E.ON Next vs Scottish Power for Solar Export: Which Pays More?
Both E.ON Next and Scottish Power 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
E.ON Next pays the higher export rate at 13p/kWh versus Scottish Power at 12p/kWh for an import customer. For a typical home exporting 2,000 kWh a year, that is about £20 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.
E.ON Next vs Scottish Power at a Glance
| Feature | E.ON Next | Scottish Power |
|---|---|---|
| Best export rate | 17.5p/kWh | 15p/kWh |
| Rate open to any import supplier | 6p/kWh | 6p/kWh |
| Payment frequency | Annually (up to 4 payments/year on request) | Every 90 days, paid to your bank |
| Time-of-use option | No | No |
| Customer base | ~5 million | ~4.5 million |
| Parent company | E.ON SE (German utility) | Iberdrola (Spanish utility group) |
| Annual export earnings (2,000 kWh, import customer) | £260 | £240 |
Export Rate: E.ON Next vs Scottish Power
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 →Scottish Power
15p/kWh
15p/kWh for Scottish Power import customers who also installed their solar or battery with Scottish Power.
Read full Scottish Power review →For an import customer, E.ON Next wins by 1.0p/kWh. On a typical home exporting around 2,000 kWh per year, that adds up to £20 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 | E.ON Next | Scottish Power | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 kWp (8 panels) | 1,600 kWh | £208 | £192 | £16 |
| 4.5 kWp (10-11 panels) | 2,000 kWh | £260 | £240 | £20 |
| 5.4 kWp (12-13 panels) | 2,400 kWh | £312 | £288 | £24 |
| 6.4 kWp (14-15 panels) | 2,900 kWh | £377 | £348 | £29 |
| 5.4 kWp + battery | 1,400 kWh | £182 | £168 | £14 |
Verdict: E.ON Next or Scottish Power?
Scottish Power is the easier pick for most. Both offer a 6p open rate, but Scottish Power pays every 90 days while E.ON Next pays annually by default. Their import-customer rates are close (Scottish Power 12p, E.ON Next 13p), and both have install tiers around 15 to 17.5p. The payment cadence gap is the main separator: Scottish Power gets your money to you sooner.
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 E.ON Next if...
E.ON Next wins if its own service installed your system, paying 17.5p with no import requirement, well above Scottish Power's 15p top tier which demands both Scottish Power import and a Scottish Power install.
Read the full E.ON Next review →Pick Scottish Power if...
Scottish Power wins on payment speed and accessibility, paying every 90 days to your bank versus E.ON Next's default annual payout, and its 6p open rate matches E.ON's without any install.
Read the full Scottish Power review →Frequently Asked Questions
Who pays more for solar export, E.ON Next or Scottish Power?
E.ON Next pays 13p/kWh versus Scottish Power at 12p/kWh for an import customer, a difference of about £20 per year on a typical home exporting 2,000 kWh.
Can I use E.ON Next or Scottish Power for export without switching my import supplier?
E.ON Next: yes, its open rate is 6p/kWh. Scottish Power: yes, its open rate is 6p/kWh. In the UK your export supplier can always differ from your import supplier.
Both have a 6p open rate, so how do E.ON Next and Scottish Power differ?
Their open import-anywhere rates are identical at 6p. They diverge on payment and top tiers: Scottish Power pays every 90 days to your bank, whereas E.ON Next pays annually by default. E.ON's install tier (17.5p, no import needed) also outpaces Scottish Power's 15p install tier (which needs both SP import and an SP install).
Which install-linked rate is easier to qualify for?
E.ON Next's. Its 17.5p tier requires only that E.ON Installation Services fitted your system, with no import account needed. Scottish Power's 15p SmartGen Premium Plus requires both that Scottish Power installed your system and that you take Scottish Power for import, two conditions instead of one.
How often does E.ON Next pay SEG?
E.ON Next pays export credit annually (up to 4 payments/year on request).
How often does Scottish Power pay SEG?
Scottish Power pays export credit every 90 days, paid to your bank.
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
- E.ON Next, eonnext.com
- Scottish Power, scottishpower.co.uk
- 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
E.ON Next and Scottish Power are two of the ten UK suppliers we track for solar export. See how all of them rank on our full comparison.