So Energy Export Rates for Solar Panel Owners
So Energy's So Bright pays 20p/kWh fixed for 12 months on solar-and-battery systems So Energy installs itself, and unusually it does not require switching your import supply. After the first year it drops to the open-to-all So Export Flex at 4.5p, in line with the other 'import anywhere' floors. So Energy is owned by ESB, the Irish state electricity board.
Last verified 28 August 2026
Fact-checked by John Rooney, Solar Energy Editor. Editorial policy
Quick Answer
So Energy's best Smart Export Guarantee rate is 20p/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.
What SEG Export Tariffs Does So Energy Offer?
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 Bright | 20p/kWh | Fixed term | So Energy-installed systems |
| So Export Flex | 4.5p/kWh | Variable | Anyone (any import supplier) |
- So Bright: 20p/kWh fixed for 12 months for customers whose solar-and-battery system was installed by So Energy, then rolls onto So Export Flex (4.5p). You do not have to take So Energy for import.
- So Export Flex: 4.5p/kWh variable, open to all (no need to take So Energy for import).
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.
How Much Can You Earn From So Energy SEG?
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 Do You Sign Up for So Energy SEG?
- 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. Running a heat pump as well? Import rates matter twice over, so check our heat pump running costs guide before picking a tariff.
Is So Energy's SEG Tariff Worth It in 2026?
So Energy's So Bright pays 20p/kWh for 12 months on systems it installs itself, one of the strongest install-linked rates on the market, and unusually it does not require switching your import supply. After the first year it drops to the open-to-all So Export Flex at 4.5p, in line with the other 'import anywhere' floors.
So Energy ranks 3rd 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 3rd of 10).
Cons
- The top rate is reserved for systems this supplier installed, so an independent MCS installer won't qualify you for it.
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 20p/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.
What are the current SEG rates?
SEG rates in 2026 range from about 3p to 15p per kWh depending on supplier and tier. So Energy's best rate is 20p/kWh, with 4.5p/kWh open to any import customer. The best open-to-all rates in the market currently sit around 12p to 15p, while the lowest supplier floors are 3p to 4p. Each supplier sets its own SEG rate, so the gap between best and worst is worth £100 to £400 a year on a typical system.
Are SEG payments worth it?
Yes for most solar households. SEG export credit typically adds £90 to £400 a year on top of the money you save by using your own generation. It is essentially free income on electricity you would otherwise give to the grid for nothing, and the payments continue for as long as you export. The main thing to get right is choosing a competitive rate: at So Energy's 20p/kWh versus a 3p floor elsewhere, the difference on typical export is roughly £320 a year.
Who pays the best SEG tariff in the UK?
The top SEG rates in 2026 come from suppliers offering time-of-use and premium export tariffs, generally in the 12p to 15p range for customers who also take them for import. So Energy ranks 3rd of 10 on headline rate among the suppliers we track. The genuinely 'best' supplier depends on whether you are willing to switch your import account and on your total annual bill, not the export rate alone. See our full ranking to compare every supplier side by side.
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, although its very top tier is reserved for So Energy-installed systems.
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 20p/kWh ranks 3rd 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: 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 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.