Group (Mitsubishi Corporation holds ~20%) |
| Annual export earnings (2,000 kWh, import customer) | £300 | £240 |
Export Rate: EDF Energy vs OVO Energy
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 →OVO Energy
20p/kWh
Up to 20p/kWh (15p for solar-only) where OVO installed your solar or battery and you take OVO for import. System capacity up to 30kW.
Read full OVO 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 | EDF Energy | OVO Energy | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 kWp (8 panels) | 1,600 kWh | £240 | £192 | £48 |
| 4.5 kWp (10-11 panels) | 2,000 kWh | £300 | £240 | £60 |
| 5.4 kWp (12-13 panels) | 2,400 kWh | £360 | £288 | £72 |
| 6.4 kWp (14-15 panels) | 2,900 kWh | £435 | £348 | £87 |
| 5.4 kWp + battery | 1,400 kWh | £210 | £168 | £42 |
Verdict: EDF Energy or OVO Energy?
Close, and it comes down to your relationship with each. For an existing import customer, EDF's 15p fixed rate beats OVO's 12p. For the rate open to anyone, both sit at the bottom (EDF 3p, OVO 4p), so neither is a great 'keep my supplier' option. Both pay quarterly. If you will switch import, EDF's 15p is the higher fixed rate; if OVO installed your system, its up-to-20p install rate wins.
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 want a fixed 15p rate as an existing customer without buying an install, one pence above OVO's standard import-customer ceiling of 12p when OVO didn't fit your system.
Read the full EDF Energy review →Pick OVO Energy if...
OVO wins if OVO installed your solar or battery, lifting you to up to 20p, a rate EDF cannot match unless you also bought your install from EDF (and even then EDF tops out at 18p).
Read the full OVO Energy review →Frequently Asked Questions
Who pays more for solar export, EDF Energy or OVO Energy?
EDF Energy pays 15p/kWh versus OVO 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 EDF Energy or OVO Energy for export without switching my import supplier?
EDF Energy: yes, its open rate is 3p/kWh. OVO Energy: yes, its open rate is 4p/kWh. In the UK your export supplier can always differ from your import supplier.
For an import customer who bought panels elsewhere, is EDF or OVO better?
EDF, slightly. EDF's existing-customer Export 12m pays 15p fixed, while OVO's no-install import-customer rate (SEG Beyond) is 12p. OVO only overtakes EDF if OVO also installed your system, which lifts it to up to 20p.
Which pays the most to a non-customer who won't switch import?
Both are weak here: EDF's open rate is 3p and OVO's SEG Standard is 4p. OVO is marginally higher, but neither is competitive against import-anywhere rates like Scottish Power's 6p, so switching import to one of them is what unlocks the real value.
How often does EDF Energy pay SEG?
EDF Energy pays export credit quarterly.
How often does OVO Energy pay SEG?
OVO Energy pays export credit quarterly (every 3 months).
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
- OVO Energy, ovoenergy.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 OVO Energy are two of the ten UK suppliers we track for solar export. See how all of them rank on our full comparison.