Utility Warehouse Export Rates for Solar Panel Owners
Utility Warehouse is a multi-service provider, and its SEG reflects that: 2p as standard, rising to 8p only if you bundle two or more other UW services such as broadband, mobile or insurance. For a pure solar owner the rate is uncompetitive, but for an existing UW multi-service household the 8p bundle rate is a reasonable add-on to an existing relationship.
Last verified 6 June 2026
Fact-checked by John Rooney, Solar Energy Editor. Editorial policy
Quick Answer
Utility Warehouse's best Smart Export Guarantee rate is 8p/kWh, though that rate requires switching your import electricity to Utility Warehouse. The rate anyone can take, with no need to switch your import supplier, is 2p/kWh. For a typical home exporting around 2,000 kWh a year, the open rate is worth about £40.
What SEG Export Tariffs Does Utility Warehouse Offer?
Like most large UK suppliers, Utility Warehouse publishes more than one Smart Export Guarantee rate. The higher rates come with strings attached, usually that you take Utility Warehouse 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bundle SEG | 8p/kWh | Variable | Utility Warehouse import customers |
| Standard SEG | 2p/kWh | Variable | Anyone (any import supplier) |
- Bundle SEG: 8p/kWh for customers who take UW energy plus two or more other UW services (broadband, mobile or insurance).
- Standard SEG: 2p/kWh standard rate for all eligible customers.
Utility Warehouse 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. Utility Warehouse'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 Utility Warehouse SEG?
Annual export earnings depend on system size and how much of your generation you self-consume. These figures use Utility Warehouse's best rate that does not require buying an install from them.
| System size | Typical annual export | Utility Warehouse earnings (8p/kWh) |
|---|---|---|
| 3.5 kWp (8 panels) | 1,600 kWh | £128 |
| 4.5 kWp (10-11 panels) | 2,000 kWh | £160 |
| 5.4 kWp (12-13 panels) | 2,400 kWh | £192 |
| 6.4 kWp (14-15 panels) | 2,900 kWh | £232 |
| 5.4 kWp + battery | 1,400 kWh | £112 |
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 Utility Warehouse SEG?
- Your system is MCS-certified. SEG payments require an MCS (or equivalent) certificate for the install and installer. Utility Warehouse 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 Utility Warehouse for SEG with your MCS certificate, MPAN and bank details. You can do this even if Utility Warehouse is not your import supplier.
- Export credit is paid bill credit as a bill credit or bank payment.
- Payments continue automatically unless you switch export supplier or move home.
Switching Your Export to or from Utility Warehouse
Switching export to Utility Warehouse
- You can take Utility Warehouse for export while keeping your current import supplier
- The higher tiers need you to switch import to Utility Warehouse too
- Apply with your MCS certificate, MPAN and bank details
- First payment lands at the next Utility Warehouse payment cycle
Switching export away from Utility Warehouse
- 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
Utility Warehouse vs Other Suppliers for Solar Export
| Supplier | Best rate | Open to all | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Octopus Energy | Up to 12p/kWh flat | 4.1p/kWh | Utility Warehouse 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 Utility Warehouse's SEG Tariff Worth It in 2026?
Utility Warehouse is a multi-service provider, and its SEG reflects that: 2p as standard, rising to 8p only if you bundle two or more other UW services. For a pure solar owner the rate is uncompetitive, but for an existing UW multi-service household the 8p bundle rate is a reasonable add-on.
Utility Warehouse ranks 9th 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 8p/kWh sits near the bottom of the market (ranked 9th of 10); higher-paying suppliers exist.
- Its open-to-all rate of 2p/kWh is among the lowest we track, so the good rates are locked behind switching import.
- The best rate requires switching your import electricity to this supplier too.
Bottom line: Utility Warehouse is hard to recommend on rate alone. Consider it mainly if you already take it for import, or if its install-tier rate applies to you.
Utility Warehouse SEG FAQ
What is the Utility Warehouse SEG export rate in 2026?
Utility Warehouse's best published Smart Export Guarantee rate is 8p/kWh. The rate open to anyone, with no need to switch your import supplier, is 2p/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. Utility Warehouse's best rate is 8p/kWh, with 2p/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 £40 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 Utility Warehouse's 8p/kWh versus a 3p floor elsewhere, the difference on typical export is roughly £80 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. Utility Warehouse ranks 9th 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 Utility Warehouse for import to get their export rate?
Not for the 2p/kWh rate, which is open to customers of any import supplier. But Utility Warehouse's higher rates do require taking Utility Warehouse for your import electricity.
When does Utility Warehouse pay SEG?
Utility Warehouse pays export credit bill credit.
Can I get Utility Warehouse SEG with any installer?
Yes, as long as your system is MCS-certified. Utility Warehouse's open SEG rate does not require buying your install from them.
Who owns Utility Warehouse?
Utility Warehouse is part of Telecom Plus plc (LSE-listed).
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 Utility Warehouse the best supplier for solar export?
Utility Warehouse's best rate of 8p/kWh ranks 9th 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
- Utility Warehouse, uw.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.