Best SEG Tariff & Solar Feed-in Tariff Calculator (UK + AU)
Compare the best UK SEG tariffs (Octopus, OVO, E.ON, British Gas, EDF) and Australian solar feed-in tariff rates by state — then calculate your annual export earnings. UK pence and Australian cents per kWh, free, no email required.
Rates last verified: June 7, 2026 · Methodology · Editorial standards
Muhammad founded KilowattKit after spending hours trying to decode confusing electricity bills and realising there were no clear, jargon-free tools for ordinary homeowners. He researches energy rates, solar payback, EV charging, and heat pump economics across the US, UK, Canada, and Australia — sourcing every figure directly from official government and regulatory data.
How we calculated this
Generation = System size (kWp) × Peak sun hours × 365 × 0.8 system efficiency
UK SEG Rate Comparison
Rates as of May 2026. Always check the provider's current tariff before signing up.
| Provider | Rate | Type | Est. Annual* |
|---|
* Based on 4kWp system, local average sun hours, 40% export. Your results will vary.
🇬🇧 Best UK SEG Tariff 2026: Which Provider Pays the Most?
All UK suppliers with 150,000+ customers must offer a Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) tariff under Ofgem rules — but the per-kWh rate they pay varies by nearly 3× between the cheapest and the most generous. Here’s the 2026 ranking of the main UK SEG providers, from highest-paying to lowest:
- Octopus Agile SEG — up to 20p/kWh during peak demand periods (4–7pm weekdays), variable half-hourly. Best for households with battery storage that can time-shift exports.
- Octopus Fixed SEG — flat 15.5p/kWh on all exports. The highest-paying fixed-rate SEG tariff from a major UK supplier. No smart-shifting required.
- OVO Energy — 15p/kWh fixed for OVO import customers. Strong second choice if you’re already with OVO for imports.
- E.ON Next — 12p/kWh fixed. E.ON Drive variant includes EV-charging integration. Mid-tier value.
- British Gas Export — 7.5p/kWh fixed. Convenient if your import supply is already with British Gas but pays significantly below the market.
- EDF Energy — 7p/kWh fixed. Standard export rate; among the lowest from major suppliers.
For a typical 4kWp UK system exporting 1,500 kWh per year, choosing Octopus Fixed (15.5p) over British Gas (7.5p) is worth about £120/year — over £3,000 across a 25-year panel lifetime. Crucially, your SEG provider doesn’t have to be the same as your import supplier, so you can shop around for the best export rate independently.
🇦🇺 Best Solar Feed-in Tariff Australia 2026: State by State
Australian solar feed-in tariff (FiT) rates are set by state regulators as minimums, with most retailers offering higher voluntary rates on competitive plans. Rates change annually each July when regulators publish new minimums. Here’s where the best Australian feed-in tariff rates can be found in 2026:
| State / Territory | Regulated Minimum | Best Retailer FiT | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tasmania (TAS) | 8.7c | 8.7c | Aurora Energy regulated; limited retailer competition |
| New South Wales (NSW) | 7.5c | 10–14c | Most competitive retailer market in Australia |
| Victoria (VIC) | 6.5c | 10–12c | Solar Victoria minimum; retailers offer higher on TOU |
| South Australia (SA) | 5.0c | 10–15c | Strong time-of-use retailer plans available |
| Queensland (QLD) | 6.0c | 8–12c | Ergon/Energex regulated minimum |
| ACT | 6.5c | 8–11c | Similar pricing to Victoria minimum |
| Western Australia (WA) | 2.5c off-peak | 10c peak | DEBS time-of-use scheme; peak windows pay more |
The Australian market rewards shopping around. For a typical 6.6kWp system exporting 2,600 kWh per year, choosing a 12c retailer FiT over a 5c minimum is worth about A$180/year — A$4,500 over the panel lifetime. Time-of-use FiTs (paying more during peak demand windows) reward households with battery storage that can hold midday solar for evening export.
How Does Net Metering Work? UK SEG vs US Net Metering vs AU Feed-in Tariff
“Net metering” is the umbrella term for any scheme that compensates solar customers for electricity exported back to the grid. The mechanics vary significantly across the four main English-speaking markets:
A smart meter records every kWh exported. Your SEG provider pays you a per-kWh rate (7–20p) for measured exports. There’s no offset against your import bill — export earnings are paid separately, monthly or quarterly. You can use a different supplier for import vs export.
Same mechanics as the UK SEG: smart meter records exports, retailer pays a per-kWh rate (2.5–15c) for measured exports. State regulators set a minimum FiT; retailers can pay more on competitive plans. Some states (WA DEBS) use time-of-use FiTs paying more during peak demand windows.
In states that still offer 1:1 net metering, your meter literally spins backwards when you export. You only pay for net consumption (import minus export). This is more generous than SEG/FiT because exported kWh effectively count at the retail import rate. California (under NEM 3.0) and most other states have moved to lower “net billing” rates closer to wholesale levels — closer to the UK/AU model.
Each Canadian province runs its own net metering scheme, mostly true 1:1 net metering with monthly true-up. Ontario, Alberta, and BC offer the most established programmes. Some provinces cap system size or net metering value.
In all four markets, self-consumption is more valuable than export — the import rate you avoid (25–35p UK, 25–40c AU, $0.15–$0.30 US, C$0.10–$0.20 CA) is always higher than the export rate. Strategy: size solar to maximise self-consumption first, then optimise export earnings on whatever surplus remains.
💡 Maximise your export earnings
- • Time-of-use export: Octopus Agile SEG pays up to 20p/kWh during peak demand (4–7pm). A battery lets you shift midday solar to this window.
- • Self-consume first: Every kWh you use instead of importing saves ~25–30p (UK). Export rates pay less — so run dishwashers, washing machines, and EV chargers during the day.
- • Check your smart meter: SEG requires a SMETS2 smart meter. Your supplier must install one free of charge.
- • UK grants: Check if you qualify for ECO4, the Warm Homes Plan, or the Boiler Upgrade Scheme — free or subsidised solar is available to many households. Check eligibility →
Frequently Asked Questions
Which UK SEG provider pays the most in 2026?
Octopus Agile SEG pays the highest average rate at up to 20p/kWh during peak demand windows (typically 4-7pm weekdays), variable by the hour. Octopus Fixed SEG pays a steady 15.5p/kWh. OVO Energy pays 15p/kWh. E.ON Next pays 12p/kWh. British Gas and EDF Energy pay the lowest standard rates at around 7-7.5p/kWh. If you have a battery and can shift exports to peak windows, Octopus Agile typically wins. For pure passive export, Octopus Fixed or OVO are usually the best balance of rate and stability.
What is the best solar feed-in tariff in Australia 2026?
Tasmania currently offers the highest regulated minimum feed-in tariff at 8.7c/kWh via Aurora Energy. NSW has the most competitive retailer market, with many providers offering 10-14c/kWh voluntarily despite the 7.5c minimum. South Australia retailers often pay 10-15c despite the 5c minimum. Western Australia under DEBS pays just 2.5c off-peak rising to higher rates during peak windows. The single highest single-rate retailer FiTs in 2026 reach 15c/kWh, primarily on time-of-use tariffs in NSW, VIC, and SA.
What is the Octopus SEG rate?
Octopus runs two SEG tariffs. Octopus Fixed SEG pays a flat 15.5p/kWh on all exported electricity — the simplest option and currently the highest fixed rate from any major UK SEG provider. Octopus Agile SEG pays a variable half-hourly rate that can reach 20p/kWh or more during peak demand periods (typically 4-7pm weekdays). Agile suits households with batteries that can time-shift exports to peak windows. Both tariffs require a SMETS2 smart meter and can be combined with Octopus Go or other import tariffs.
What is the British Gas SEG rate?
British Gas pays a standard SEG export rate of approximately 7.5p/kWh in 2026 — among the lowest from major UK suppliers. The rate is fixed (not time-of-use) and available to existing British Gas import customers. If your import supply is already with British Gas and you don't want to manage two relationships, this is a convenient but not maximally profitable option. A typical UK household could earn £100-150 more per year by switching their SEG export to Octopus Fixed or OVO instead.
What is the feed-in tariff in QLD, NSW, VIC and SA?
Queensland minimum FiT is around 6c/kWh through Ergon/Energex regional networks, with many retailers offering 8-12c. NSW minimum is 7.5c/kWh; retailers commonly pay 10-14c. Victoria has a 6.5c minimum (Solar Victoria); some retailers pay up to 12c. South Australia has a 5c minimum but retailer rates often reach 7-15c on time-of-use plans. Rates change annually each July when state regulators review minimums. Check your retailer's current published FiT before assuming the minimum applies.
How does net metering work? (UK vs US vs Australia)
Net metering is the umbrella term for any scheme that pays solar customers for exported electricity. The UK uses the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) — suppliers pay a per-kWh rate for measured exports, with no offset against your import bill. Australia uses feed-in tariffs (FiT) — similar to SEG, paid per kWh of measured export, set by state regulators. The US (in net metering states) uses true 1:1 net metering — your meter runs backwards when exporting and you only pay for net consumption. Canada is province-specific, mostly net metering with monthly true-up. The UK and Australian schemes pay less per kWh exported than true net metering would, but cover virtually all customers.
What is the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG)?
The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) is a UK government scheme that requires licensed energy suppliers with 150,000+ customers to offer export tariffs to small-scale renewable generators. If you have a solar panel system of up to 5MW (virtually all homes) and a smart meter, you're entitled to be paid for every unit of electricity you export. Rates vary by supplier and are set commercially — the only requirement is that they must be above zero.
How much can I earn from SEG in the UK?
A typical 4kWp UK system exporting around 40% of its ~3,800 kWh annual output earns roughly £250–£600/year depending on your SEG tariff. Octopus Agile SEG can pay up to 20p/kWh during high-demand periods, while British Gas and EDF pay closer to 7–8p. The best strategy is to self-consume as much as possible first (saving import costs), then export the rest.
Do I need a smart meter for SEG?
Yes. You need a smart meter (SMETS2) to register for SEG, as it records your half-hourly export readings. If you don't have one yet, your energy supplier is obliged to offer you one for free. Installation usually takes 1–2 hours and a supplier can deny a SEG application until the smart meter is in place.
Should I get a battery storage system instead?
For most households, self-consuming more solar (either directly or via battery) is more valuable than exporting, because the import rate you avoid (25–35p/kWh UK, 25–40c AU) is higher than any export rate. A battery becomes financially attractive when you can store midday surplus to use in evenings, especially where export rates are low. Our Solar Payback Calculator can model battery scenarios.
Can I switch SEG providers without switching energy supplier?
Yes. Your SEG provider (who buys your export) does not have to be the same company as your import supplier. You can shop around for the best export rate independently. Some providers like Octopus offer dedicated export-only accounts. Compare current rates on Ofgem's SEG register before signing up.
Is SEG or feed-in tariff income taxable?
For most UK households, SEG income is not taxable because it qualifies for the £1,000 trading and miscellaneous income allowance (most household SEG earnings sit well within this). In Australia, FiT income is generally not assessable as taxable income for residential solar customers under standard ATO guidance. If you earn substantially above the typical residential range (large commercial systems, multiple properties), professional tax advice is recommended. For typical 4-6kWp residential systems, both UK SEG and AU FiT income are effectively tax-free.