One of the most important steps to maximising your solar returns is picking the right export tariff for your home.

Scottish Power is worth a look, considering it’s one of the most popular export tariff providers on the market, and supplies energy to more than four million domestic and business customers in the UK.

In this guide, we’ll go through Scottish Power’s three export tariffs, assessing their rates, requirements, and sign-up processes – as well as the import tariff you should choose for each of them.

And if you’re wondering how much you could save with a solar & battery system, enter a few details below and we’ll provide an estimate.

What export tariffs does Scottish Power offer?

Scottish Power provides three export tariffs: 

1. SmartGen
2. SmartGen Premium
3. SmartGen Premium Plus

All three are Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) tariffs, meaning they’re part of the scheme launched by the UK government in 2020 to replace the export segment of the Feed-in Tariff.

Any energy suppliers with at least 150,000 residential electricity customers must offer households an export rate above zero for all the electricity they send to the grid.

Scottish Power was the fourth-most popular SEG tariff provider in 2024-25, with more than 14,000 registrations – giving them 5.3% of all sign-ups in that period.

Like most of its rivals, Scottish Power offers a range of export tariffs, including more favourable options for import and installation customers.

They’re also all variable, meaning they can change slightly across a year.

1. SmartGen

Export rate: 6p/kWh

You won’t find an export rate higher than this that comes with no strings.

There’s no requirement that Scottish Power must supply your import tariff or carry out your installation.

That’s probably why SmartGen is so popular. It attracted the fifth-most registrations in 2024-25, and was responsible for almost all of Scottish Power’s sign-ups, with 5.1% out of its 5.3%.

However, Ofgem’s figures for this period stopped in March 2025 – before the moment in July 2025 when the supplier halved SmartGen’s rate from 12p per kWh.

This was the first time its rate had changed since it was launched in March 2023, and may have an impact on registrations – but it’s still unbeatable when it comes to no-strings tariffs.

As with most suppliers, you can earn more on Scottish Power’s higher tariffs, but you won’t get the same level of freedom to choose your import tariff provider and installer.

To find out more, read our regularly updated guide to the best SEG rates.

Which import tariff should you use?

Since you’re free to choose any import tariff with SmartGen, you should pick Good Energy EV Charge.

This is a time-of-use tariff, meaning it contains a peak period with a higher price, and an off-peak period with a lower price.

From 12am-5am every day, you can charge your battery and power your household for just 8p per kWh – so it’s the perfect time to run your washing machine and dishwasher.

The peak rate is about 32.7p per kWh – depending on your home’s location – but if you set your high-energy appliances to only run during off-peak hours, you can reduce your energy bills by hundreds of pounds per year.

The more of your electricity consumption you shift to this period, the more you can save.

And unlike all other EV tariffs, it doesn’t require you to have an electric car to qualify.

What are the eligibility requirements?

To be eligible, you’ll need a system that generates renewable electricity and a smart meter.

Scottish Power will also ask for the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) or Flexi-Orb certificate your installer should have given you.

And in an ideal world, you’d also have a letter of approval from your District Network Operator (DNO) – that is, the organisation that runs the hardware supplying electricity to your region.

2. SmartGen Premium

Export rate: 12p/kWh

Created in July 2025, this middle option is one for Scottish Power import customers.

12p per kWh is slightly below average in this category, and the tariff’s restrictive nature makes it impossible to take advantage of the best time-of-use tariffs around.

The difference between a standard tariff and a time-of-use tariff is stark to a solar home, to the extent that SmartGen Premium is actually slightly worse overall than SmartGen.

It’s still one of the better export tariffs around though, even if you can make more money on Scottish Power’s other two.

Which import tariff should you use?

The best tariff available to you is Scottish Power 1 Year Fixed Price.

You’ll pay around 27.4p per kWh, which is only just below the price cap, and receive a middling standing charge of about 48.25p per day, depending on where you live.

However, if you sign up before April 2026, you’ll get half-price electricity every Saturday and Sunday, between 11am and 4pm.

This could allow you to significantly boost your solar savings – but it’s not available for much longer.

What are the eligibility requirements?

To qualify for SmartGen Premium, you need to be signed up to a Scottish Power import tariff.

Otherwise, the requirements are the same as any standard SEG tariff: a renewable energy system, a smart meter, and all the relevant documents to hand.

And if you’re wondering how much you could save with a solar & battery system, enter a few details below and we’ll provide an estimate.

3. SmartGen Premium Plus

Export rate: 15p/kWh

Scottish Power’s highest-paying export tariff is also the one with the most restrictions, as is usually the case.

You’ll have to sign up for an import tariff from Scottish Power, and also get your solar installation carried out by the supplier.

In exchange for these limitations, you might expect a generous return – but no luck. 15p per kWh is currently the lowest rate attached to a tariff that requires you to install with the same supplier.

And by cutting down your options like this, you may end up paying more than you would if you went down the typical route of getting solar quotes from multiple installers.

Scottish Power also doesn’t feature on our list of the best solar panel installers in the UK, and if you already have a solar & battery system, you won’t be able to access this tariff.

Which import tariff should you use?

You’re once again forced to choose between Scottish Power import tariffs, leaving you with the supplier’s 1 Year Fixed Price rate.

It’s worth looking at whether energy prices are likely to go down this year – if so, you may want to opt for a variable tariff, as this will track the price cap as it falls.

What are the eligibility requirements?

To be eligible for SmartGen Premium Plus, you’ll need to choose Scottish Power as your import tariff provider and installer.

However, you only have to get solar panels or a battery installed by the supplier, which opens this tariff up to more homes.

How much can you earn from Scottish Power’s export tariffs?

You can earn a respectable amount of money from any of Scottish Power’s export tariffs.

The precise amount you’ll earn will depend on lots of factors, such as which import tariff you get, how much electricity you sell to the grid, and which region of the UK you’re in.

We’ve also assumed that if you use a time-of-use tariff – as you can, with SmartGen – you’ll export 65% of its solar electricity, and self-consume the other 35%. If you’re on a standard tariff, we’ve assumed you’ll export 34% and self-consume 66%.

There’s a fair difference between these totals, with households on Premium Plus earning around 30% more than those signed up to SmartGen. 

However, this gap narrows significantly when you take import tariffs into account.

Since you must use a standard tariff to access the supplier’s more high-paying options, you’ll miss out on the savings you can make with a time-of-use import tariff.

Ultimately, our calculations show that you might only be a couple of percent better off on Premium Plus than on SmartGen.

How can you sign up for a Scottish Power export tariff?

You can sign up online for a Scottish Power export tariff.

During this process, you’ll need to upload your MCS or Flexi-Orb certificate, proof that you own your system, and a photo of your smart meter.

If you have your G98 or G99 to hand, that could get you signed up quicker, but it’s not compulsory.

It’ll take up to 14 days for Scottish Power to process your application and check that you have an eligible, working smart meter, according to the supplier.

At this point, Scottish Power should contact your Distribution Network Operator (DNO) – that is, the company that runs the hardware supplying your area of the UK with electricity.

Your DNO will send Scottish Power your export MPAN (Meter Point Administration Number), which is a unique, 13-digit code that identifies your electricity meter and makes it possible for the supplier to pay you export income.

This takes one to two weeks, according to Scottish Power. You’ll then have to register your payment details, which the supplier will take another one to two weeks to register.

How long does it take?

It can take up to six weeks in total to register for a Scottish Power export tariff.

However, the supplier will backdate your payments to when you submitted your application, so you’ll receive all the income you’re due.

These payments should arrive in your bank account every 90 days.

Are Scottish Power’s export tariffs worth it?

Scottish Power’s export tariffs are all solid options that are well worth comparing with other suppliers’ tariffs.

SmartGen is particularly worthwhile, since it’s the joint-best export tariff with no extra requirements, beyond the need to have a system that generates renewable electricity.

SmartGen Premium and SmartGen Premium Plus both offer decent rates, but participating households must sign up for one of Scottish Power’s standard tariffs, which means they can’t benefit from a time-of-use tariff.

However, if you’re looking for an export tariff that accepts battery-only installations, SmartGen Premium Plus is one of the best options around.

And if you’re wondering how much you could save with a solar & battery system, enter a few details below and we’ll provide an estimate.

FAQs