So Energy Export Rates for Solar Panel Owners
So Energy's headline SEG rate is the open-to-all So Export Flex at 4.5p, in line with the other 'import anywhere' floors. It advertises a higher rate for customers who buy a solar-and-battery package from it, but that figure is not published on its own SEG page, so we list only the verified rate here. So Energy is owned by ESB, the Irish state electricity board.
Last verified 6 June 2026
Fact-checked by John Rooney, Solar Energy Editor. Editorial policy
Quick Answer
So Energy's best Smart Export Guarantee rate is 4.5p/kWh. The rate anyone can take, with no need to switch your import supplier, is 4.5p/kWh. For a typical home exporting around 2,000 kWh a year, the open rate is worth about £90.
So Energy SEG Export Tariffs
Like most large UK suppliers, So Energy publishes more than one Smart Export Guarantee rate. The higher rates come with strings attached, usually that you take So 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| So Export Flex | 4.5p/kWh | Variable | Anyone (any import supplier) |
- So Export Flex: 4.5p/kWh variable, open to all (no need to take So Energy for import). So Energy also advertises a higher rate for its own solar-plus-battery installs, which we have not been able to verify against its own page.
So 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. So 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 So Energy Export Pays You
Annual export earnings depend on system size and how much of your generation you self-consume. These figures use So Energy's best rate that does not require buying an install from them.
| System size | Typical annual export | So Energy earnings (4.5p/kWh) |
|---|---|---|
| 3.5 kWp (8 panels) | 1,600 kWh | £72 |
| 4.5 kWp (10-11 panels) | 2,000 kWh | £90 |
| 5.4 kWp (12-13 panels) | 2,400 kWh | £108 |
| 6.4 kWp (14-15 panels) | 2,900 kWh | £131 |
| 5.4 kWp + battery | 1,400 kWh | £63 |
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 So Energy
- Your system is MCS-certified. SEG payments require an MCS (or equivalent) certificate for the install and installer. So 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 So Energy for SEG with your MCS certificate, MPAN and bank details. You can do this even if So Energy is not your import supplier.
- Export credit is paid quarterly as a bill credit or bank payment.
- Payments continue automatically unless you switch export supplier or move home.
Switching Your Export to or from So Energy
Switching export to So Energy
- You can take So Energy for export while keeping your current import supplier
- The higher tiers need you to switch import to So Energy too
- Apply with your MCS certificate, MPAN and bank details
- First payment lands at the next So Energy payment cycle
Switching export away from So 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
So Energy vs Other Suppliers for Solar Export
| Supplier | Best rate | Open to all | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Octopus Energy | Up to 12p/kWh flat | 4.1p/kWh | So Energy vs Octopus Energy |
See every supplier ranked on our SEG rate comparison page, or read the Smart Export Guarantee guide for how the scheme works.
So Energy Review: Good for Solar Export?
So Energy's headline SEG rate is the open-to-all So Export Flex at 4.5p, in line with the other 'import anywhere' floors. It advertises a higher rate for customers who buy a solar-and-battery package from it, but that figure is not published on its own SEG page, so we list only the verified rate here.
So Energy ranks 10th 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
Cons
- Best rate of 4.5p/kWh sits near the bottom of the market (ranked 10th of 10); higher-paying suppliers exist.
Bottom line: So Energy 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.
So Energy SEG FAQ
What is the So Energy SEG export rate in 2026?
So Energy's best published Smart Export Guarantee rate is 4.5p/kWh. The rate open to anyone, with no need to switch your import supplier, is 4.5p/kWh. Rates are set by the supplier and can change, so confirm the live rate before applying.
Do I have to switch to So Energy for import to get their export rate?
So Energy's headline export rate requires you to take So Energy for your import electricity. In the UK you are always free to take your export tariff from a different supplier than your import.
When does So Energy pay SEG?
So Energy pays export credit quarterly.
Can I get So Energy SEG with any installer?
Yes, as long as your system is MCS-certified. So Energy's open SEG rate does not require buying your install from them.
Who owns So Energy?
So Energy is part of ESB (Electricity Supply Board, Ireland).
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 So Energy the best supplier for solar export?
So Energy's best rate of 4.5p/kWh ranks 10th 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
- So Energy, so.energy
- 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.