EDF SEG tariff — Export Standard (12p) and Variable (12-18p) explained.

EDF Energy operates two SEG products

EDF Export Standard — 12p/kWh flat

Pays 12p/kWh flat across all exported electricity. Predictable, simple. Available as a SEG-only contract — you don\'t need EDF import to sign it. Quarterly payment cadence. The right choice for commercial sites without battery storage that want better than 6p but don\'t want to switch import to Octopus.

EDF Export Variable — 12-18p banded by daypart

Semi-dynamic structure with banded rates by daypart. Peak rate (4-7pm Mon-Fri) approximately 18p; standard mid-day rate approximately 13-14p; off-peak overnight rate approximately 12p. Less aggressive than Octopus Outgoing Agile (which goes full half-hourly with 25-40p peaks) but cleaner economics for sites that prefer banded rather than fully variable. Annual average around 13p/kWh.

Why EDF SEG is structurally important — SEG-only contracts

EDF\'s key advantage in the UK SEG market is that it accepts SEG-only contracts from customers on any other supplier. Most other commercial-grade SEG products require bundled import:

• Octopus Outgoing Fixed (15p) and Outgoing Agile (dynamic) — require Octopus import
• British Gas Export & Earn Plus (6.4p) — requires BG import
• Scottish Power SmartGen+ (12p) — requires SP import

For commercial operators on a fixed-term import contract with another supplier, EDF Export Standard at 12p is the highest-paying SEG product available without changing import. This is materially valuable — switching just the export contract is 14 days with no exit fees, while breaking a fixed-term import contract often triggers exit fees.

EDF SEG worked example — switching from a low-paying SEG

For a typical 500kWp commercial site exporting 120,000 kWh/year, currently on a 5-6p SEG (OVO, British Gas, E.ON Next, Shell):

• Current SEG revenue: £6,000-£7,200/year
• EDF Export Standard at 12p: £14,400/year
• Annual revenue uplift from switching to EDF: £7,200-£8,400
• 25-year cumulative differential (CPI-adjusted): £200,000+
• Switching effort: 14 days, no exit fees, import unchanged

EDF Export Variable vs Octopus Outgoing Agile

Both are dynamic-style products but structurally different:

EDF Export Variable

• Banded by daypart (peak/standard/off-peak), not half-hourly
• Peak rate ~18p, standard ~13-14p, off-peak ~12p
• Annual average ~13p
• SEG-only available without EDF import
• Lower active-management requirement

Octopus Outgoing Agile

• Full half-hourly variable, 48 daily rates published 24h ahead
• Peak rates 25-40p in winter; can go negative overnight
• Annual average 14-18p (well-managed battery sites)
• Requires Octopus import
• Higher active-management upside, particularly with battery storage

For sites with battery storage and willingness to switch import to Octopus, Outgoing Agile pays more. For sites without battery, or sites unwilling/unable to switch import, EDF Export Variable is the workable choice.

EDF SEG application process

1. Visit the EDF SEG application portal
2. Enter business details, MCS certificate number and meter point reference
3. EDF verifies the MCS certificate (5-10 working days)
4. Smart meter capability confirmed; if upgrade needed, EDF arranges installation
5. Tariff goes live; payments start the next billing cycle

For SEG-only customers (not on EDF import), the process takes 10-14 days end to end. For EDF import customers, faster — typically 5-7 days.

Related

• Octopus SEG tariff (highest-paying)
• British Gas SEG tariff
• OVO SEG tariff
• All UK SEG suppliers compared
• Smart Export Guarantee — full SEG explainer