Scottish Power Export Rates for Solar Panel Owners
Scottish Power's open SmartGen rate of 6p is one of the better 'import anywhere' rates, ahead of the 3p to 4p floors at British Gas, EDF and OVO. Its 12p premium tier matches British Gas, and its 15p top tier needs both Scottish Power import and a Scottish Power install. Export credit is paid to your bank account every 90 days rather than as a bill credit.
Last verified 6 June 2026
Fact-checked by John Rooney, Solar Energy Editor. Editorial policy
Quick Answer
Scottish Power's best Smart Export Guarantee rate is 15p/kWh, though that rate requires switching your import electricity to Scottish Power 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.
Scottish Power SEG Export Tariffs
Like most large UK suppliers, Scottish Power publishes more than one Smart Export Guarantee rate. The higher rates come with strings attached, usually that you take Scottish Power 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SmartGen Premium Plus | 15p/kWh | Variable | Scottish Power-installed systems |
| SmartGen Premium | 12p/kWh | Variable | Scottish Power import customers |
| SmartGen | 6p/kWh | Variable | Anyone (any import supplier) |
- SmartGen Premium Plus: 15p/kWh for Scottish Power import customers who also installed their solar or battery with Scottish Power.
- SmartGen Premium: 12p/kWh for Scottish Power import customers.
- SmartGen: 6p/kWh, open to anyone meeting SEG eligibility.
Scottish Power 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. Scottish Power'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 Scottish Power Export Pays You
Annual export earnings depend on system size and how much of your generation you self-consume. These figures use Scottish Power's best rate that does not require buying an install from them.
| System size | Typical annual export | Scottish Power 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 Scottish Power
- Your system is MCS-certified. SEG payments require an MCS (or equivalent) certificate for the install and installer. Scottish Power 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 Scottish Power for SEG with your MCS certificate, MPAN and bank details. You can do this even if Scottish Power is not your import supplier.
- Export credit is paid every 90 days, paid to your bank as a bill credit or bank payment.
- Payments continue automatically unless you switch export supplier or move home.
Switching Your Export to or from Scottish Power
Switching export to Scottish Power
- You can take Scottish Power for export while keeping your current import supplier
- The higher tiers need you to switch import to Scottish Power too
- Apply with your MCS certificate, MPAN and bank details
- First payment lands at the next Scottish Power payment cycle
Switching export away from Scottish Power
- 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
Scottish Power vs Other Suppliers for Solar Export
| Supplier | Best rate | Open to all | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Octopus Energy | Up to 12p/kWh flat | 4.1p/kWh | Scottish Power vs Octopus Energy |
| British Gas | 12p/kWh | 3p/kWh | Scottish Power vs British Gas |
| E.ON Next | 17.5p/kWh | 6p/kWh | Scottish Power vs E.ON Next |
See every supplier ranked on our SEG rate comparison page, or read the Smart Export Guarantee guide for how the scheme works.
Scottish Power Review: Good for Solar Export?
Scottish Power's open SmartGen rate of 6p is one of the better 'import anywhere' rates, ahead of the 3p to 4p floors at British Gas, EDF and OVO. Its 12p premium tier matches British Gas, and its 15p top tier needs both Scottish Power import and a Scottish Power install. Export credit is paid to your bank rather than as a bill credit.
Scottish Power ranks 6th 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
- Mid-table best rate of 15p/kWh (ranked 6th of 10), competitive without leading.
- Highest 'open to all' rate (6p/kWh) we track, so you keep the best rate without switching your import supplier.
Cons
- The top rate is reserved for systems this supplier installed, so an independent MCS installer won't qualify you for it.
Bottom line: Scottish Power 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.
Scottish Power SEG FAQ
What is the Scottish Power SEG export rate in 2026?
Scottish Power's best published Smart Export Guarantee rate is 15p/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 Scottish Power for import to get their export rate?
Not for the 6p/kWh rate, which is open to customers of any import supplier. But Scottish Power's higher rates do require taking Scottish Power for your import electricity, and the top rate requires them to have installed your system.
When does Scottish Power pay SEG?
Scottish Power pays export credit every 90 days, paid to your bank.
Can I get Scottish Power SEG with any installer?
Yes, as long as your system is MCS-certified. Scottish Power's open SEG rate does not require buying your install from them, although its very top tier is reserved for Scottish Power-installed systems.
Who owns Scottish Power?
Scottish Power is part of Iberdrola (Spanish utility group).
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 Scottish Power the best supplier for solar export?
Scottish Power's best rate of 15p/kWh ranks 6th 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
- 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 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.