Quick answer
The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) is the UK statutory framework that replaced the Feed-in Tariff in January 2020. Every licensed electricity supplier with more than 150,000 customers must offer at least one export tariff for small-scale generators (sub-5 MW). Solar PV installations sub-5 MW qualify, including all parish church scale.
Full answer
SEG mechanics: suppliers set their own tariff rates, which can be fixed (e.g. Octopus Outgoing Fixed at 12p/kWh for 12 months) or variable (e.g. Octopus Outgoing Agile, half-hourly grid-following). Suppliers can offer multiple tariffs and customers choose between them. There's no obligation on customers to use the same supplier for export as for import — many parishes have one supplier for grid electricity and a different supplier for SEG export.
Eligibility requirements: MCS-installed system (or equivalent for sub-50 kW), MCS-issued installation certificate, smart meter with export-recording capability (most modern smart meters), valid identity / business documentation for the parish.
Tariff variation: best tariffs (2026): Octopus Energy Outgoing Fixed at 12p/kWh (12-month fixed); Octopus Outgoing Agile averaging 8-12p/kWh (varies half-hourly with grid demand); E.ON Next Export Exclusive at 9p/kWh; Good Energy Export at 8-10p/kWh. The cheapest tariffs from suppliers required to offer SEG but not actively competing are 1-3p/kWh — clearly inadequate. PCCs should switch active SEG suppliers if exposed to these.
SEG income: a typical parish church generating 12,000 kWh/year and exporting 8,000 kWh at 10p/kWh = £800/year. Larger parish hall combined site generating 35,000 kWh and exporting 10,000 kWh at 10p = £1,000/year. SEG income is typically 10-25% of total parish solar financial benefit (the bulk coming from cost avoidance on retail electricity at 22-28p/kWh).
Related questions
- Which supplier has the best SEG tariff?
- Are SEG payments tax-free?
- What replaced the Feed-in Tariff?
- Can we run multiple SEG tariffs?