Smart Export Guarantee rates
Sign up for one of our Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) tariffs and we’ll pay you for any electricity you export to the grid – you don’t even need to be a British Gas customer.
Check if you’re eligible for a SEG tariff
You can apply for a SEG tariff and join the scheme if you’re generating electricity using any of the following renewable systems:
1. Energy systems
- Solar photovoltaic (solar PV)
- Wind
- Hydro
- Anaerobic digestion (AD)
- Micro combined heat and power (micro-CHP)
2. System capacity
Your system must be small scale – up to a capacity of 5 MW, or 50 kW for micro-CHP. And you can’t join the scheme if you’re already receiving another type of export payment.
3. Smart meter
You must be based in England, Scotland or Wales, and have a smart meter installed that records export readings every 30 minutes. Don't have a smart meter? If you’re a British Gas customer, book a smart meter appointment. Or get in touch with your current supplier.
Our SEG tariffs
Both of our SEG tariffs are variable, so the export price we pay can go up or down. They have no end dates or exit fees. You’re free to cancel or switch your SEG to another provider at any time.
If you're an existing British Gas electricity customer, we'll automatically put you on our Export and Earn Plus tariff.
15p per kWh
Export and Earn Plus
We pay 15p per kWh of electricity you export.
Export and Earn Plus is exclusive to British Gas electricity customers.
6.4p per kWh
Export and Earn Flex
We pay 6.4p per kWh of electricity you export.
Export and Earn Flex is available to anyone.
Thinking about installing solar panels?
If you're not yet generating electricity then a popular choice is solar panels. Once you've got solar panels installed you can join our SEG scheme and get paid for what you don't use.
Solar panels
Find out how to get solar panels installed and save up to £5201 a year on your electricity bill.
Battery storage
For a more efficient installation, pair your panels with battery storage to save some of the electricity you generate to use later.
How to apply for a British Gas SEG tariff
Download the SEG application form
We’d also recommend you read our T&Cs and privacy notice.
Fill in the SEG application form
You'll need to send some additional documents with your SEG application such as:
MCS certificate or equivalent
A Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) certificate or similar accreditation. And documentation to prove you own the system. Contact your installer if you need copies of either.
Smart meter photo
A photo of your smart meter. This needs to clearly show an up-to-date export reading and the serial number on the front of your meter.
Send us your completed SEG application form
Please send your application form and copies of your other documents back to us by:
- Email: smartexportguarantee@britishgas.co.uk
- Post: British Gas, Smart Export Guarantee Team, Winnall Down, Alresford Road, Winchester, Hampshire SO21 1FP
We'll set up your SEG account
We'll process you application and then when you’re all set up, we’ll contact you with everything you need to know about your account.
It can take us up to 28 days to process your application and create your new account, though it may take longer if we need more information from you.
Your export meter reading
If you have a separate export meter, your export reading will simply be the figure shown on your meter’s screen. If you have a smart meter, how to access your export reading depends on the model of meter you have.
For help taking your export reading, follow the instructions for your meter below.
SEG meter instructions
Landis+Gyr (SMETS1)
Press and hold the A button for 3 seconds.
Press the A button 6 times.
- You should see ‘Total Act Export’ and your export reading on the screen.
Landis+Gyr (SMETS2)
Press the A button twice.
Press and hold the A button for 3 seconds.
Press the A button again 9 times.
- You should see ‘Total Act Export’ and your export reading on the screen.
Elster (SMETS2)
Press the A button.
Press the B button 3 times.
Press the A button 3 times.
- You should see ‘Cum Export’ and your export reading on the screen.
Secure (SMETS1)
Press the 9 key twice.
- You should see your export reading on the screen.
EDMI (SMETS2)
Press and hold the Right button to illuminate the screen and access the menu.
Press the Right button repeatedly to scroll through the menu to get to the ‘EXPRT’ option.
Press and hold the Right button to select it.
- You should now see ‘EXPRT’ and your export reading on the screen. Your meter might begin to automatically cycle between 3 different readings at 5-second intervals. So you may have to wait until the ‘EXPRT’ reading comes back around to take your photo.
How SEG payments work
We’ll send you a SEG payment every three months. The amount you receive will depend on your SEG tariff and how much electricity you export to the grid.
We’ll pay you within 28 days of receiving your latest export meter reading. Either by cheque, or by bank transfer if we have your account details.
We may be able to take your export reading automatically if you have a smart meter. But if we can’t or you have a separate export meter, we’ll ask you to send an up-to-date reading every few months.
Switching your electricity supply to British Gas
British Gas electricity customers receive our best SEG tariff rate of 15 pence per kilowatt hour (kWh), available only on our Export and Earn Plus tariff.
If you’re interested in switching your electricity supply to take advantage of our best SEG rate get started with an online quote.
Getting in touch
If you have any questions about the SEG or our tariffs, please contact us and we’ll be happy to help.
- Email: smartexportguarantee@britishgas.co.uk
- Phone: 0333 202 9483 (we’re available Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm)
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s an export MPAN?
A Meter Point Administration Number (MPAN) is a supply number that’s unique to each smart meter. Your export MPAN is linked to the electricity you export to the grid.
It’ll be different to the supply number you’ll see on bills you receive from your energy supplier, which is for the electricity you import from the grid.
If you’re joining the SEG scheme for the first time, we’ll create and register your export MPAN for you. If you’re moving your SEG to us from another provider, we’ll get your export MPAN directly from them.
What’s a distributor or DNO?
A Distribution Network Operator (DNO), or ‘distributor,’ is a company that’s responsible for a region’s electricity infrastructure. Before installing a renewable electricity system, you must first complete a DNO application.
Is there a limit to the amount of electricity I can export?
No, you can send an unlimited amount of excess electricity to the grid. But it can’t be any more than the amount your renewable electricity system is capable of generating.
Can I apply for a SEG tariff if I have battery storage?
Yes, you can apply for a tariff and receive SEG payments whether the electricity you export comes directly from your renewable system, or from your battery storage.
Can I receive both FIT and SEG payments?
Unfortunately, you cannot receive export payments from both the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) scheme and the SEG (Smart Export Guarantee) programme at the same time. However, just because you have FIT export currently does not exclude you from opting out and into the SEG export plan. You will continue to receive FIT generation payments, but you should be aware that you may only opt out of FIT export payments once every 12 months. Once you've switched from deemed to metered export payments, you can't go back.
Legal information
Based upon a customer in Manchester at home all day (Source: Energy Saving Trust, July 2023).