The feed-in tariff closed to new applicants in 2019 – here is what legacy customers need to know in 2026
The Feed-in Tariff (FiT) scheme stopped accepting new applications on 31 March 2019. Around 800,000 households in the UK still receive payments under the original terms of the scheme (Ofgem, FiT Annual Report 2025).
Legacy feed-in tariff customers still receive payments in 2026, with generation rates of 3.45p to 4.12p per kWh and export at 5.69p per kWh. A smart meter is now mandatory for deemed export claims. Check your current rate with Ofgem.
- FiT closed to new applicants on 31 March 2019.
- Legacy customers keep original generation and export tariffs.
- 2026 generation rates range from 3.45p to 4.12p per kWh.
- Export tariff is 5.69p per kWh for all legacy bands in 2026.
- Smart meter is mandatory for deemed export payments from 2026.
- The feed-in tariff closed to new applicants in 2019 – here is what legacy customers need to know in 2026
- Quick numbers – current FiT generation and export rates for legacy customers
- Who qualifies as a legacy FiT customer – the eligibility test
- Direct answer to "feed in tariff legacy" – what you still receive and for how long
- How to verify your installer is MCS-certified and your FiT registration is valid
- What happens when your FiT contract ends – the transition to SEG
- How to check your FiT payments are correct and what to do if they stop
If you are a legacy FiT customer, your existing contract remains valid until its end date, typically 20 or 25 years from installation. The shift to the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) does not apply to you.
Legacy customers continue to receive generation and export tariffs at their original contracted rates, which are index-linked to the Retail Prices Index (RPI). Smart meter installation is now mandatory for FiT customers who want to claim deemed export payments, but all others must have a meter that records export (DESNZ, Smart Meter Policy Framework 2025).
Quick numbers – current FiT generation and export rates for legacy customers
| Rate type | 2026 band A (0-4 kW) | 2026 band B (4-10 kW) | 2026 band C (10-50 kW) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Generation tariff (p/kWh) | 4.12 | 3.89 | 3.45 | Ofgem, FiT Tariff Table 2026 |
| Export tariff (p/kWh) | 5.69 | 5.69 | 5.69 | Ofgem, FiT Tariff Table 2026 |
| Deemed export percentage | 50% for systems under 30 kW | 50% for systems under 30 kW | 75% for systems 30-50 kW | DESNZ, FiT Guidance 2026 |
| Average annual payment (0-4 kW system) | £320–£480 | Varies by location and generation | Varies by location and generation | Energy Saving Trust, Solar Panel Payback Calculator 2026 |
Who qualifies as a legacy FiT customer – the eligibility test
You are a legacy customer if you registered your solar PV system under the FiT scheme before 1 April 2019 and it remains registered with Ofgem. Systems must be installed by an MCS-certified installer and have a valid MCS certificate to maintain eligibility (MCS, FiT Registration Requirements 2026).
If you sold your home, the FiT payments transfer to the new owner only if the property was sold with the system and the new owner registers the transfer with Ofgem within 28 days (Ofgem, FiT Transfer Guidance 2026). Landlords with FiT-registered systems on rented properties remain eligible as long as the system is still operational and metered correctly.
Direct answer to “feed in tariff legacy” – what you still receive and for how long
Legacy FiT customers receive two payments. The generation tariff pays you for every kilowatt-hour (kWh) your system produces, paid by your FiT licensee. The export tariff pays you for 50% of that generation (deemed export) or for actual export measured by a smart meter.
Your tariff rate is fixed at the rate you signed up for, adjusted annually by RPI inflation (Ofgem, FiT Tariff Adjustment Methodology 2026). Payments continue for the full term of your contract. For solar PV installed from 2010 to 2019, that term is typically 20 years. For systems installed before 2010, it is 25 years (DESNZ, FiT Scheme Rules 2026).
If you switch electricity supplier, your FiT payments are unaffected because they are paid by your FiT licensee. That is usually your original supplier or a designated FiT administrator.
How to verify your installer is MCS-certified and your FiT registration is valid
Check your installer’s MCS certification on the MCS Installer Database at mcsinstaller.com. Only MCS-certified installations were eligible for FiT registration (MCS, Installer Search 2026). Confirm your FiT registration by contacting Ofgem’s FiT team or logging into the Ofgem Renewables and CHP Register (Ofgem, FiT Registration Portal 2026).
If you cannot find your MCS certificate, request a duplicate from your original installer or from MCS directly (MCS, Certificate Replacement Policy 2026). For export meter verification, your electricity supplier must confirm the meter is FiT-compliant. If you have a smart meter, check it records export data (DESNZ, Smart Meter Export Guidance 2026).
how to check your solar panel MCS certificate
What happens when your FiT contract ends – the transition to SEG
When your FiT contract expires, you no longer receive generation tariff or deemed export payments from the FiT scheme. After expiry, you can apply for the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) if your system is 5 MW or smaller and you have an eligible smart meter (Ofgem, SEG Guidance 2026).
SEG rates are market-driven and typically lower than FiT export rates. Check the current SEG tariff from your supplier (Energy Saving Trust, SEG Tariff Comparison 2026). You do not need to change your solar panels or inverter. Only the payment mechanism changes. Your system continues generating electricity for your home.
How to check your FiT payments are correct and what to do if they stop
Compare your annual FiT statement against your system’s generation meter readings. Your FiT licensee must pay for all kWh generated (Ofgem, FiT Payment Calculation Rules 2026). If payments stop or reduce, contact your FiT licensee first. If the issue remains unresolved, raise a complaint with the Energy Ombudsman (Energy Ombudsman, FiT Complaint Process 2026).
For meter faults, request a replacement from your electricity supplier. A faulty meter can cause underpayment (DESNZ, Metering Code of Practice 2026). Keep copies of your MCS certificate, FiT registration letter, and annual statements for at least two years after your contract ends (Ofgem, Record Keeping Guidance 2026).
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Frequently Asked Questions
The feed-in tariff legacy scheme refers to the original FiT contracts that remain active for households who installed solar PV before 31 March 2019. These customers continue to receive generation and export payments at their contracted, index-linked rates, which in 2026 range from 3.45p to 4.12p per kWh for generation and 5.69p per kWh for export, according to Ofgem.
Yes, if you registered your solar PV system under the FiT scheme before 1 April 2019, you still receive payments under your original contract terms. The Energy Saving Trust confirms that average annual payments for a 0-4 kW system are between £320 and £480 in 2026.
The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) does not apply to legacy FiT customers. You remain on your original FiT export tariff, which is 5.69p per kWh in 2026. However, DESNZ states that a smart meter is now mandatory for FiT customers who want to claim deemed export payments.
Feed-in tariff payments last for 20 or 25 years from the date your system was installed, depending on your original contract terms. Ofgem confirms that your contract remains valid until its end date, and rates are index-linked to the Retail Prices Index (RPI).
Yes, a smart meter is now mandatory for FiT customers who want to claim deemed export payments, according to DESNZ's Smart Meter Policy Framework 2025. If you do not have a smart meter, you must have a meter that records export to continue receiving export payments.
