What your Scottish Power contract says

In short

This is a domestic electricity supply agreement with ScottishPower, part of the Iberdrola group and one of the 'Big Six' energy suppliers in Great Britain. You pay monthly by direct debit for electricity delivered to your home via the national grid. ScottishPower offers both variable and fixed-rate tariffs. On a variable tariff your unit rate can change with 30 days' notice, subject to the Ofgem price cap. On a fixed tariff the unit price is locked for a set period, but early exit fees may apply. ScottishPower is regulated by Ofgem under the Electricity Act 1989 and must comply with supply licence conditions including the Standards of Conduct.

What you agree to do

• You must pay your electricity bill each month by direct debit on the agreed date.
• You must provide accurate metre readings when requested, or allow access for a metre reader.
• You must notify ScottishPower if you move address or change your bank details.
• You must not tamper with or interfere with the electricity metre or supply equipment.

What you can ask for

• You can switch to another supplier at any time without exit fees on a variable tariff.
• You can cancel within 14 days of signing up under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 cooling-off period.
• You have the right to a smart metre installed free of charge.
• You can escalate unresolved complaints to the Energy Ombudsman after 8 weeks.

Points worth knowing

• Variable tariff rates can rise with limited noticeOn the standard variable tariff, ScottishPower can increase your unit rate with 30 days' notice, up to the Ofgem price cap. Between cap reviews your bills could rise significantly.
• Early exit fees on fixed-rate tariffsIf you leave a fixed-rate deal before the contract end date, you may be charged an exit fee of up to £50 per fuel. This can lock you in even when cheaper deals become available.
• Estimated bills may be inaccurateIf you do not submit metre readings, ScottishPower estimates your usage. This can result in unexpectedly large catch-up bills when an actual reading is taken.
• Debt recovery and disconnectionIf you fall behind on payments, ScottishPower can install a prepayment metre, pass your debt to a collection agency, or in extreme cases apply to disconnect your supply.

Dates and deadlines

Monthly direct debit

Collected monthly; amount reviewed at least twice a year based on your usage

Cooling-off period

14 days from sign-up (cancel with no penalty within this window)