Last reviewed: June 2026 | Source: Ofgem and the Energy Ombudsman
TL;DR- ScottishPower is a UK energy supplier owned by the Spanish group Iberdrola.
- It supplies electricity and gas to millions of UK homes and businesses.
- Standard variable tariffs are limited by the Ofgem price cap, while fixed tariffs lock a rate for a term.
- Unresolved complaints can go to the Energy Ombudsman after eight weeks or a deadlock letter.
- Switching away is free, with no interruption to supply, and protected by Ofgem rules.
Key Facts
●Owner: Iberdrola (Spain)
●Regulator: Ofgem
●Price protection: Ofgem price cap on standard variable tariffs
●Complaint escalation: Energy Ombudsman after 8 weeks or deadlock
●Final bill: Issued within set timescales after a switch
●Switching: Free, with no interruption to supply
ScottishPower is one of the larger energy suppliers serving UK households, part of an international group, and operates within the same regulatory framework as the rest of the market. This guide explains how ScottishPower operates, how its tariffs work under the Ofgem price cap, how to contact customer service, the complaints process and escalation to the Energy Ombudsman, the meaning of green tariff claims, smart meters and how to switch supplier.
How ScottishPower operates
ScottishPower is a UK energy supplier owned by Iberdrola, a large Spanish energy group with operations in several countries. It supplies electricity and gas to a substantial number of UK domestic and business customers and is one of the established larger suppliers in the market.
As a licensed supplier, ScottishPower is regulated by Ofgem and must follow the rules that apply to all suppliers on pricing, customer service, complaints handling and support for vulnerable customers. These protections apply regardless of which group ultimately owns the supplier.
ScottishPower has positioned itself around renewable energy as part of Iberdrola's wider focus on green generation, but for household customers the central relationship remains that of the company supplying and billing their energy under Ofgem regulation.
ScottishPower tariffs and the price cap
ScottishPower offers a standard variable tariff, which is the default deal, alongside fixed-term tariffs. The standard variable tariff has its unit rates and standing charges limited by the Ofgem energy price cap, which Ofgem reviews periodically to reflect wholesale costs and other factors.
Fixed tariffs set the rates for a defined period, offering certainty against price rises during the term, though they may include exit fees if the customer leaves early. The choice between a variable and a fixed tariff depends on a household's appetite for certainty versus flexibility.
Because the price cap limits rates rather than the total bill, the amount a household pays still depends on how much energy it uses. Checking the current unit rate and standing charge on a recent bill or in the online account is the basis for comparing ScottishPower's tariffs with other deals.
Contacting ScottishPower customer service
ScottishPower provides customer service by telephone, with published numbers for enquiries, along with online account management and an app for viewing bills, submitting meter readings and managing the account. Many routine matters can be dealt with online without calling.
For billing queries, meter problems and account changes, the online account and app are often the quickest route, while phone lines handle issues that need direct discussion. ScottishPower also provides support routes for customers who are struggling to pay or who need extra help.
Having the account number and meter details ready speeds up any contact, and keeping a record of calls and messages, with dates and reference numbers, is useful if a problem is not resolved at the first attempt and needs to be escalated later.
The complaints process
ScottishPower has a published complaints procedure, and the first step is to raise the issue directly with the supplier so it has the chance to resolve it. Complaints can be made by phone, online or in writing, and the supplier should acknowledge, investigate and respond.
Ofgem rules require suppliers to handle complaints fairly and to tell customers how to escalate if they remain dissatisfied. Keeping a clear record of the complaint and the supplier's responses is helpful if the matter has to be taken further.
If ScottishPower cannot resolve a complaint, the customer can take it to the Energy Ombudsman, whose decisions are binding on the supplier if the customer accepts them. The internal process is intended to give the supplier a fair opportunity to put things right before escalation.
Escalating to the Energy Ombudsman
Where a complaint to ScottishPower is unresolved after eight weeks, or the supplier issues a deadlock letter, the customer can refer it to the Energy Ombudsman. The service is free to consumers and independent of the supplier, providing an impartial route to a decision.
The Energy Ombudsman can order remedies such as an apology, a correction to the account or a goodwill payment, within the limits of its powers, and the supplier must implement an accepted decision, generally within a set period. This gives consumers redress without needing to go to court.
As with other suppliers, the Ombudsman cannot change the tariff rates ScottishPower charges, because those are commercial decisions within the price cap framework. What it can do is address errors and the way a customer has been treated, which covers most common complaints.
Green tariff claims and smart meters
ScottishPower markets renewable and green tariffs, reflecting its parent group's focus on renewable generation. Green tariff claims across the industry can be backed in different ways, such as through certificates that match electricity use to renewable generation, and Ofgem has worked to improve transparency around such claims.
Customers interested in a green tariff can ask the supplier how the renewable claim is backed so they understand what they are paying for. The environmental credentials of a tariff and its cost are separate considerations, and both can be weighed when comparing deals.
ScottishPower also installs smart meters as part of the national programme, enabling automatic readings and in-home displays of energy use. Smart meters can support time-of-use tariffs and remove the need for manual readings, and customers can discuss their options when an installation is offered.
How to switch supplier
Switching away from ScottishPower is free and protected by Ofgem rules, with no interruption to supply because the same network delivers energy regardless of supplier. The new supplier arranges the switch, and the process is designed to be simple for the customer.
Before switching, customers should check whether they are on a fixed tariff that carries exit fees and provide a meter reading around the switch date so the final bill is accurate. ScottishPower must issue a final bill within set timescales after the switch completes, and any credit balance should be refunded.
Comparing tariffs on the unit rate and standing charge, rather than on headline annual figures alone, helps a customer understand the real cost of a new deal for their level of usage. Keeping a record of meter readings and the final bill protects against billing errors after leaving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns ScottishPower?
ScottishPower is a UK energy supplier owned by Iberdrola, a large Spanish energy group with operations in several countries. It supplies electricity and gas to a substantial number of UK domestic and business customers and is one of the established larger suppliers. The consumer protections that apply to ScottishPower customers are set by Ofgem and apply regardless of which international group owns the supplier.
Are ScottishPower tariffs capped?
ScottishPower's standard variable tariff has its unit rates and standing charges limited by the Ofgem energy price cap, which is reviewed periodically. Fixed tariffs instead set rates for a defined term and may carry exit fees. The cap limits the rates rather than the total bill, so a household that uses more energy still pays more. You can check your current unit rate and standing charge on a recent bill or in your online account.
How do I complain about ScottishPower?
First raise the complaint directly with ScottishPower by phone, online or in writing, keeping a record of dates and reference numbers. If it is unresolved after eight weeks, or the supplier issues a deadlock letter, you can refer the complaint to the Energy Ombudsman, which is free and independent and can make decisions binding on the supplier. The Ombudsman cannot change tariff rates but can put right errors and how you have been treated.
What does a green tariff from ScottishPower mean?
ScottishPower markets renewable and green tariffs, reflecting its parent group's focus on renewable generation. Green tariff claims can be backed in different ways across the industry, such as through certificates that match electricity use to renewable generation. If a green tariff matters to you, ask the supplier how the renewable claim is backed so you understand what you are paying for, and weigh the environmental credentials and the cost separately.
