ScottishPower has published a second set of variable cost values for its 2026 Flexi product, effective 1st April 2026, replacing the values that applied from 1st January 20261. The page sets out the breakdown of variable costs that may change each quarter, listed by component and by network region1.
The figures cover single rate electricity, multi rate electricity and gas. Several components move in the same direction across the regions shown. The Renewable Obligation unit rate falls from 3.306 to 0.818 pence per kWh1. The Transmission Network Use of System standing charge rises from 13.5 to 22.26 pence per day, while its unit rate stays at 01. Smart meter costs for the Data Communication Company and Smart Energy GB fall from 4.71 to 4.46 pence per day1. The Assistance for Areas with High Electricity Distribution Costs unit rate rises from 0.046 to 0.048 pence per kWh1.
Other components differ by region. In Eastern, the Capacity Market unit rate rises from 0.913 to 1.637 pence per kWh on single rate electricity, and the Distribution Use of System standing charge rises from 16.99 to 18.03 pence per day1. In East Midlands, the Capacity Market unit rate rises from 0.879 to 1.552 pence per kWh, and the Distribution Use of System standing charge falls from 8.6 to 8.51 pence per day1. Balancing Services Use of System falls in both: from 1.797 to 1.586 pence per kWh in Eastern and from 1.759 to 1.537 pence per kWh in East Midlands1.
On gas, the Gas Transportation charge unit rate rises from 1.557 to 1.88 pence per kWh, the Green Gas Levy standing charge rises from 0.821 to 1.046 pence per day, and the smart meter standing charge falls from 3.55 to 3.39 pence per day1.
| Component | 1st January 2026 | 1st April 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Renewable Obligation (p/kWh) | 3.306 | 0.818 |
| Transmission Network Use of System (p/day) | 13.5 | 22.26 |
| Smart meter costs, electricity (p/day) | 4.71 | 4.46 |
| Gas Transportation charge (p/kWh) | 1.557 | 1.88 |
| Green Gas Levy (p/day) | 0.821 | 1.046 |
The page describes each component and who sets it. Renewable Obligation is set by the UK Government and Ofgem and is linked to the costs included in the price cap set by Ofgem1. Capacity Market is set via industry capacity market auctions and is described as ensuring there is always a security of supply1. Balancing Services Use of System is set by National Grid and linked to National Grid's latest forecast1. Distribution Use of System is charged by the Distribution Network Operators for the operation, maintenance and development of the electricity distribution network1.
Why it matters for households
These are the variable, pass-through parts of a bill rather than the whole price a household pays. They sit alongside the wholesale and supply elements, and the page states they may change each quarter1. For a home, the split between unit rates and standing charges matters: standing charges are paid regardless of how much energy is used, so a rise in the Transmission Network Use of System standing charge from 13.5 to 22.26 pence per day adds a fixed daily amount, while the fall in the Renewable Obligation unit rate reduces the cost of each kilowatt hour consumed1. That shifts the balance between fixed and usage-based cost, which affects the arithmetic of reducing consumption or shifting it away from peak times. The regional differences also mean two homes on the same product can face different network costs, since Distribution Use of System and Capacity Market values vary by area1. How these components interact with a household's own tariff choice is covered in the site's tariffs hub and in the comparison of fixed and variable energy tariffs.
What happens next
The revised values apply from 1st April 20261. The page states that these are variable costs that may change each quarter, but no further effective dates beyond 1st April 2026 are given1.
Sources1 cited
- flexi-2026-charges | Gas and Electricity Company | ScottishPower, scottishpower.co.uk