How to compare SEG rates

Where can I find current SEG rates?

Start with Ofgem's list of SEG licensees, which shows every supplier offering a Smart Export Guarantee tariff. Then visit each supplier's website for its current rate and terms, because rates change and are not published centrally. Our comparison table is a useful starting point, but always confirm the figure with the supplier.

What should I compare besides the export rate?

Look at whether you must also buy your electricity from the same supplier, the cost of that import tariff, whether the rate is fixed or variable, any minimum contract length or exit terms, how often you are paid, and whether exports from a home battery are accepted. These conditions can outweigh a small difference in rate.

• Import tie-in: is the export rate only available if you switch your electricity supply?
• Import price: a high export rate can be cancelled out by an expensive import tariff.
• Rate type: fixed, variable or time-of-use.
• Battery rules: does the supplier pay for electricity exported from storage?
• Meter: do you need a particular smart meter or half-hourly readings?
• Payment schedule: monthly, quarterly or annually, and how readings are taken.

How do I work out which SEG tariff pays me the most?

Estimate how many kilowatt hours you export in a year, then multiply by each tariff's rate. Your installer's design report or your smart meter data will give the export figure. For time-of-use or variable tariffs, think about when you export, because midday solar exports and evening battery exports may be paid differently.

Then add the effect on your import bill. If a tariff requires you to switch supplier, compare your total yearly cost, not just your export income.

Should I choose the tariff with the highest headline rate?

Not automatically. The highest headline rate is often a variable or time-of-use tariff, or one that requires you to buy your electricity from the same supplier. If that import tariff costs more, or your exports fall outside the best-paid hours, a simpler fixed tariff can leave you better off over the year.

How often should I review my SEG tariff?

Review your tariff at least once a year, and whenever your circumstances change, such as adding a battery, an electric vehicle or a heat pump. Suppliers revise SEG rates regularly and new tariffs appear, so a quick comparison each spring, before Scotland's main solar months, helps make sure you are not missing a better deal.