Good Energy vs OVO Energy for Solar Export: Which Pays More?
Both Good 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
Good 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.
Good Energy vs OVO Energy at a Glance
| Feature | Good Energy | OVO Energy |
|---|---|---|
| Best export rate | 25p/kWh | 20p/kWh |
| Rate open to any import supplier | – | 4p/kWh |
| Payment frequency | Quarterly bill credit | Quarterly (every 3 months) |
| Time-of-use option | No | No |
| Customer base | ~150,000 | ~4 million |
| Parent company | Good Energy Group (100% renewable; owned by Esyasoft since 2025) | OVO Group (Mitsubishi Corporation holds ~20%) |
| Annual export earnings (2,000 kWh, import customer) | £300 | £240 |
Export Rate: Good Energy vs OVO Energy
Good Energy
25p/kWh
Highest flat SEG rate on the UK market. Fixed for 12 months, then rolls onto Solar Savings (15p). Requires solar and a battery installed by Good Energy Solar, plus Good Energy import.
Read full Good 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, Good 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 | Good 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: Good Energy or OVO Energy?
Good Energy pays more at the top, OVO is more flexible. Good Energy's 25p install rate and 15p import-customer rate both beat OVO's 12p, so on rate alone Good Energy wins for its own customers. But OVO has a 4p open rate for non-customers where Good Energy requires import, and OVO's brand and scale are larger. Green-minded owners switching import to Good Energy get the better rate; OVO suits those wanting a bigger supplier.
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 Good Energy if...
Good Energy wins if you want the highest possible flat rate and will buy its install, reaching 25p against OVO's install ceiling of up to 20p, and it is 100% renewable.
Read the full Good Energy review →Pick OVO Energy if...
OVO wins for a solar-only household whose system OVO installed, since OVO's 15p solar-only install rate is available without a battery, whereas Good Energy's 25p requires both solar and a battery.
Read the full OVO Energy review →Frequently Asked Questions
Who pays more for solar export, Good Energy or OVO Energy?
Good 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 Good Energy or OVO Energy for export without switching my import supplier?
Good Energy: its best rate requires taking it for import. OVO Energy: yes, its open rate is 4p/kWh. In the UK your export supplier can always differ from your import supplier.
Both have install-linked top tiers, so which is higher, Good Energy or OVO?
Good Energy's is higher at 25p versus OVO's up to 20p, but both require their own install plus their own import. Good Energy's 25p specifically needs solar and a battery, while OVO pays up to 20p with a battery or 15p for solar-only installs it fitted.
Is one greener than the other for matching my solar with green import?
Good Energy is a 100% renewable supplier, so taking it for both import and export keeps your whole account green. OVO is a large mainstream supplier (part-owned by Mitsubishi Corporation) and does not market itself as fully renewable in the same way, so eco-minded owners often prefer Good Energy on this point.
How often does Good Energy pay SEG?
Good Energy pays export credit quarterly bill credit.
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
- Good Energy, goodenergy.co.uk
- 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
Good 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.