Scottish Power SEG tariff rates pay between 6p and 15p/kWh for exporting your excess solar electricity back to the grid. All their tariffs are variable and paid every 90 days. The rate you get will depend on who supplies your electricity and your solar panels and battery installer.
Scottish Power is one of the largest energy companies in the UK and an SEG Licensee required to offer at least one SEG-compliant tariff to eligible generators.
According to Ofgem’s latest SEG Annual Report, Scottish Power was the fourth-most popular SEG provider in the UK in 2024–25, with more than 14,000 households signed up to one of their export tariffs.
Scottish Power runs three export tariffs under the SmartGen name, and you must ensure you’re on the right one to get the most of the electricity you send to the grid.
Understanding what Scottish Power SEG tariff rates are available, what each one requires, and where the catches sit can help you make the best choice for your solar system.
Key Takeaways:
- Scottish Power offers three SmartGen tariffs that pay 6p/kWh, 12p/kWh, and 15p/kWh.
- Your tariff is determined by who supplies your power and who installed your solar panels or battery.
- Switching electricity supplier away from Scottish Power at any time moves you straight to the 6p tariff, regardless of which tier you were on.
- You can terminate your SEG agreement at any time by giving Scottish Power 30 days’ written notice.
- Scottish Power pays every 90 days and aims to take meter readings automatically every day via your smart meter or AMR.
Which Scottish Power SEG Tariffs are Available?
| Tariff | SmartGen | SmartGen Premium | SmartGen Premium Plus |
| Rate | 6p/kWh | 12p/kWh | 15p/kWh |
| Import requirement | None | Scottish Power electricity at the installation address | Scottish Power electricity at the installation address |
| Purchase requirement | None | None | Solar panels and/or battery purchased from Scottish Power |
| Rate type | Variable (always above zero) | Variable | Variable |
| Payment frequency | Every 90 days | Every 90 days | Every 90 days |
| If you switch the import supplier | N/A | Moves to SmartGen | Moves to SmartGen |
Rates and eligibility checked against Scottish Power’s SEG tariff page and SEG Terms and Conditions. Tariffs can change, so confirm directly with Scottish Power before applying.
SmartGen: The Open-Access Option
SmartGen pays 6p/kWh to anyone with an eligible renewable installation. There’s no requirement to have Scottish Power as your electricity supplier or as your battery and solar panel installer.
It ties with E.ON Next’s Flex Export v1 for the best open-access SEG rate in the UK. It also pays 6p/kWh with no conditions attached. Anywhere else, you would need to switch electricity supplier or installer to do better.
That makes SmartGen the sensible default if you have no intention of switching your electricity account to Scottish Power. It was Scottish Power’s most popular tariff in the most recent Ofgem reporting year, accounting for 5.1% of the supplier’s overall 5.3% share of all UK SEG registrations.
SmartGen Premium: For Existing Scottish Power Customers
SmartGen Premium pays 12p/kWh and is exclusive to customers who import their electricity from Scottish Power at the same address as the installation. There is no requirement around who installed your system.
This sits in the middle of the market for customer-exclusive fixed-style rates.
It’s below EDF’s Export 12m and Good Energy’s Solar Savings (both 15p), level with Octopus’s Outgoing Octopus (12p), and ahead of E.ON Next’s Export Exclusive (13p only marginally, but still trailing).
If you’re already a Scottish Power electricity customer with solar installed by anyone, it’s worth checking whether you’re on SmartGen Premium rather than the basic 6p tariff.
SmartGen Premium Plus: The Top Rate, With Conditions
Scottish Power’s highest tariff pays 15p/kWh but requires both a Scottish Power electricity supply and a Scottish Power installation, in which Scottish Power installs your solar panels and/or battery.
Notably, the installation requirement covers solar or battery, not necessarily both. If you have solar from another installer, you can qualify for Premium Plus by having Scottish Power retrofit a battery if you also switch your electricity supply.
At 15p/kWh, this is competitive but not class-leading among installer-exclusive tariffs.
Good Energy’s Solar Savings Exclusive pays 25p, Octopus Intelligent Flux averages around 23p with battery requirements, and OVO and So Energy both pay 20p for their top installer-exclusive products.
Who Qualifies for A Scottish Power SEG Tariff? The Eligibility Rules
Scottish Power’s eligibility criteria apply across all three tariffs unless stated otherwise:
- You must own the system. Unlike some suppliers, ownership is a standalone requirement. Tenants can still apply, but only with specific additional documentation.
- Your system must not exceed 5 megawatts, or 50 kilowatts for micro-CHP installations. This is comfortably above any domestic system.
- You need a meter capable of recording exports every half hour. It should be smart, AMR (automatic meter reading), or similar.
- You need certification from MCS, Flexi-Orb, NICEIC, NAPIT, or a similar accredited body. Scottish Power’s acceptance of NICEIC and NAPIT alongside MCS and Flexi-Orb is broader than that of several competitors, who typically accept only a Flexi-Orb or an MCS certificate for solar panels.
- A DNO connection letter is preferred but not compulsory. Having a letter or email from your Distribution Network Operator confirming grid connection is preferable, but unlike some suppliers, it’s not an absolute requirement to begin the application.
- You must not be receiving FiT export payments. If you’re on the Feed-in Tariff, you must opt out of FiT export payments before joining SEG. This won’t affect your FiT generation payments.
- Your Export Meter is safely and physically accessible for inspection by Scottish Power, Ofgem, or anyone they authorise.
- You will notify Scottish Power immediately if your Smart Import Meter starts moving backwards. This is an unusual but specific obligation, presumably included to flag potential meter or billing errors early.
Tenants Can Apply, but the Rules Are Specific
If you’re a tenant living in a property with solar panels you don’t own, you can still apply for SEG payments, provided you have:
- Written permission from your landlord or local council confirming that you can receive SEG payments for the installation.
- Proof of ownership of the solar panels, typically provided by the landlord or council (this proves who owns the equipment, even though the payments go to you).
- A valid MCS or Flexi-Orb certificate for the system, which your landlord or council needs to supply.
- An export-capable meter, as with any other applicant.
This can be useful if you’re renting a property with an existing solar installation.
Application Process for A Scottish Power SEG Tariff
Scottish Power’s process runs as follows:
1. Online application (up to 14 days). Complete the application and upload your MCS, Flexi-Orb or other accepted certificate, proof of system ownership, and details of your import, smart or export meter. Scottish Power validates your eligibility and confirms that your meter can record half-hourly readings at this stage.
2. DNO creates your export MPAN (1–2 weeks). This can be the longest part of the application process if you don’t already have an export MPAN. If you already have one and are switching from another SEG provider, you can skip this step.
3. Register payment details (1–2 weeks). Once your MPAN is confirmed, Scottish Power asks you to register your bank details.
4. Payments begin. New applicants are paid from their application date. If you’re switching from another supplier, you’re paid from the date agreed with the previous supplier. Scottish Power guarantees that you’ll not lose income during the transition.
Meter Readings: What’s Actually in the Contract
Scottish Power will take readings every day if you have a smart meter or AMR, unless you’ve asked for a different frequency.
Manual readings are a fallback if Scottish Power cannot access your readings automatically. You’ll need to provide them yourself, with photographic evidence of your meter reading.
If you can’t provide manual readings when needed, Scottish Power won’t make SEG Payments for that period.
There’s no separate penalty beyond the missed payment itself, and once readings resume, payment resumes too.
Meter Disputes: Who Pays for Testing?
Unlike some competitors, where the cost of testing a disputed meter depends on who supplies your electricity, Scottish Power’s SEG Terms tie the cost to the outcome of the dispute:
- If you or Scottish Power disputes a reading and the meter is found to be accurate, whoever raised the dispute pays for the test.
- If the meter is found to be inaccurate, the non-disputing party pays.
If testing arrangements can’t be made within a reasonable timeframe, Scottish Power has the unilateral right to terminate the agreement. This is a fairly firm consequence worth being aware of if a meter dispute drags on.
If Scottish Power separately disputes a reading you’ve submitted, they can come to your property and take their own readings, with your reasonable cooperation required.
If that dispute is resolved in Scottish Power’s favour and an overpayment is found, you’ll need to refund it. Otherwise, Scottish Power may deduct it from future payments.
“The meter testing rule is fairer than some suppliers I’ve seen — whoever raises the dispute pays if the meter turns out fine, and the other side pays if it doesn’t. That’s a sensible way to discourage people from disputing readings frivolously, without punishing a genuine fault.”— Energy tariff specialist
How Much Could You Earn?
Using the Energy Saving Trust’s figure of an average UK solar system being around 3.5 kWp, let’s assume a typical annual generation of approximately 3,000 kWh and 50% self-consumption:
Worked example:
- Estimated annual generation: 3,000 kWh
- Self-consumed in home (50%): 1,500 kWh
- Exported to grid (50%): 1,500 kWh
| SmartGen tariff | Rate | Estimated annual export income |
| SmartGen Premium Plus | 15p/kWh | £225 |
| SmartGen Premium | 12p/kWh | £180 |
| SmartGen | 6p/kWh | £90 |
If you qualify for Premium (Scottish Power electricity supply and solar from any installer), you’re automatically eligible for £90 more per year than the open-access rate. It doesn’t require a separate application step or new hardware, just the existing supply relationship.
Note: These figures are illustrative. Actual earnings depend on system size, location, self-consumption profile and the applicable rate at the time, since all three SmartGen tariffs are variable.
Ending Your Agreement, Switching, or What Happens If You Die
If You Want to End the Agreement Yourself
You can terminate at any time, with 30 days’ written notice, and there’s no exit fee.
When the Agreement Ends Automatically
The agreement also terminates automatically in several scenarios:
- If you switch to another SEG Licensee
- If you make an unreported variation to your installation
- If ownership changes without a completed change-of-ownership form
- On your death
When Scottish Power Can End It
Scottish Power can terminate immediately after written notice for a material breach left unremedied after 30 days. It can also end it if there’s no safe access to your meter or installation.
What Happens to Payments Owed If You Die?
Scottish Power will pay the amount to whoever is legally entitled to your estate or is administering it on behalf of beneficiaries.
This is only on receipt of a solicitor-signed declaration confirming legal entitlement. No further payments are due to anyone beyond this single settlement.
Contract Changes
Scottish Power can also vary the Terms of the agreement by giving a 30-day notice.
If you don’t accept a change, you can notify Scottish Power within that 30-day window, and the agreement terminates on the date they receive your notice.
What Happens If You Move House or Sell Your Solar System?
If You Move and Take Your Solar System with You
You lose the right to SEG payments for the original installation. You’d need to register fresh at your new address after reinstalling the system there.
If You Move and Leave the System Behind
The new owner can have the SEG registration transferred into their name, agreed as part of the property sale.
You’ll need to email Scottish Power with your SEG ID, move-out date, and final export meter reading to close your account properly.
According to Scottish Power’s change-of-ownership requirement, the agreement terminates automatically if a change of ownership occurs without their receiving a completed change-of-ownership form.
If You Buy a Property with an Existing SEG-Registered System
You’ll need to complete a Change of Ownership form and provide proof of ownership before SEG payments transfer to you.
You shouldn’t submit a meter reading until you receive confirmation that the transfer is complete. Doing so risks incorrect payments to the previous owner, and Scottish Power says it accepts no responsibility.
Strengths and Limitations of Scottish Power SEG Tariffs
Where Scottish Power Does Well
- SmartGen’s 6p/kWh open-access rate is genuinely competitive and is tied for the best in the market with no conditions attached.
- The address-based eligibility mechanism means existing Scottish Power electricity customers may already qualify for the higher Premium rate without any separate application step.
- The meter dispute cost-allocation rule is balanced rather than automatically favouring the supplier.
- Daily automatic meter reading is the contractual default, not a fallback.
- Termination terms are clear and reasonably generous, with 30 days’ notice and no exit fee.
Where It Falls Short
- Switching your electricity supplier away from Scottish Power drops you to the 6p rate immediately, regardless of which of the higher tiers you were on.
- SmartGen Premium Plus at 15p/kWh, while solid, trails the top installer-exclusive rates from Good Energy, Octopus, OVO, and So Energy by a meaningful margin.
- Scottish Power reserves fairly broad rights to reduce, withhold or recoup payments based on a “good reason to believe” that a payment shouldn’t have been made, which is a lower evidentiary bar than requiring a confirmed error.
- The 30-day variation right means Scottish Power can change the Terms more broadly than just pricing, with your only recourse being to terminate.
Scottish Power SEG Tariff Pros and Cons Compared:
| Pros | Cons |
| SmartGen at 6p/kWh is tied for the best open-access rate in the UK market | Switching electricity supplier drops you from Premium or Premium Plus straight to 6p |
| Address-based eligibility means existing customers may already qualify for Premium automatically | SmartGen Premium Plus (15p) trails Good Energy, Octopus, OVO, and So Energy’s top rates |
| Meter dispute costs are allocated by outcome, not automatically by supplier status | Payments can be reduced, withheld or recouped on “good reason to believe,” a fairly low bar |
| Daily automatic meter reading is the contractual default | No fixed-term rate guarantee. All three tariffs are variable |
| Clear 30-day termination right with no exit fee | Top tariff requires both Scottish Power electricity and a Scottish Power solar/battery purchase |
Final Thoughts on Scottish Power SEG Tariff
Scottish Power’s SmartGen range is straightforward in structure and distinctive in its operational detail.
Eligibility depends on whether Scottish Power supplies your electricity (or gas and electricity) at the same address as your installation, and whether you purchased your solar panels or battery from Scottish Power.
The open-access 6p/kWh rate genuinely competes for best-in-market. Scottish Power also offers broader certification acceptance and a clear tenant pathway.
If you’re already a Scottish Power electricity customer with solar installed by anyone, you can be eligible for the Premium rate without any separate decision on your part, making it a genuinely low-friction upgrade from the open-access rate.
The trade-off is the rigidity of the switching rule. If you move your electricity supply elsewhere, you fall straight back to the 6p rate.
FAQs on Scottish Power SEG Tariff
What Is the SEG Tariff for ScottishPower?
Scottish Power offers three SEG tariffs under the SmartGen name: SmartGen (6p/kWh, open to anyone), SmartGen Premium (12p/kWh, for Scottish Power electricity customers) and SmartGen Premium Plus (15p/kWh, for Scottish Power electricity customers who also purchased solar panels or a battery from Scottish Power). Your tariff is determined automatically by your Import Supply status at the installation address.
What Are the Current SEG Rates?
As of June 2026, SEG rates across UK suppliers range from around 1p/kWh on compliance-only tariffs to 25p/kWh on the most competitive installer-exclusive products. Mid-tier customer-exclusive fixed rates from major suppliers typically range from 12p to 15p/kWh. The best open-access rates, available with no import or installer requirement, are 6p/kWh from Scottish Power and E.ON Next.
Who Pays the Best SEG Rates in the UK?
Good Energy’s Solar Savings Exclusive currently pays the highest flat rate at 25p/kWh for customers who install solar and battery through Good Energy Solar. Octopus’s Intelligent Octopus Flux can pay more during its peak export window through a variable rate structure. For open-access tariffs requiring no specific installer, Scottish Power SmartGen and E.ON Next Flex Export both lead at 6p/kWh.
What Is the SEG Tariff?
SEG stands for Smart Export Guarantee. It’s a UK government scheme that requires licensed electricity suppliers with at least 150,000 domestic customers to pay small-scale renewable generators for the electricity they export to the grid. Individual suppliers set rates but must remain above zero at all times.
Are SEG Tariffs Worth It?
Yes, for almost any household generating renewable electricity. Without an SEG tariff, surplus electricity exported to the grid earns nothing. Rates vary widely by supplier and eligibility, so comparing tariffs rather than accepting the first one offered can be worth hundreds of pounds a year.
What Is the Difference Between Feed-in Tariff and SEG?
The Feed-in Tariff (FiT), closed to new applicants since April 2019, paid both a generation payment for all electricity produced and a separate export payment. SEG, its replacement, pays only for electricity actually exported, based on metered readings, and there is no generation payment. Existing FiT customers can opt out of FiT export payments and move to SEG while keeping their FiT generation payments.
Sources and References
- Ofgem – SEG Annual Report – SEG Year 5
- ScottishPower Energy Retail Limited – ScottishPower Smart Export Guarantee Tariffs Terms and Conditions
- Energy Saving Trust – Solar Panels
- Ofgem – SEG: Guidance for Generators
