MCS, grants and export
How to Register for the Smart Export Guarantee: Step-by-Step UK Guide
Once your MCS-certified solar system is commissioned, registering for Smart Export Guarantee payments is straightforward, but there are three things to check before you apply: your MCS certificate, your smart meter type, and which licensed supplier offers the best current rate. Here is the full process.
SEG payments require MCS certification
The Smart Export Guarantee is not available for plug-in (socket-connected) solar systems. It applies only to MCS-certified solar PV installations. If your system was installed by an MCS-certified contractor and you received an MCS installation certificate at commissioning, you are eligible. If your system is not MCS-certified, it cannot receive SEG payments.
1. Locate your MCS installation certificate
Your MCS installer is required by scheme rules to register your installation in the MCS database and provide you with a certificate at commissioning. The certificate includes a unique reference number, the system size, the panel and inverter details, and the installation date.
If you cannot find your certificate, search the MCS database at mcscertified.com using your postcode. You can also contact your installer directly: they are required to keep records for at least five years. The certificate reference number is needed for the SEG application form.
If your system was installed through a free-boiler or rent-a-roof scheme from around 2010 to 2015, the system may belong to a third party and the SEG entitlement may already be claimed by them. Check your original agreement before applying.
2. Confirm your smart meter type
To receive SEG payments based on actual export readings rather than a deemed estimate, you need a smart meter capable of sending half-hourly export data to your supplier. SMETS2 meters (second generation, installed from 2018 onwards) do this reliably. Most SMETS1 meters (installed before 2018) have also been enrolled in the national Data Communications Company network since 2019, but your supplier should confirm this when you apply.
To check your meter type, look at the meter itself: SMETS2 meters typically have a small screen, a communications hub attached to the top or side, and a sticker or label showing the meter serial number starting with a letter code. You can also ask your electricity supplier: they can see whether your meter is in smart mode from their systems.
If you do not have a smart meter, contact your supplier to request a free installation. Suppliers are required to offer smart meters free of charge. Installation normally takes two to three weeks. Some SEG licensees will register you before the smart meter is installed and issue deemed payments initially, then switch to actual readings once smart mode is confirmed.
3. Compare SEG rates and choose a licensee
SEG licensees are energy suppliers with more than 150,000 domestic customers, which Ofgem requires to offer at least one SEG tariff above 0p per kWh. In practice, rates have fallen since the SEG launched in 2020: in late 2026, the main offers range from around 4p to 15p per kWh.
Fixed-rate tariffs lock in a pence-per-kWh rate for a set period, typically 12 months. Variable tariffs, such as Octopus Outgoing, track the wholesale electricity price and can pay significantly more during periods of high grid demand, but they can also drop. For most households, a fixed rate gives the most predictable income from a relatively small export volume.
You do not have to use the same supplier for both electricity import and SEG export. Many households buy electricity from one supplier and register for SEG with another. Check the Ofgem SEG register for the current list of licensed suppliers and their tariff details.
4. Submit your application
Go to your chosen licensee's website and find their SEG application form. Look under a section called Solar, Renewables or Export payments. You will typically need:
- Your MCS installation certificate number or reference
- Your MPAN (Meter Point Administration Number), found on any electricity bill
- The system size in kilowatts peak (kWp)
- The installation date
- Your smart meter serial number (optional at some licensees, but speeds up the process)
Most applications complete in five to ten minutes. You will receive a confirmation email and a start date for payments. Some licensees process applications within 48 hours; others take up to two weeks.
5. Check your first export statement
Your first SEG payment statement will show the kWh exported and the rate applied. Cross-reference this against your inverter or battery monitoring app to sanity-check the figure.
Your monitoring app shows total generation and self-consumption. Exported electricity is roughly: total generation minus self-consumption. If your battery charged during the day, the battery energy is also self-consumed, so exports will be lower than if you had no battery.
A common problem at first payment is that the export meter is not yet linked to the supplier's systems. If the statement shows zero exports despite your monitoring app showing regular generation, call your supplier and quote your smart meter serial number. They can usually check within minutes whether the meter is sending data correctly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an MCS certificate to get SEG payments?
Yes. The Smart Export Guarantee is available only for systems with a valid MCS installation certificate. Plug-in solar setups and systems without MCS certification are not eligible. Your MCS installer should have provided this certificate at commissioning. If you cannot find it, search the MCS database at mcscertified.com using your postcode and installation date.
Can I switch SEG supplier after registering?
Yes, you can switch SEG licensee at any time. There is no tie-in period. The process involves cancelling with your current licensee and applying to a new one, which usually takes a few days. Switching SEG supplier is entirely separate from switching your electricity import supplier, so you can mix and match.
Does adding a battery affect my SEG registration?
Adding a battery does not cancel your SEG registration, but the export meter only measures what actually leaves your property. With a battery you self-consume more, so exports and therefore SEG income fall. If your battery has grid-export capability, check with your installer whether a G100 notification to your DNO is required for the battery, separate from the existing G98 or G99 notification for the solar array.