Scottish Power

As well as suppling energy to homes, Scottish Power is an energy generator and contributes renewable electricity into the National Grid. 

It is owned by the Spanish energy firm Iberdrola, which operates more than 40 wind farms across the UK. 

As well as gas and electricity, it sells green technology including solar panels, heat pumps and EV chargers. 

Use our free tool to compare energy prices and look for cheaper gas and electricity deals.

Scottish Power score

We combine the results of our customer survey with an in-depth assessment of companies’ behind-the-scenes practices and policies to give you an overall view.

Take a look at our table below to see our score breakdown for Scottish Power:

Here's how Scottish Power's customer and policy assessments break down:

Find out how Scottish Power compares with other energy companies – click to see our full results of the best and worst energy companies.

Which? verdict on Scottish Power

• Pros: Not many, though its score for helping those that need it is acceptable. 
• Cons: Customers rated it below average for all aspects of its service, and it scored dismally in our complaints assessment. 

Scottish Power customer review

Scottish Power received one of the lowest scores when rated in our annual customer survey of 11,945 members of the public. Its customer score of 62% – well below the overall average customer score of 72% – put it bottom of the overall rankings. 

Its customers rated it below average for every aspect of its service, giving it just two stars across the board.

One frustrated customer said: 'It was very difficult to get to speak to someone – my smart meter issue has not been resolved after a year and a half'.

Another told us: 'When the website is working properly the company is OK, but the website does seem to be a bit temperamental, and a nuisance'.

Scottish Power customer service

Scottish Power's overall customer service was rated just two stars, based on feedback from its customers in our survey. Two stars was the lowest rating for customer service in our survey. British Gas, E.ON Next, EDF Energy, Outfox Energy, Ovo Energy, and Utilita also received this score.

Scottish Power common issues and complaints

The most common issues experienced by Scottish Power customers over the last year include smart meters not sending readings automatically (9%), having to have a new energy meter installed (7%), and direct debits being set too high (7%). 

Overall, 6% of Scottish Power customers made a formal complaint to the supplier in the last 12 months. 

Our Scottish Power supplier assessment

In September-November 2025 we looked at five aspects of suppliers' business practices and procedures. Examples of some criteria within each category are shown below:

• Complaints – how many complaints suppliers get and how quickly they resolve them
  
• Contacting your supplier – including how and when you can get in touch, call waiting times, and the quality of self-service help online
• Help for customers who need it – including those in vulnerable situations, those who use prepayment meters, those who need materials in languages besides English, and web accessibility 
• Smart meters – including performance against 2024 smart meter targets and the proportion of customers' smart meters actually operating in smart mode
• Switching – how well suppliers handle switching.

We did this using a combination of the responses to a survey we sent to suppliers and our own assessments.

Scottish Power received one of the lowest scores in our assessment, of 50%. This puts it in joint 15th position in our assessment, alongside EDF Energy. Only So Energy scored less.  

It received a particularly low score in our complaints assessment – just four out of a possible 15. It also scored poorly in our smart meters analysis. 

It did a little better, though not spectacularly, for helping those that need it and switching. 

Scottish Power Hardship Fund

The Scottish Power Hardship Fund helps people on lower incomes, or who are in receipt of certain benefits, who are struggling to pay their energy bills by reducing or clearing their arrears. 

You can apply after contacting a debt advice charity, such as StepChange. You'll need to be able to commit to ongoing repayments.

Does Scottish Power support prepayment meters?

Yes, you can join it with a smart or traditional prepayment meter. Here's what you need to know:

• Traditional prepayment meter customers can top up at Payzone outlets or the Post Office.
• Smart prepayment customers can top up on the phone, via Scottish Power's app and PayZone outlets or the Post Office.
• You can activate £10 emergency credit per meter when you have less than £1 left (this will need to be repaid when you can next top up). 
• The company's friendly credit hours run from 6pm to 11am Monday to Friday, and 6pm Friday to 11am Monday. It's the same whether you have a smart or traditional payg meter. You need to be in credit to access this.

Not sure if you should prepay? Find out: is prepayment energy right for you?

How sustainable is Scottish Power?

Sustainability credentials are important when choosing an energy supplier for two thirds of those responsible for choosing their provider. That’s according to our online survey of 3,000 UK adults in August 2024.

So we factor in a range of sustainability criteria in our Eco Provider assessment.

Here’s how Scottish Power fared:

• Proportion of renewable electricity sold to customers: 11%
• Generates the largest amount of renewable electricity among suppliers in our assessment from solar, onshore wind and offshore wind.
• Scottish Power's parent company, Iberdrola, generates electricity from burning fossil fuels in gas turbines, boilers and other thermal generation facilities, according to its Greenhouse Gas report.
• Offers time-of-use tariffs including discounted overnight rates for EV drivers.
• Offers installation of solar PV, battery storage, heat pumps and EV chargers.

Find out more about the differences between energy companies renewable electricity, and find out how we assessed energy suppliers for sustainability.

Based on information supplied by companies in August 2024 and their most recent published fuel mixes, where available.

Making your home more energy efficient will save money on your bills in the long term and lower your carbon footprint. Get started with our guides to home energy efficiency.