OVO Energy Export Rates for Solar Panel Owners
OVO offers a clear three-tier SEG ladder: 4p for anyone regardless of import supplier, 12p if you switch your import to OVO, and up to 20p where OVO also installed your solar or battery. The catch for most owners is the quarterly payment cadence, slower than Octopus's monthly credit. OVO also runs the former SSE retail brand, which it acquired in 2020.
Last verified 6 June 2026
Fact-checked by John Rooney, Solar Energy Editor. Editorial policy
Quick Answer
OVO Energy's best Smart Export Guarantee rate is 20p/kWh, though that rate requires switching your import electricity to OVO Energy and having them install your system. The rate anyone can take, with no need to switch your import supplier, is 4p/kWh. For a typical home exporting around 2,000 kWh a year, the open rate is worth about £80.
OVO Energy SEG Export Tariffs
Like most large UK suppliers, OVO Energy publishes more than one Smart Export Guarantee rate. The higher rates come with strings attached, usually that you take OVO Energy 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SEG Install Exclusive | 20p/kWh | Fixed term | OVO Energy-installed systems |
| SEG Beyond Exclusive | 12p/kWh | Fixed term | OVO Energy import customers |
| SEG Standard | 4p/kWh | Variable | Anyone (any import supplier) |
- SEG Install Exclusive: 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.
- SEG Beyond Exclusive: 12p/kWh for OVO import customers. System capacity up to 30kW.
- SEG Standard: 4p/kWh, open to customers of any supplier.
OVO Energy 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. OVO Energy'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 OVO Energy Export Pays You
Annual export earnings depend on system size and how much of your generation you self-consume. These figures use OVO Energy's best rate that does not require buying an install from them.
| System size | Typical annual export | OVO Energy earnings (12p/kWh) |
|---|---|---|
| 3.5 kWp (8 panels) | 1,600 kWh | £192 |
| 4.5 kWp (10-11 panels) | 2,000 kWh | £240 |
| 5.4 kWp (12-13 panels) | 2,400 kWh | £288 |
| 6.4 kWp (14-15 panels) | 2,900 kWh | £348 |
| 5.4 kWp + battery | 1,400 kWh | £168 |
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 OVO Energy
- Your system is MCS-certified. SEG payments require an MCS (or equivalent) certificate for the install and installer. OVO Energy 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 OVO Energy for SEG with your MCS certificate, MPAN and bank details. You can do this even if OVO Energy is not your import supplier.
- Export credit is paid quarterly (every 3 months) as a bill credit or bank payment.
- Payments continue automatically unless you switch export supplier or move home.
Switching Your Export to or from OVO Energy
Switching export to OVO Energy
- You can take OVO Energy for export while keeping your current import supplier
- The higher tiers need you to switch import to OVO Energy too
- Apply with your MCS certificate, MPAN and bank details
- First payment lands at the next OVO Energy payment cycle
Switching export away from OVO Energy
- 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
OVO Energy vs Other Suppliers for Solar Export
| Supplier | Best rate | Open to all | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Octopus Energy | Up to 12p/kWh flat | 4.1p/kWh | OVO Energy vs Octopus Energy |
| EDF Energy | 18p/kWh | 3p/kWh | OVO Energy vs EDF Energy |
| British Gas | 12p/kWh | 3p/kWh | OVO Energy vs British Gas |
| Good Energy | 25p/kWh | – | OVO Energy vs Good Energy |
See every supplier ranked on our SEG rate comparison page, or read the Smart Export Guarantee guide for how the scheme works.
OVO Energy Review: Good for Solar Export?
OVO offers a clear three-tier ladder: 4p for anyone, 12p if you switch your import to OVO, and up to 20p if OVO also installed your system. The catch for most owners is the quarterly payment cadence, slower than Octopus's monthly credit. OVO now also runs the former SSE retail brand, which it acquired in 2020.
OVO Energy ranks 2nd 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 20p/kWh is one of the highest SEG rates in the UK (ranked 2nd of 10).
- Pays export credit monthly, the fastest cadence available.
Cons
- The top rate is reserved for systems this supplier installed, so an independent MCS installer won't qualify you for it.
Bottom line: OVO Energy is a reasonable option, best value if you are happy to take it for both import and export. Run your own numbers against the full ranking first.
OVO Energy SEG FAQ
What is the OVO Energy SEG export rate in 2026?
OVO Energy's best published Smart Export Guarantee rate is 20p/kWh. The rate open to anyone, with no need to switch your import supplier, is 4p/kWh. Rates are set by the supplier and can change, so confirm the live rate before applying.
Do I have to switch to OVO Energy for import to get their export rate?
Not for the 4p/kWh rate, which is open to customers of any import supplier. But OVO Energy's higher rates do require taking OVO Energy for your import electricity, and the top rate requires them to have installed your system.
When does OVO Energy pay SEG?
OVO Energy pays export credit quarterly (every 3 months).
Can I get OVO Energy SEG with any installer?
Yes, as long as your system is MCS-certified. OVO Energy's open SEG rate does not require buying your install from them, although its very top tier is reserved for OVO Energy-installed systems.
Who owns OVO Energy?
OVO Energy is part of OVO Group (Mitsubishi Corporation holds ~20%).
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 OVO Energy the best supplier for solar export?
OVO Energy's best rate of 20p/kWh ranks 2nd 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
- 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 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.