E.ON Next Export Rates for Solar Panel Owners
E.ON Next pairs a decent 6p open rate with a 13p rate for its import customers and a 17.5p rate for systems it installed. The drawback is payment cadence: export credit is paid annually by default, the slowest of any major supplier, though you can request up to four payments a year. The 6p open rate makes it worth a look even if you keep your current import supplier.
Last verified 6 June 2026
Fact-checked by John Rooney, Solar Energy Editor. Editorial policy
Quick Answer
E.ON Next's best Smart Export Guarantee rate is 17.5p/kWh, though that rate requires switching your import electricity to E.ON Next and having them install your system. The rate anyone can take, with no need to switch your import supplier, is 6p/kWh. For a typical home exporting around 2,000 kWh a year, the open rate is worth about £120.
E.ON Next SEG Export Tariffs
Like most large UK suppliers, E.ON Next publishes more than one Smart Export Guarantee rate. The higher rates come with strings attached, usually that you take E.ON Next 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Next Export Premium v3 | 17.5p/kWh | Fixed term | E.ON Next-installed systems |
| Next Export Exclusive v3 | 13p/kWh | Fixed term | E.ON Next import customers |
| Next Flex Export v1 | 6p/kWh | Variable | Anyone (any import supplier) |
- Next Export Premium v3: 17.5p/kWh fixed for 12 months, for systems installed by E.ON Installation Services from 10 November 2025, up to 15kW.
- Next Export Exclusive v3: 13p/kWh fixed for 12 months, for E.ON Next import customers (excludes time-of-use import tariffs).
- Next Flex Export v1: 6p/kWh variable, no import requirement, systems up to 5MW.
E.ON Next 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. E.ON Next'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 E.ON Next Export Pays You
Annual export earnings depend on system size and how much of your generation you self-consume. These figures use E.ON Next's best rate that does not require buying an install from them.
| System size | Typical annual export | E.ON Next earnings (13p/kWh) |
|---|---|---|
| 3.5 kWp (8 panels) | 1,600 kWh | £208 |
| 4.5 kWp (10-11 panels) | 2,000 kWh | £260 |
| 5.4 kWp (12-13 panels) | 2,400 kWh | £312 |
| 6.4 kWp (14-15 panels) | 2,900 kWh | £377 |
| 5.4 kWp + battery | 1,400 kWh | £182 |
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 E.ON Next
- Your system is MCS-certified. SEG payments require an MCS (or equivalent) certificate for the install and installer. E.ON Next 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 E.ON Next for SEG with your MCS certificate, MPAN and bank details. You can do this even if E.ON Next is not your import supplier.
- Export credit is paid annually (up to 4 payments/year on request) as a bill credit or bank payment.
- Payments continue automatically unless you switch export supplier or move home.
Switching Your Export to or from E.ON Next
Switching export to E.ON Next
- You can take E.ON Next for export while keeping your current import supplier
- The higher tiers need you to switch import to E.ON Next too
- Apply with your MCS certificate, MPAN and bank details
- First payment lands at the next E.ON Next payment cycle
Switching export away from E.ON Next
- 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
E.ON Next vs Other Suppliers for Solar Export
| Supplier | Best rate | Open to all | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Octopus Energy | Up to 12p/kWh flat | 4.1p/kWh | E.ON Next vs Octopus Energy |
| EDF Energy | 18p/kWh | 3p/kWh | E.ON Next vs EDF Energy |
| Scottish Power | 15p/kWh | 6p/kWh | E.ON Next vs Scottish Power |
See every supplier ranked on our SEG rate comparison page, or read the Smart Export Guarantee guide for how the scheme works.
E.ON Next Review: Good for Solar Export?
E.ON Next pairs a decent 6p open rate with a 13p import-customer rate and a 17.5p rate for systems it installed. The drawback is payment cadence: export credit is paid annually by default, the slowest of any major supplier, though you can request up to four payments a year.
E.ON Next ranks 4th 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 17.5p/kWh is one of the highest SEG rates in the UK (ranked 4th of 10).
Cons
- The top rate is reserved for systems this supplier installed, so an independent MCS installer won't qualify you for it.
- Pays export credit annually (up to 4 payments/year on request), so you wait longer to see the money.
Bottom line: E.ON Next is a strong pick if you want a good export rate without changing your import supplier. Always compare against the current market leaders before applying.
E.ON Next SEG FAQ
What is the E.ON Next SEG export rate in 2026?
E.ON Next's best published Smart Export Guarantee rate is 17.5p/kWh. The rate open to anyone, with no need to switch your import supplier, is 6p/kWh. Rates are set by the supplier and can change, so confirm the live rate before applying.
Do I have to switch to E.ON Next for import to get their export rate?
Not for the 6p/kWh rate, which is open to customers of any import supplier. But E.ON Next's higher rates do require taking E.ON Next for your import electricity, and the top rate requires them to have installed your system.
When does E.ON Next pay SEG?
E.ON Next pays export credit annually (up to 4 payments/year on request).
Can I get E.ON Next SEG with any installer?
Yes, as long as your system is MCS-certified. E.ON Next's open SEG rate does not require buying your install from them, although its very top tier is reserved for E.ON Next-installed systems.
Who owns E.ON Next?
E.ON Next is part of E.ON SE (German utility).
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 E.ON Next the best supplier for solar export?
E.ON Next's best rate of 17.5p/kWh ranks 4th 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
- 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 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.