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UK business energy supplier

Scottish Power Business business

Founded in 1990 and headquartered in Glasgow, Scottish Power Business supplies gas and electricity to UK businesses. Compare tariffs, contract terms, customer service and complaints below.

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Founded 1990 Over 200,000 business premises Glasgow Big Six member

Founded

1990

Years supplying UK businesses

Customers

Over 200,000 business premises

Business sites served

Fuels

Gas and electricity; REGO-backed renewable electricity available

Energy types offered

Business sizes

Microbusinesses, SMEs and larger industrial & commercial accounts

Customer segments served

About

Who is Scottish Power Business?

Scottish Power was founded in 1990 from the privatisation of the South of Scotland Electricity Board. Acquired by the Spanish utility group Iberdrola in 2007, it is one of the historic UK Big Six and today supplies more than five million homes and businesses across England, Scotland and Wales. The Scottish Power Business division specifically serves over 200,000 SME and commercial premises with gas and electricity contracts. Scottish Power was the first Big Six supplier to go 100% renewable on domestic electricity in 2018 and is one of the UK's largest onshore wind generators through its parent Iberdrola.

Registered as Scottish Power Energy Retail Limited, Scottish Power Business uses this legal name for Ofgem licence filings, B2B contracts and any formal communications. The trading name customers see on invoices is the shorter, recognisable form.

The company is headquartered in Glasgow, where it runs its commercial operations, account management and regulatory liaison with Ofgem.

Scottish Power Business was established in 1990. A longer track record means more years operating under Ofgem rules and a wider history of business-customer relationships.

Scottish Power Business is part of the Iberdrola (Spain) group, which provides shared governance, financial backing and a wider pool of expertise in wholesale trading, hedging and regulatory work.

The company is regulated by Ofgem, and complaints fall under the Energy Ombudsman alternative dispute resolution scheme,but only for microbusinesses with under 10 staff and under £2m turnover. Larger I&C customers must take complaints through commercial dispute resolution.

Contracts

Scottish Power tariff types

Business energy is priced bespoke to your annual consumption and contract term. The headline contract shapes below are the ones you will see on a Scottish Power Business quote.

1, 2 or 3 years

Scottish Power Business Fixed

  • Fixed unit rates and standing charges for 1, 2 or 3 years
  • UK-based Scottish Power Business Energy Specialists
  • Online account management and meter-reading submission
  • Energy efficiency toolkit with the Carbon Trust
  • Smart-meter rollout for eligible SME profiles

1 year (out-of-contract default)

Scottish Power Business Standard Fixed

  • Fixed energy prices for 1 year
  • No exit fees
  • 30-day termination notice period
  • Auto-applied if you do not renew or switch at contract end

No fixed term

Scottish Power Business Standard Variable

  • Variable unit rates linked to wholesale market
  • No commitment — switch at any time without exit fees
  • Usually one of the most expensive rates available
  • Mainly used as a short-term bridge between contracts

Review

Scottish Power Business,pros and cons

Scottish Power Business is a well-established Big Six option with the financial weight of Iberdrola behind it and a credible renewable story through onshore wind generation. The watch-outs are persistent: weak customer-satisfaction scores and recurring complaints about switching and billing. SMEs should compare quotes against independent renewable suppliers and lock in a negotiated fixed contract before drifting onto Standard Variable.

Strengths

  • Iberdrola parent gives long-term financial stability and access to substantial UK onshore wind generation (Whitelee, the largest UK onshore wind farm).
  • Range of fixed contracts (1, 2 or 3 years) plus a flexible Standard Variable option.
  • Smart meters, EV charging solutions for fleets (3 kW to 50 kW+ with 3-year warranty) and an Energy Efficiency Toolkit co-developed with the Carbon Trust.
  • Mobile app for iOS and Android with full account management for SME customers.
  • First UK Big Six supplier to go 100% renewable on domestic electricity (2018); business customers can opt into REGO-backed renewable supply.

Watch-outs

  • Trustpilot reviews are heavily negative — around 96% of over 8,000 reviews historically rated Scottish Power "bad", citing long call waits, switching difficulties, misbilling and complaint handling.
  • Citizens Advice non-domestic supplier league table has ranked Scottish Power Business in the bottom third in recent editions.
  • Persistent reports of difficulty switching away from the supplier.
  • Standard Variable rates can be among the most expensive on the market — let your fixed contract drift onto it and you will pay more.
  • Customer-service phone lines are office-hours only (weekday plus Saturday morning); no Sunday cover.

Renewables

Scottish Power Business green credentials

Scottish Power was the first Big Six supplier to go 100% renewable on domestic electricity in 2018. For business customers, REGO-backed renewable electricity is available as an option rather than as a default. The group divested its remaining gas-fired generation in 2020 and now generates entirely from renewables (mainly onshore wind, including Whitelee — the UK's largest onshore wind farm).

Timeline

Scottish Power Business: key dates

A short timeline of Scottish Power Business: founding, milestones, regulatory events.

  1. 1990

    Scottish Power formed from the South of Scotland Electricity Board after privatisation of the Scottish electricity industry.

  2. 1999

    Acquired US utility PacifiCorp (later divested in 2006).

  3. 2007

    Acquired by Spanish utility group Iberdrola for around £11.6bn, joining one of Europe's largest energy groups.

  4. 2018

    Becomes the first UK Big Six supplier to deliver 100% renewable electricity to domestic customers.

  5. 2020

    Divests its remaining UK gas-fired generation assets, becoming a renewable-only generator (mainly onshore wind).

  6. 2024

    Andrew Ward appointed CEO of Scottish Power UK, succeeding Keith Anderson.

Save up to £600 per year
Independent comparison

Is Scottish Power the cheapest option for your business?

UK businesses can save up to £600 per year by switching to a supplier whose contract shape fits their actual usage profile. Get a free, no-obligation quote from a Selectra B2B broker in under two minutes.

Get a free business quote

Common questions

Scottish Power Business,frequently asked questions

Scottish Power Business is regulated by Ofgem under a non-domestic supply licence. Whether it suits your business depends on your annual consumption, contract term and whether you need extra services (HHM, green certification, smart-meter rollout). Always compare delivered p/kWh including VAT and CCL before signing.

Switching takes between three weeks and two months for a business contract, longer than the domestic five-working-day rule. Scottish Power Business will run a credit check, request your annual consumption and a recent meter reading, and arrange the transfer with your current supplier. Supply is never interrupted during the switch.

Fixed 1, 2 or 3 years for SMEs; Standard Fixed out-of-contract (1 year, no exit fees, 30-day notice); Standard Variable; tailored I&C contracts

Most UK fixed-term business contracts include termination fees if you switch mid-contract. The supplier must accept your renewal notice in the final 30 to 60 days before the contract end-date (the renewal window varies by supplier and is set out in the original contract). Outside that window you are tied in unless you pay the exit charge.

You can reach Scottish Power Business on 0800 040 7002, Mon-Fri 8am-7pm; Sat 8.30am-1pm. For a full breakdown of phone lines (sales, emergency, complaints, meter readings, account moves), see the Scottish Power Business contact page.

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