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ScottishPower reviews, tariffs and information

ScottishPower is one of the big six UK energy suppliers, responsible for the supply of gas and electricity in the UK to more than five million customers. ScottishPower is part of the Iberdola Group, a world leader in wind energy and one of the largest energy companies in the world.
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ScottishPower

About ScottishPower

Headquartered in Glasgow, ScottishPower was formed in 1990 and became one of the former "big six" when the UK's energy industry was opened up to competition. Since then it has maintained its position as one of the UK's biggest energy suppliers, partly as a result of taking on the customers of failed suppliers as the energy market crisis developed.

ScottishPower prices and tariffs

As one of the biggest energy suppliers in the UK, there are a wide range of ScottishPower tariffs on offer to help meet the needs of as many customers as possible.

How ScottishPower prices have changed in 2021

Like most energy providers operating in the UK, ScottishPower is subject to Ofgem's energy price cap. The cap sets the maximum rate that can be charged for ScottishPower's Standard tariff. The cap was set at its highest ever level of £1,971 in February 2022, coming into effect in April. ScottishPower therefore set its SVT rate at £1,970.53.

In August 2021, Ofgem announced that it would be increasing the level of the price cap by 12% to £1,277. As a result, ScottishPower announced an increase in its standard variable tariff to that new cap level. The prices will come into effect on 1 October 2021.

In February 2021, ScottishPower prices were increased by 9% on the supplier's standard variable tariff in line with the new price cap rate announced by Ofgem. The price rise came into effect on 1 April 2021 and affected customers on ScottishPower's Standard tariff. Prices on this plan increased to £1,138 per year for average usage - a price rise of around £96 per year.

The table below shows recent changes to ScottishPower prices, alongside changes by the rest of the big six energy suppliers:

SupplierStandard variable tariff price (1 Apr 2021)Standard variable tariff price (1 Oct 2021)Standard variable tariff price (1 Apr 2022)
British Gas£1,138.18£1,277.38£1,970.56
EDF£1,138£1,277.23£1,970.44
E.ON£1,138.18£1,277.38£1,970.56
E.ON Next (inc. former npower customers)£1,138.18£1,277.38£1,970.56
ScottishPower£1,138£1,277£1,970.53
SSE£1,137£1,276£1,969.71

Based on a medium energy user on a standard dual fuel tariff, paying on receipt of bill, with bill sizes averaged across all regions.

Previous changes to ScottishPower prices

In August 2020, ScottishPower announced it would reduce the average price of its standard variable tariff by 7% as of 1 October 2020. This price cut was in line with the revised energy price cap, and reduced the average cost of a standard variable tariff for ScottishPower customers by £84 a year.

In March 2020, ScottishPower prices were cut by 1% on the supplier's standard variable tariff, in effect from 1 April. Once again, the reduction was in line with the reduced announced in February 2020.

In August 2019, ScottishPower prices dropped by an average of £76 per year (6%) on its standard variable tariff, also in reaction to a drop in the price cap rate.

In February 2019, ScottishPower became the fifth of the big six energy suppliers to announce a price rise in reaction to the change in price cap at the time.

From 1 April 2019, rates for ScottishPower's standard variable tariff increased by £117 (10%), in line with the increased energy price cap of £1,254 per year.

In April 2018, ScottishPower prices were increased by 5.5% to customers on its standard variable rate plan, effective 1 June 2018. The change saw costs increase by £63 per year on average.

You can find out more about ScottishPower's price changes and what to do in our guide.

ScottishPower renewable energy

ScottishPower tariffs all include 100% green electricity, using wind energy and smart grids. It has sold its gas plants and is closing its coal-fired power stations, as well as taking steps to reduce its general carbon footprint wherever possible.

ScottishPower and Tonik Energy

ScottishPower was appointed by energy regulator Ofgem to take on the customers of Tonik Energy when the supplier ceased trading. Tonik Energy's 150,000 customers were transferred to ScottishPower tariffs from October 2020.

ScottishPower and Entice and Orbit Energy

Ofgem appointed ScottishPower as the Supplier of Last Resort for both Entice and Orbit Energy when the suppliers went bust as a result of the energy market crisis. ScottishPower took on the suppliers' respective 5,400 and 65,000 customers in November 2021.

ScottishPower and Extra Energy

ScottishPower took on the customers of Extra Energy when the small supplier ceased trading in November 2018. Extra Energy's 108,000 domestic energy customers were placed on ScottishPower tariffs as part of the takeover.

ScottishPower and Yorkshire Energy

ScottishPower was appointed as the new supplier for customers of Yorkshire Energy, which ceased trading in December 2020. Yorkshire Energy's 74,000 customers were automatically moved to ScottishPower tariffs.

ScottishPower's charity support

ScottishPower has had a relationship with Cancer Research in the UK since 2012. Through employee fundraising, their Help Beat Cancer energy tariff, sponsorship of the Race for Life and Stand Up To Cancer campaigns, they have raised more than £20 million for the charity organisation.

Is ScottishPower going bust?

The energy market is challenging and unpredictable at the moment and there is a certain level of risk to some suppliers - find out why in our energy market Q&A guide.

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