Solar export (SEG) explained
The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) is the scheme under which licensed energy suppliers pay you for surplus solar electricity you export to the grid. You need an export meter (a smart meter usually does the job) and an MCS-certified install. Rates and terms vary a lot between suppliers, so it's worth shopping around — and a battery changes the maths, since you might use more yourself rather than export at a low rate.
What SEG is
SEG replaced the older Feed-in Tariff for new installs. Under it, licensed electricity suppliers above a certain size must offer a tariff that pays you per unit (kWh) of surplus electricity you export to the grid. It rewards you for the generation you don't use yourself.
What you need to claim it
Generally you need an MCS-certified solar installation and a way to measure what you export — usually a smart meter. You then sign up to an SEG tariff with a supplier (it doesn't have to be the one you buy electricity from) and get paid for your exports.
Rates vary — and batteries change it
SEG rates and terms differ significantly between suppliers, so it pays to compare rather than default to your current one. And if you add a battery, the calculation shifts: storing surplus to use yourself in the evening often beats exporting it at a low rate, so many homes export less and self-consume more.
Do I get paid for all the solar I generate?
No — SEG pays only for what you export to the grid, not what you use in your own home. Using more yourself (or storing it in a battery) reduces export but saves you buying from the grid.
Does my export supplier have to be my energy supplier?
No — you can take an SEG export tariff from one supplier and buy your electricity from another, so it's worth comparing SEG rates separately.
Do I need a smart meter for SEG?
You need a way to measure exports, and a smart meter is the usual route. Your installer and supplier can confirm what's needed for your setup.