Good Energy vs Octopus Energy: Solar Export Rates & Which Is Better
Both Good Energy and Octopus 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 28 August 2026
Fact-checked by John Rooney, Solar Energy Editor. Editorial policy
Quick Answer
Good Energy and Octopus Energy pay the same headline export rate (12p/kWh) for an import customer, so neither wins on export earnings alone. The decision comes down to payment cadence, the rate open to non-customers, and your total annual bill.
Is Good Energy Better Than Octopus Energy? At a Glance
| Feature | Good Energy | Octopus Energy |
|---|---|---|
| Best export rate | 25p/kWh | Up to 12p/kWh flat |
| Rate open to any import supplier | – | 4.1p/kWh |
| Payment frequency | Quarterly bill credit | Monthly bill credit |
| Time-of-use option | No | Yes |
| Customer base | ~150,000 | ~7 million UK accounts |
| Parent company | Good Energy Group (100% renewable; owned by Esyasoft since 2025) | Octopus Energy Group (UK-owned) |
| Annual export earnings (2,000 kWh, import customer) | £240 | £240 |
Export Rate: Good Energy vs Octopus Energy
Good Energy
25p/kWh
Highest flat SEG rate on the UK market. Fixed for 12 months, then rolls onto Solar Savings (12p). Requires solar and a battery installed by Good Energy Solar, plus Good Energy import.
Read full Good Energy review →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 →Both Good Energy and Octopus Energy pay the same 12p/kWh to an import customer, so there is no advantage on export earnings alone. The decision comes down to payment cadence, the rate open to non-customers, and your total annual bill, which we cover below.
Is Good Energy Cheaper Than Octopus Energy? The Verdict
This one depends entirely on who installed your system. Good Energy pays the UK's highest flat rate, 25p, but only on its own solar-and-battery installs with Good Energy import. If that is you, Good Energy wins outright. For everyone else, Good Energy and Octopus both pay 12p to import customers, but Octopus adds monthly payment and the Flux time-of-use option. Good-Energy-installed owners take the 25p; everyone else leans Octopus.
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.
Still shopping for the panels themselves? We've reviewed the install offer too: Octopus solar panels review.
Who Should Pick Which
Pick Good Energy if...
Good Energy wins if you bought a Good Energy Solar install and want the UK's highest flat rate of 25p locked in, or simply want a guaranteed 15p flat with no battery or time-of-use complexity.
Read the full Good Energy review →Pick Octopus Energy if...
Octopus wins for battery owners chasing the top 4pm to 7pm peak prices on Intelligent Flux, and for anyone who values monthly payment over Good Energy's quarterly credit.
Read the full Octopus Energy review →Frequently Asked Questions
Who pays more for solar export, Good Energy or Octopus Energy?
Good Energy and Octopus Energy pay the same 12p/kWh to an import customer. Use payment cadence, the open-to-all rate and total bill to decide.
Is Good Energy cheaper than Octopus Energy?
On solar export the two are level: both pay 12p/kWh to an import customer. On import prices, most large suppliers track the Ofgem price cap closely, so the difference on a typical bill is usually small. The deciding factors are payment cadence, the rate open to non-customers, and any fixed-tariff discount rather than the export rate alone.
Is Good Energy better than Octopus Energy for solar panels?
Neither clearly wins on export rate, since both pay 12p/kWh to an import customer. Octopus Energy edges it for battery owners with a time-of-use export tariff.
Can I use Good Energy or Octopus Energy for export without switching my import supplier?
Good Energy: its best rate requires taking it for import. Octopus Energy: yes, its open rate is 4.1p/kWh. In the UK your export supplier can always differ from your import supplier.
Can I get Good Energy's 25p rate without buying my system from them?
No. The 25p Solar Savings Exclusive requires a solar-plus-battery install by Good Energy Solar and Good Energy import. Without the install you get Good Energy's 15p Solar Savings rate, still strong, but the 25p headline is reserved for their own install customers.
For a battery owner, does Good Energy's 25p beat Octopus Intelligent Flux?
It depends on usage. Good Energy's 25p is a fixed flat rate but is locked to a Good Energy install. Octopus Intelligent Flux pays time-of-use peaks in the 4pm to 7pm window (the highest export prices on the market) and needs only a battery and Octopus import, so a well-timed battery can beat a flat 25p at peak while earning less off-peak.
How often does Good Energy pay SEG?
Good Energy pays export credit quarterly bill credit.
How often does Octopus Energy pay SEG?
Octopus Energy pays export credit monthly bill credit.
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
- Good Energy, goodenergy.co.uk
- Octopus Energy, octopus.energy
- Ofgem, Smart Export Guarantee, ofgem.gov.uk
Last verified: 28 August 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
Good Energy and Octopus Energy are two of the ten UK suppliers we track for solar export. See how all of them rank on our full comparison.