Smart Export Guarantee for businesses

Can my business receive both FiT and SEG payments?

Unfortunately, your business can’t receive both the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) and SEG (Smart Export Guarantee) payments at the same time.

If your business has FIT export currently that doesn’t exclude you from opting into the SEG export plan. Your business will continue to receive FIT payments.

Remember, you may only opt out of FIT export payments once every 12 months. Once you've switched from deemed to metered export payments, you can't go back.

My business is already an existing customer of British Gas, how can I upgrade my business to the Plus tariff?

As an existing British Gas business electricity customer, we’ll automatically put you on our best SEG tariff - you don't need to request it.

What if I switch my business electricity supply to another provider?

You can energy switch supplier or cancel your contract at any time without notice or exit fees. We’ll just ask you for a final export reading so we can send your last payment and close your business energy account.

What if I'm a current Feed-in Tariff (FiT) customer?

Unfortunately, you can't be in receipt of an export tariff such as the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) scheme if you want to claim SEG payments, regardless of whether FIT export payments are made based on metered export or deemed export.

If you receive the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) today, you can opt out of receiving export payments under the FiT scheme and sign-up for the SEG tariff instead. It's a good idea to check your FiT rates, as well as other provider's SEG tariffs to decide what is best for you.

Can I have the Export and Earn Flex tariff if I have co-located battery storage?

Energy storage (i.e. co-located batteries) can receive export payments for electricity that's stored on your battery then fed into the grid if you have an eligible renewable energy source.

What if I change my installation set up?

You can install additional capacity to an eligible system. Please remember that if do this, anything over 5MW for solar photovoltaic (PV), wind, hydro or anaerobic digestion (AD) installations, or over 50kW for micro-CHP won’t be paid for.

If you add capacity to an existing SEG installation or have any questions, please contact us to let us know and discuss further.

Is there a limit to the amount of electricity I can export?

You can export an unlimited amount of electricity to the grid, but it can’t be any more than the amount of renewable energy your system can generate.

How do I know if I have the correct meters?

You'll need to have either a smart meter (first and second-generation smart meters also called SMETS1 and SMETS2 meters) or a separate export meter that's capable of recording export readings half-hourly.

If you're not sure, get in touch with your current energy supplier. They'll be able to tell you if you have a smart meter and if it's capable of reporting exports on a half-hourly basis.

How do I get an export meter reading?

How you identify the export meter reading you need to give us will depend on the type of meter you have. It's always best to check your meter specifications on how to do this for your type of meter.

If you have a separate export meter, your meter reading will be the number shown on the main display of the meter.  You may need to press a button for it to be displayed or illuminated.

If you have a smart meter, the export reading will be available on the display on the smart meter itself.  To access the export meter reading you will need to press the button, or buttons on your smart meter to scroll through the information on the meter display or select the export register from a menu system – it will depend on the type of smart meter you have installed.

Specific instructions may be available in a User Manual (if you have one), your electricity supplier should be able to help you if you have any problems locating the export meter reading.

When it comes to sending us your export meter reading, we’ll need your installation number, meter serial number, meter reading and meter reading date.  Please note, you do not need to provide an installation number when you give your opening export meter reading as part of your application. See how your gas smart meter works or how your electricity smart meter works for help.

Why is the SEG tariff separate from my existing import tariff?

The SEG tariff has been set up specifically so that you can export renewable electricity to the grid and is separate to your import tariff where you are charged for the electricity you import from the grid to power your business.

The flow of electricity into your business (known as consumption) and from your business (known as export) are measured separately by your smart meter. We'll use the export meter readings you give us to pay you for your exported electricity.

You don't need to have an import tariff with us to qualify for our SEG export tariff.

What if I want to cancel my SEG tariff with you?

If you decide to leave there's no exit fees, and you’re free to cancel the contract at any time. You can also switch to another supplier without notice or exit fee.

If you do decide to leave, you just need to provide a final export meter reading by email so we can issue your final payment and settle your account.

What is my export supply number / Meter Point Administration Number (MPAN)?

Meter Point Administration Number (MPAN) is a supply number that's unique to each smart meter. Your export supply number (Export MPAN) is linked to the electricity you export to the grid.

It'll be different to the supply number you'll see on bills you receive from your energy supplier, which is for the electricity you import from the grid.

If you're joining the SEG scheme for the first time, we'll create and register your export MPAN for you. If you're moving your SEG to us from another provider, we'll get your export MPAN directly from them.

Am I eligible for your Export & Earn Plus tariff?

To qualify for our SEG Export and Earn Plus tariff, British Gas must supply electricity to the premises, and you must be named as an account holder on the electricity account for the premises. You won’t be eligible to claim payments for unoccupied or vacant properties, or claim SEG payments for generating equipment which is subject to a rent a roof agreement.