ScottishPower has published the quarterly update to the variable cost breakdown for its Flexi 2025 product, effective from 1 October 2025. The tables set out each cost that may change each quarter, alongside the figures that applied from 1 April 2025 and 1 July 20251.
On the single rate electricity table, Balancing Services Use of System rises to 1.759 pence per kWh from 1 October 2025, against 1.216 pence per kWh in both the April and July columns. The same charge on the multi rate electricity table moves to 1.755 pence per kWh, from 1.213 pence per kWh1. ScottishPower describes this as "an operating cost to run the UK's national grid", tracked to National Grid's latest forecast1.
Other electricity costs move by smaller amounts. Capacity Market falls to 0.893 pence per kWh on the single rate table, from 0.919 pence per kWh in July. Distribution Use of System unit rates rise to 2.625 pence per kWh on the single rate table, from 2.598 pence per kWh. Smart meter costs, covering the Data Communication Company and Smart Energy GB, rise on the standing charge to 4.71 pence per day from 4.42 pence per day. Renewable Obligation is unchanged at 3.306 pence per kWh across all three quarters1.
On gas, the Gas Transportation charge rises to 1.526 pence per kWh from 1.45 pence per kWh, and smart meter standing charges rise to 3.55 pence per day from 3.34 pence per day. The Green Gas Levy is unchanged at 0.821 pence per day1.
ScottishPower states that most of these costs are "Linked to the costs included in the price cap set by Ofgem"1. The Assistance for Areas with High Electricity Distribution Costs is described as "a charge applied to all consumers to offset the significant distribution network costs for consumers in remote and island communities in Scotland"1.
| Cost | 1 Apr 2025 | 1 Jul 2025 | 1 Oct 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balancing Services Use of System, single rate electricity (pence per kWh) | 1.216 | 1.216 | 1.759 |
| Balancing Services Use of System, multi rate electricity (pence per kWh) | 1.213 | 1.213 | 1.755 |
| Capacity Market, single rate electricity (pence per kWh) | 0.943 | 0.919 | 0.893 |
| Smart meter standing charge, electricity (pence per day) | 4.35 | 4.42 | 4.71 |
| Gas Transportation charge (pence per kWh) | 1.45 | 1.45 | 1.526 |
Why it matters for households
These are the non wholesale elements of a bill, and they sit inside the unit rate and standing charge a household pays. A rise in Balancing Services Use of System of just over half a penny per kWh on the single rate table adds to the cost of every unit used, so a home using more electricity sees a larger effect in cash terms than a low user. The same applies to the gas transportation charge, which rises by 0.076 pence per kWh1.
Because most of the listed costs are tied to the price cap set by Ofgem, movements here tend to track the cap rather than a supplier's own commercial choices. Households on a variable energy tariff see these figures flow through as the quarter changes. The breakdown does not cover wholesale energy, so it is not a full picture of what a bill will be. ScottishPower has not reported the effect of these changes on a typical annual bill.
What happens next
The figures apply from 1 October 2025. ScottishPower describes the breakdown as covering variable costs that may change each quarter, and the tables show the previous two quarterly dates of 1 April 2025 and 1 July 20251. No further quarterly figures beyond 1 October 2025 have been reported.
Sources1 cited
- flexi-2025-charges | Gas and Electricity Company | ScottishPower, scottishpower.co.uk