Your smart export payment is capped by the tariff rate, not your total generation
You may look at your solar panels producing energy and wonder why the payment landing in your bank account is so small. The answer often lies in two factors: the rate your supplier pays you and the amount of electricity you actually export.
Your smart export payment is calculated only on the electricity you send back to the grid, not the total your panels generate. A typical home exports between 50% and 70% of its generation, because the rest is used directly in the house (Energy Saving Trust, 2026).
The average export tariff in 2026 is 15p per kilowatt-hour (kWh), according to Ofgem’s latest market data, but most households receive between 4p and 12p per kWh (Ofgem, 2026). Even a 4 kW system generating 3,500 kWh per year may only export 2,100 kWh. At 12p per kWh, that yields a maximum annual payment of £252, far below the £500 or more some homeowners expect.
Quick numbers typical export payments for UK homes in 2026
The table below shows estimated payments for common system sizes. Generation figures are based on Energy Saving Trust estimates adjusted for 2026 solar irradiance. Export volume assumes 60% of generation is exported, a typical ratio for homes with daytime occupancy.
| System size (kW) | Annual generation (kWh) | Typical export volume (kWh) | Payment at 5p/kWh | Payment at 12p/kWh | Payment at 15p/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1,750 | 1,050 | £52.50 | £126 | £157.50 |
| 3 kW | 2,625 | 1,575 | £78.75 | £189 | £236.25 |
| 4 kW | 3,500 | 2,100 | £105 | £252 | £315 |
| 5 kW | 4,375 | 2,625 | £131.25 | £315 | £393.75 |
As the table shows, moving from a 5p tariff to a 15p tariff can more than double your annual payment. For a 4 kW system, the difference is £210 per year.
The single biggest reason your payment is small is your export tariff rate
Most suppliers offer a standard export tariff of 5 to 8p per kWh. A few offer 12 to 15p per kWh. The difference can double or triple your payment.
If you are on a deemed export tariff, which is common for older systems not registered for the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), you may receive as little as 3 to 4p per kWh. Deemed export means your supplier assumes you export 50% of your generation, regardless of what you actually send back (Ofgem, 2026).
Switching to a higher-paying tariff from a supplier like Octopus Energy (Outgoing Fixed 15p in 2026) or EDF (12p) can increase your annual payment by £100 to £200. You can check all available SEG tariffs on Ofgem’s register.
Your meter may be under-counting your export
Smart meters sometimes default to a 50% export assumption if not properly configured. This means you are paid for half your actual export, even if you send more to the grid.
If you have a second-generation smart meter (SMETS2) and a solar inverter, the meter must be set to “export” mode by your supplier. This configuration is often missed during installation (Citizens Advice, 2026).
A simple check: request your export reading from your supplier and compare it to your inverter’s export log. A large discrepancy indicates under-counting. Contact your supplier to correct the meter configuration.
Eligibility who qualifies for a higher export payment and who does not
You qualify for the Smart Export Guarantee if your solar system is under 5 MW (almost all homes) and installed by an MCS-certified installer after 1 April 2019 (GOV.UK, 2026).
Older systems installed before 2019 on the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) are not eligible for SEG. You remain on FiT export payments of 4 to 5p per kWh, which are fixed and cannot be switched to a higher rate. The FiT scheme closed to new applicants in March 2019 (Ofgem, 2026).
If your system is larger than 5 MW or not MCS-certified, you are ineligible for SEG. You may only receive a deemed export rate from your supplier, often below 4p per kWh.
How to confirm your installer and system are correctly certified for the best payment
Your installation must be certified by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) to qualify for SEG. Check your MCS certificate number on the MCS Installer Database (MCS, 2026).
The installer must also be registered with TrustMark for consumer protection. Verify their membership online (TrustMark, 2026).
For the export meter to work correctly, your smart meter installation must be completed by a supplier registered with the Smart Metering Implementation Programme (SMIP). Confirm your meter is a SMETS2 model by checking the meter’s display or asking your supplier (DESNZ, 2026).
