British Gas Solar Tariffs Explained: SEG Rates, Electric Driver and How BG Compares (UK 2026)

British Gas is the UK’s largest energy supplier, serving millions of households, and offers Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) payments for solar panel owners exporting electricity to the grid. As a major supplier with well over 150,000 customers, British Gas is legally required to offer SEG, though their rates have historically been modest compared to more innovative competitors.

For existing British Gas customers, staying with them for SEG offers convenience – one supplier for everything. However, solar owners focused on maximising returns may find better SEG rates elsewhere, and British Gas lacks the dynamic or time-of-use tariffs that help solar and battery owners optimise their systems.

This guide covers British Gas’s current solar-related offerings, how their SEG compares to competitors, their import tariff options, and whether British Gas is the right choice for solar panel owners.

British Gas Solar Tariffs at a Glance

British Gas Export Tariff (SEG)

Current SEG Offering

For current British Gas SEG rates, eligibility detail and the application form, the canonical source is the official British Gas Smart Export Guarantee tariff page. Rates and tariff structures change – including British Gas now operating separate rates for BG electricity customers vs non-customers – so always verify the current numbers there before applying.

Eligibility Requirements

MCS certification is the gatekeeper for SEG eligibility – your installation must be registered with the Microgeneration Certification Scheme, the official body that certifies UK small-scale renewable installers and their installations. Without an MCS certificate number you cannot apply for SEG with British Gas or any other supplier.

British Gas SEG vs Competitors

Annual Income Comparison

To estimate what you’d actually export and earn from your specific roof, run our Smart Export Guarantee calculator – it factors in roof size, orientation, household usage and self-consumption.

British Gas Import Tariffs

Standard Variable Tariff

Fixed Rate Tariffs

Economy 7/10

British Gas Electric Driver

Overview

Requirements

For more on integrating an EV charger with a solar system – including how charge schedules can be aligned with both daytime solar and overnight off-peak windows – see our guide to solar panels for EV charging.

Electric Driver with Solar

Savings Potential

Battery storage is what unlocks most of these savings – cheap overnight import is only useful if you can store and use it in the daytime peak. For battery options sized for typical UK homes, see our best solar batteries guide and Tesla Powerwall cost guide.

British Gas Solar Installation

Do They Install Solar?

British Gas Solar vs Independent Installers

Should You Use British Gas for Installation?

Whichever route you take, see our solar panel financing options guide for the trade-offs between cash, loans, finance plans and zero-deposit schemes.

Applying for British Gas SEG

Documents Needed

Application Process

Payment Details

British Gas vs Other Big Suppliers

SEG Rate Comparison

For market context on how SEG payments are evolving across the supplier base, Ofgem publishes a yearly review – the most recent available Ofgem Smart Export Guarantee Annual Report sets out scheme participation, supplier-by-supplier registration counts and typical export values across the UK.

Innovation Comparison

Customer Service

When British Gas Makes Sense

Good Reasons to Choose British Gas

Reasons to Look Elsewhere

British Gas for Different Setups

Solar Only (No Battery)

Solar + Battery

If you’re adding a battery to an existing solar system, see our guide to retrofitting batteries to existing solar for compatibility, sizing and tariff implications. For battery use during outages specifically, see solar battery backup for power cuts.

Solar + EV

Solar + Heat Pump

Mixing British Gas with Other Suppliers

Splitting Import and Export

Recommended Approach

Switching to British Gas

For Import

For SEG

Switching Away from British Gas

British Gas Rewards and Bundles

Loyalty Benefits

Bundle Options

Are Bundles Worth It?

Pros and Cons Summary

Advantages

Disadvantages

Summary

British Gas offers a straightforward but unremarkable package for solar panel owners. Their SEG rate of typically 4-6p per kWh is below average – you could earn double or more with Octopus or the best independent suppliers. The Electric Driver tariff is competitive for EV owners, offering cheap overnight charging that works well with battery storage.

The main reason to use British Gas for solar is convenience – if you’re already a customer and value having one supplier for everything, their SEG is adequate and easy to set up. However, if you want to maximise the financial return from your solar investment, looking elsewhere for export payments makes sense. The difference between 5p and 12p per kWh on 1,700 kWh of annual export is £119 – every year for 25+ years.

For solar and battery owners, British Gas lacks the sophisticated time-of-use tariffs that competitors offer. There’s no equivalent to Octopus Flux or Agile that lets you earn premium rates for peak-time exports or buy at plunge prices overnight. If you have a battery, the limitations of British Gas tariffs become more significant.

The practical approach for many is to use British Gas for import (particularly Electric Driver if you have an EV) while choosing a better SEG provider for export. This gives you the convenience of a big supplier for most things while earning more from your solar generation.

For the wider question of whether keeping cash in a savings account or investing in solar pays back faster at today’s rates, see our solar vs savings account calculator.