Export rates matter — but they are only half the story. With grid electricity around 26p/kWh from October 2026 and further household-bill pressure forecast for January, the electricity your solar system stops you buying can be worth substantially more than a standard export payment. These are the latest figures available as of 1 September 2026. We keep the official Ofgem October rate separate from Cornwall Insight's January forecast. National-average Direct Debit figures; regional rates vary. Source: Ofgem ↗ Forecast calculated using market data at close of play 25 August 2026. Source: Cornwall Insight ↗ From October, a household on the average capped electricity rate avoids around 26.32p every time it uses 1kWh of solar instead of buying that unit from the grid. Many mainstream export tariffs pay around 12–13p/kWh. That is why solar design should consider self-consumption, battery storage and export together — not chase the biggest SEG headline in isolation. We exclude the eye-catching rates that require the supplier itself to have installed your solar or battery, giving a fairer comparison for a Mr Solar customer. Every unit used by the home reduces the amount of full-price grid electricity you need to buy. A battery can move midday generation into evening demand instead of exporting it immediately for a lower flat rate. On a compatible smart tariff, a battery may also charge at lower overnight rates for later household use. Where the tariff rewards peak export, battery control can shift suitable surplus into the higher-paying period. Battery storage is not just about saving solar for later. The best setup can combine self-consumption, low-cost charging and strategic export depending on your tariff and usage. At the October average capped electricity rate, avoiding 2,000kWh of grid purchases is worth about £526.40 in avoided unit charges. Exporting 2,000kWh at 12p earns £240; at 13p it earns £260. That does not mean you should never export. It means the system should be designed around the combined value of self-use, battery operation and export, not one headline tariff rate. Annual consumption, day/night use, EVs, heating and future electrical demand. System size, orientation, shading and realistic annual generation are considered together. Battery capacity and inverter power are matched to the load rather than a generic package. We explain how import charging, self-consumption and export can work with the selected equipment. No. Cornwall Insight currently forecasts the overall price cap rising to around £1,872, but this is not the official January tariff. Markets and policy can change before Ofgem confirms it. It has not yet been confirmed. We will update this page when Ofgem publishes the official January 2027 unit rates and standing charges. No. Octopus Prime pays 16p only during 4pm–7pm and 9p outside it. Your export timing, battery and linked import tariff determine the actual result. If the alternative is buying grid electricity around 26p/kWh, direct self-use can be more valuable than exporting at 12–16p. Smart tariffs and batteries can change the best strategy hour by hour. No. Solar-only systems can export. A battery gives you more control over when generated electricity is used or exported. Official £1,723 cap, 26.32p/kWh electricity and 54.83p/day average electricity standing charge. Latest forecast £1,872.15 for January–March 2027, calculated using market figures through 25 August. Export figures above were checked against supplier tariff pages rather than comparison-site estimates. Let Mr Solar model generation, battery size, self-consumption and export around the way your home actually uses electricity.Which Solar Export Tariff Gives You the Best Return?
October Is Confirmed. January Is Still a Forecast.
1 October – 31 December 2026
1 January – 31 March 2027
A kWh You Don’t Buy Can Be Worth More Than a kWh You Export.
Export Tariffs Mr Solar Customers Can Actually Access
Supplier & tariff Export rate Main eligibility 2,000kWh illustration Official supplier Octopus Prime Outgoing 16p peak / 9p other Octopus import customer. 16p applies 4pm–7pm. Timing dependent Octopus ↗ EDF Export 12m V2 13p/kWh Existing residential EDF electricity customers; 12-month fixed export tariff. £260/year EDF ↗ E.ON Next Export Exclusive v3 13p/kWh E.ON Next import tariff, excluding specified time-of-use tariffs. £260/year E.ON Next ↗ Good Energy Solar Savings 12p/kWh Good Energy electricity supply customer. £240/year Good Energy ↗ British Gas Export Premium 12p/kWh Best rate for British Gas electricity customers; published for systems up to 15kW. £240/year British Gas ↗ Outgoing Octopus 12p/kWh Octopus customer with a compatible import tariff. £240/year Octopus ↗ OVO SEG Beyond Exclusive 12p/kWh OVO electricity customer with eligible generation; OVO Beyond conditions apply. £240/year OVO ↗ Think in This Order: Avoid, Store, Then Export Intelligently.
Use Solar Directly
Store Surplus
Exploit Cheap Import
Export at the Right Time
Higher Import Prices Increase the Value of Good Battery Control
2,000kWh Exported Is Not the Same as 2,000kWh Used at Home
We Design the System Around Your Energy Pattern
Understand Usage
Model Generation
Size the Battery
Set the Tariff Strategy
Export Tariff FAQ
Will electricity definitely rise again in January 2027?
What will the January electricity unit rate be?
Is 16p export always better than 12p?
Should I use solar at home or export it?
Do I need a battery to receive SEG?
Current Official and Supplier Information
The best return comes from the whole energy strategy — not just the SEG rate.
Smart Export Guarantee & energy prices
The highest export rate is not automatically the best overall energy deal.Import price, export timing, battery control, standing charges and supplier eligibility can change the result.
26.32pOctober 2026 average capped electricity unit rate
16pOctopus Prime peak export rate, 4pm–7pm
£1,723Official October 2026 typical dual-fuel price cap
£1,872Cornwall Insight January 2027 forecast — not confirmed
Winter 2026–27 energy costsConfirmed by Ofgem Cornwall Insight forecast
£1,723 / year typical dual-fuel cap
£1,872.15 / year forecast typical dual-fuel cap
Important: we have deliberately not invented a January 2027 electricity p/kWh figure. Ofgem will confirm the January unit rates and standing charges later in November.
The value of using your own solar
1kWh solar used at home at Oct cap rate≈26.32p
1kWh exported on 12p tariff12p
1kWh exported on 13p tariff13p
1kWh exported at Octopus Prime 4–7pm16p
Your actual import tariff may be cheaper or more expensive. Time-of-use prices, battery losses and tariff rules also affect the calculation.
Current supplier snapshot
What should you optimise?01 02 03 04
Solar + battery
Example only
Standing charges are excluded because you generally pay them whether or not the solar system is generating. Battery losses, tariff-specific prices and household behaviour are also excluded.
How Mr Solar helps01 02 03 04
Frequently asked questions
Sources & checkingOfgem — October 2026 Cornwall Insight — January 2027 Energy Suppliers
Solar, battery & tariff review