Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) - get paid for your renewable energy

What is a smart export guarantee tariff?

If you make your own green energy at home and have a smart meter that checks your energy every half hour, you can sign up for a SEG tariff to get paid for the electricity you don’t use.

How to take your export meter readings

Just follow the instructions from your meter’s ‘sleep mode’. Don’t wake your meter first.

Landis+Gyr (SMETS1)

• Press and hold the A button for 3 to 4 seconds.

• Press the A button until TOTAL Act Export display is seen. This could be up to 13 button presses.

• You should see ‘Total Act Export’ and your export reading on the screen in kWh.

Landis+Gyr (SMETS2)

• Press the A button twice.

• Press and hold the A button for 3 to 4 seconds.

• Press the A button until TOTAL Act Export is displayed. This can be up to 23 individual button presses.

• You should see ‘Total Act Export’ and your export reading on the screen in kWh.

Elster (SMETS2)

• Press the A button.

• Press the B button 3 times.

• Press the A button twice and then press button B once.

• You should see ‘Cum Export’ and your export reading on the screen in kWh.

Secure (SMETS1)

• Press the 9 key twice.

• You should see your export reading on the screen in kWh.

EDMI (SMETS2)

Your meter will 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.

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.

Why do I need to send readings when I have a smart meter?

It can take some time for your smart meter to start sending us readings when you first sign up or switch your SEG to us. In the meantime, we may ask you to send readings to us directly.

We may also ask you to send us a reading if your smart meter stops communicating with us for any reason.

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 Feed-in Tariff (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.

Why is the SEG tariff separate from my existing energy tariff?

Your existing energy tariff is what’s called an import tariff. It’s the price you pay for the energy you buy from your supplier.
A SEG tariff is an export tariff. It’s the price you get paid for the energy you sell to the grid.

Import and export tariffs are separated because the prices of buying and selling energy are different. Your electricity meter also records your import and export readings separately. And it’s your export readings that are used to calculate your SEG payments.

You don’t need to be on a British Gas import tariff to apply for a SEG export tariff with us. But if we do supply your electricity, you receive a better export rate on our Export and Earn Plus tariff. 

What happens if I cancel or switch my SEG tariff to another provider?

If you change Smart Export Guarantee providers, we will be notified by your new SEG provider. We'll request a final export meter reading from you, issue a final payment and close your British Gas SEG account.

What happens if I add capacity to my renewable energy system?

The maximum capacity of most renewable systems that are eligible for the SEG scheme is 5 MW. The exception is micro combined heat and power (micro-CHP) systems, where the maximum’s 50 kW.

You can install additional capacity and go above the maximum. But you won’t be paid for exporting more electricity than a 5 WM (or 50 kW micro-CHP) system can generate.

If you have already added capacity to your SEG installation, please contact us on smartexportguarantee@britishgas.co.uk or 0333 202 9483.

What happens if I switch my electricity supply to another provider?

We'll automatically switch you to our Export and Earn flex tariff from the date you change supplier. You may need to provide an up-to-date export reading so we can calculate what we owe you at the higher Export and Earn Plus rate.

How do I switch to different SEG provider?

• Contact your preferred SEG licensee and follow their application process.
• Please also provide a photograph of your export meter reading to smartexportguarantee@britishgas.co.uk.
• And after the changeover is complete, we will send your final payment.
• You can reapply for SEG at British Gas at any time by completing our SEG application form.

Thinking of changing your SEG provider? Check out our export tariff rates and see if we can offer you a better SEG rate.

Am I eligible for the Export & Earn Plus tariff?

To qualify for our SEG Export and Earn Plus tariff:

• British Gas must be your electricity supplier.
• You must be the named account holder on your electricity bill.
• The property must be occupied.
• No electricity is generated on the property under a rent-a-roof agreement.