What Are the Scottish Power Off Peak Times?

In 2025, it's essential to know how to use electricity during off-peak hours, particularly as the cost of living and energy prices continue to rise. Scottish Power offers a range of off-peak rates that provide consumers with discounts for using energy during off-peak hours. These tariffs help you save a significant amount of money, whether you charge an electric car, use appliances, or control the heat.

This article will show you how to take advantage of Scottish Power's off-peak times and time-of-use pricing, as well as how smart equipment, such as smart meters and battery storage, can assist you. We'll also discuss how the discontinuation of RTS and recent pricing adjustments may impact your energy plan.

Who Is ScottishPower?

ScottishPower offers a range of household and business energy rates and is dedicated to creating a cleaner future. All domestic green tariffs are guaranteed by 100% green power generated on their wind farms. For companies, they offer pricing comparable to that of a UK supplier, and they collaborate with various specialists, such as the Carbon Trust, to help firms become more energy-efficient.

Is ScottishPower a Good Supplier?

ScottishPower is generally regarded as a decent provider, with a Trustpilot rating of 4.0 out of 5 based on over 56,000 reviews. As with everything, there are some criticisms, which mainly concern the increased tariff price. However, costs fluctuate daily due to variables such as the wholesale market. This implies that ScottishPower may be one of the more expensive providers on some days, while providing better value on others.

They had previously received a lot of insufficient negative attention for having the worst customer service, but recent reports indicate that they have improved in this area.

ScottishPower is a founding member of Energy UK's Vulnerability Commitment, which aims to support vulnerable families. With a strong emphasis on renewable energy, they run multiple wind farms in the UK to provide power to clients.

Why Choose ScottishPower?

ScottishPower, based in Glasgow, was founded in 1990 and became one of the "big six" energy companies when the UK energy market was opened up to competition. Since then, it has retained its position as one of the UK's largest energy providers, thanks in part to taking on the customers of failing companies as the energy market crisis unfolded. As of the end of 2024, it served 8.2% of UK electricity consumers and 7.2% of UK gas users.       

How Do I Contact ScottishPower?

Customers may contact ScottishPower in the following ways:

Contact them by web chat or phone at 0345 270 0700, available Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Email address: contactus@scottishpower.com.

ScottishPower Address: 320 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Scotland, G2 5AD

Can I Acquire a Smart Meter With ScottishPower?

You may acquire a smart meter from ScottishPower. Customers can schedule an installation online or contact us at 0800 074 0072 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Scottish Power Off-Peak Times 

Off-peak power is when you pay a different amount based on the time of day. For example, you may pay 20p for each unit of power you consume during the day and 10p at night. The concept is straightforward: off-peak power is less expensive, thus it makes sense to utilise it when possible. This is frequently when demand on the national grid is lowest, making it the most cost-effective time to utilise power.

Most clients have only one tariff for their power, which means they pay the same amount for each unit of electricity they consume, regardless of the time of day. However, if you have an Economy 7 meter, Economy 10 meter, or any meter with numerous reading screens and are on the appropriate tariff, you may be eligible for off-peak power. Smart meters are essential for current off-peak pricing, also known as time-of-use tariffs, as they accurately measure your energy use throughout the day. This accurate monitoring enables you to maximise the benefits of off-peak power periods throughout the UK.

If you have an Economy 7 meter, your power bill will display two distinct sets of meter readings, along with different unit prices for the day and night. Check your statement for terms such as "day rate," "night rate," "peak," and "off-peak."

ScottishPower Off-Peak Times

ScottishPower provides off-peak power at varying periods depending on the pricing. According to Scottish Power, the off-peak hours for their EV Saver pricing are from midnight to 5 a.m., at a rate of 7.2 pence per kWh. Power Saver offers half-price power on Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. They also provide Half-Price Bonus Hours events, which are announced via the app, and Power Saver Plus events, which are part of the Demand Flexibility Service and communicated via the app.

EV Saver Tariff: 12 a.m. - 5 a.m.

Power Saver: Saturdays and Sundays, 11:00 a.m. - 4 pm4:00 p.m.

Half-Price Bonus Hours: Events notified through the ScottishPower app.

Power Saver Plus: Events notified through the ScottishPower app.

ScottishPower's Off-Peak Tariffs

EV Saver: This tariff is designed for electric car owners and offers a lower rate of 7.2p per kWh for charging between midnight and 5 a.m.

Heat Pump Saver: This tariff is designed for customers with heat pumps, charging 14p per kWh for power consumption between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Power Saver: This tariff offers half-priced power on Saturdays and Sundays between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

What Are the Peak and Off-Peak Times for Electricity?

Peak electricity, often referred to as "peak electricity hours," refers to the times of day when people consume the most power as they prepare for work or school and subsequently return home in the evening.

Off-peak electricity, often known as 'off-peak electricity hours', refers to calmer times when people consume less power and grid demand is lower, typically overnight, on weekends, and during peak holiday periods. Some companies offer clients discounted power during off-peak hours.

How to Save Money with Off-Peak Electricity?

There are several instances when using power is more cost-effective, and some energy providers are going above and beyond to assist their clients in taking advantage of off-peak rates, tariffs, or discounts for adjusting their electricity usage.

To take advantage of ScottishPower's off-peak times and energy provider benefits, you'll need a smart meter. This allows your energy provider to know precisely when and how much power you are consuming. Millions of consumers now benefit from smart meters.

If you have an Economy 7 energy tariff, you may have a specific Economy 7 meter or an SMETS2 smart meter that is compatible with your storage heaters.

There are various things you may take to maximise off-peak power savings.

Tip 1: Understand Your Energy Use

Take note of your energy use trends. Identify the most energy-intensive appliances during peak hours and explore strategies to switch to off-peak power pricing.

Tip 2: Invest In Smart Home Technologies

Investing in smart home gadgets enables you to operate appliances remotely. This allows you to plan them to operate during off-peak hours, even while you are not at home. Investing a little now might result in lower energy costs later.

Tip 3: Switch Your Electricity Use to Off-Peak Hours

Reduce your power expenditures by scheduling energy-intensive operations such as batch cooking, washing, and appliance charging during off-peak hours. Some companies provide reduced or discounted prices for consuming power during off-peak periods.

Tip 4: Consider Time-of-Usage Programs Or Off-Peak Power Pricing

Your energy supplier may offer time-of-use pricing, which can result in lower nighttime power costs. For example:

EV tariffs: If you own an electric car, take advantage of the lower off-peak electricity prices at night. There are no restrictions on how you can use the cheaper nighttime power, so you can operate high-energy appliances, such as washing machines and dishwashers, while still charging your cellphones, laptops, and tablets.

Economy 7 and Economy 10 Tariffs: If you have electric storage heaters, you may be on an Economy 7 tariff, which provides cheaper, off-peak power during the 7 hours of the night, when energy is usually less in demand, and may be saved and utilised when needed. Some off-peak power rates provide cheaper electricity for 10 hours of the night, known as Economy 10.

Tip 5: Use Jackery Portable Power Stations

Another fantastic approach to save money and prolong the advantages of off-peak electricity is by utilising portable power stations like the Jackery Explorer 3000 v2 or 2000 v2. You can charge these devices during off-peak hours and then use them throughout the day to power small kitchen appliances, gadgets, or even larger appliances.

You can adjust your energy usage with this plan without altering your routine. Jackery's high-capacity units are ideal for homes that want to reduce their reliance on the grid throughout the day and take advantage of off-peak rates, particularly when paired with solar panels or smart home systems.

How Off-Peak Use Saves You Money?

Using power at off-peak hours can save you 15-30% - or more, depending on the proper pricing.

Essential appliances to shift:

Washing machines (up to two kWh per load)

Tumble dryers (3–4 kWh per cycle)

EV charging (up to 7.4 kW/h)

Water heaters and dishwashers.

For example, if you use a tumble dryer at 2 a.m. on a 12p/kWh tariff rather than 35p/kWh at peak periods, that single cycle saves more than £0.90, which adds up rapidly for regular usage.

Households that utilise the Demand Flexibility Service may also be eligible for a payback or bill credit for reducing their consumption during periods of high demand. National Grid ESO reports that about 1.6 million houses participated in the winter of 2023/24.

What To Consider When Using Off-Peak Electricity

While off-peak power periods might provide significant savings, there are important practical and safety considerations to make before switching tariffs or altering your family habits:

Not All Tariffs Ensure Savings: Time-of-use tariffs only make sense if you consume a considerable part of your power during off-peak hours (usually at night).

Appliance Safety: Running high-load appliances, such as washing machines or tumble dryers, overnight can increase the risk of fires. Always use certified appliances, clean filters regularly, and consider using programmable timers to start cycles early in the morning while you're awake.

Outdated Meters: Households with older Economy 7 or Economy 10 meters may be affected by the discontinuation of the Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) in June 2025. If you're still using one of these meters, consider speaking with your energy provider about switching to a smart meter. "Households must prepare immediately. "The RTS shutdown could affect thousands who rely on legacy meters for off-peak savings," cautions an Ofgem representative.

Smart Meter Requirement: Most off-peak and variable pricing packages now require a smart meter to accurately measure your consumption in real-time and apply the appropriate charge.

If you can move your energy use to low-demand hours, off-peak power periods are an excellent method to save money.

In 2025, scheduling your energy use is not just cost-effective, but also necessary. As more people turn to energy-saving initiatives like ECO4 and the Warm Homes Discount Scheme, regulating when you use power will become more critical for lowering total energy costs.

Jackery Portable Power Stations for Saving Your Electric Bills

The increase in ScottishPower prices, particularly under the UK's energy price cap changes, makes energy-saving strategies more critical. A Jackery Portable Power Station can help reduce your electricity bills by allowing you to take advantage of Time-of-Use (TOU) tariffs and free solar power, effectively bypassing the most expensive peak rates.

ScottishPower offers specific tariffs and programs, like the Power Saver program and their EV Saver tariff, which are based on Time-of-Use (TOU) rates. This is the primary way a Jackery can save you money. You plug your Jackery unit into the wall and charge its battery during the cheapest periods, such as late at night (e.g., midnight to 5 a.m. on their EV tariff) or during the Half-Price Weekends (Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.).

You then unplug the Jackery from the wall and use the stored, cheaper electricity to power essential devices and appliances during the most expensive peak-demand times (typically weekday evenings).

Jackery Explorer 3000 v2 Portable Power Station

The Jackery Explorer 3000 v2 can help you save on electric bills through two main strategies: Time-of-Use (TOU) arbitrage and maximising solar energy consumption.

Time-of-Use (TOU) Arbitrage: Many utility companies employ a Time-of-Use pricing structure, where the cost of electricity fluctuates throughout the day, typically being highest during "peak" hours (e.g., late afternoon/evening) and lowest during "off-peak" hours (e.g., overnight). You can use the unit's Charging Plan feature via the smart app to schedule the power station to charge from the wall outlet only during the cheapest, off-peak hours (e.g., 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.).

You can then power your high-draw appliances or essential devices (like refrigerators, fans, or lights) using the battery during the expensive peak hours, effectively avoiding the high electricity rates. By shifting your power consumption from the grid's peak rates to the battery's stored power (charged at off-peak rates), you reduce your overall cost for the electricity you use.

Maximising Solar Energy Consumption: When paired with Jackery SolarSaga 200W solar panels (sold separately), the Explorer 3000 v2 functions as a solar generator. The unit has a mode that prioritises using solar energy to supply your home or charge the power station first, reducing your reliance on expensive grid electricity.

By capturing free energy from the sun with the solar panels, you offset the amount of electricity you have to purchase from the utility company. This is free energy once the initial cost of the generator and panels is recovered.

High Capacity and Output for Home Backup: With a large 3,072Wh capacity and 3,600W continuous output, the power station can run essential high-wattage appliances (like a refrigerator, lights, and Wi-Fi router) for an extended period. This capability is crucial for running your home on cheaper, stored energy during peak times or relying entirely on solar power, which directly lowers your utility consumption.

Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 Portable Power Station

The Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 is a portable power station that can be effectively used to reduce electricity bills, especially when combined with a Time-of-Use (TOU) tariff, such as those offered by ScottishPower.

The core strategy for saving money with this device is "Arbitrage" or "Peak Shaving", which involves charging the unit when electricity is cheapest (off-peak) and using that stored power to run appliances when electricity is most expensive (peak hours).

Here are the key features of the Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 that facilitate this energy-saving strategy, particularly with ScottishPower's off-peak times (which, for tariffs like EV Saver, can be midnight to 5 a.m. or similar night rates on other plans):

Large Capacity (2042Wh) and High Output (2200W): This substantial capacity allows you to store a significant amount of cheap off-peak electricity. The 2200W output can then power most essential household appliances (like a fridge, TV, router, or even a microwave) during the expensive peak hours. You can charge the entire 2042Wh battery for a fraction of the cost during the designated cheap rate period (e.g., between midnight and 5 a.m.) and draw on that power for several hours in the evening when rates are highest.

Fast AC Wall Charging (1.7 Hours): The quick charging time is crucial for Time-of-Use tariffs. It allows the station to be fully charged within a standard, limited off-peak window. If your off-peak window is 5-7 hours, the Jackery 2000 v2 can be fully charged well within that time, maximising the amount of cheap electricity you can store per night.

Smart App Control: The Jackery App allows you to monitor and manage your power station remotely. This is the central feature for a "Charge-Low/Use-High" strategy. You can use the app to schedule the charging of the Jackery 2000 v2 to automatically start precisely at the ScottishPower off-peak start time (e.g., 00:00) and finish before the cheaper rate ends (e.g., 05:00), ensuring you only use the discounted electricity for charging.

LiFePO4 Battery: The unit uses a durable Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) battery, which is rated for a long lifecycle (e.g., 4000 cycles to 70%+ capacity). This longevity means the cost-saving benefits of the unit can be realised over many years, improving the overall return on investment.

ScottishPower Price Changes in 2025

ScottishPower energy prices have increased twice in 2025 as a consequence of the double increase in the energy price ceiling. However, with the price limit set to decrease in July, ScottishPower's prices will also decline.

All energy providers in the UK are subject to Ofgem's energy price limit, including ScottishPower. The cap rate determines the maximum amount that providers may charge for average usage of their regular variable tariffs. Most consumers have not had to worry about this since they used to fix and switch to avoid being placed on a variable rate.

However, when wholesale energy costs climbed dramatically at the end of 2021, exceeding the price limit, providers removed fixed agreements from the market. This meant that once consumers' fixed packages expired, there was nothing to transfer to; therefore, millions of homes are stuck on ordinary variable pricing.

The table below illustrates how the price cap and Energy Price Guarantee have influenced ScottishPower's standard variable tariff pricing over time.

(Data Source: Uswitch)

Is Off-Peak Electricity Suitable for My Lifestyle? 

Thinking about switching to an off-peak tariff? Consider your routine. Do you work from home and use a large amount of power throughout the day? Or do you work during the day and operate appliances in the evenings or overnight? Off-peak prices are reasonable if you can:

Charge your electric car overnight.

Run storage heaters at night to warm your house for the following day.

Put your washing machine, tumble dryer, or dishwasher on a timer during off-peak hours.

Have a hot water cylinder that can be preheated overnight.

If these circumstances describe your home, exploring off-peak power periods in the UK may result in significant savings.

Potential Benefits of Off-Peak Electricity

Using power during off-peak hours has several benefits beyond merely saving money:

Reduced Energy Costs: The greatest immediate advantage is the possibility of lower power costs if you can shift your consumption to cheaper off-peak hours. This is particularly beneficial for households that consume a significant amount of power overnight, such as those with storage heaters or electric vehicles. By timing your high energy consumption for when power is cheaper at night, you may immediately cut your expenses. This translates to extra money in your pocket each month.

Environmental Effect and Grid Stability: Moving demand to off-peak hours can help create a more efficient and sustainable energy system by reducing peak demand stress on the national grid, which can sometimes eliminate the need to bring less efficient or carbon-intensive power sources online.

Increased Control and Knowledge of Your Energy Use: Switching to an off-peak tariff often makes you more aware of how much energy you're using. This enhanced awareness may lead to more responsible behaviours, as you actively seek opportunities to shift consumption to cheaper off-peak hours. A smart meter provides real-time insights into your energy usage, enabling you to make informed choices and effectively manage your energy consumption. This is more than simply saving money; it is about taking an active role in controlling your home's energy impact.

FAQs

The following are the frequently asked questions about the Scottish Power off-peak times:

1. How do I know my off-peak electricity times?

When are my off-peak electricity times? The actual off-peak power periods vary depending on your meter type and your unique pricing plan. However, for classic Economy 7, it's generally a 7-hour window between 11 p.m. and 8 a.m., for example, 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.

2. What are ScottishPower's friendly hours?

Our credit hours are 6 p.m. to 11 a.m. Monday through Saturday, and all day on Sunday and bank holidays. If you have a smart meter, your friendly credit hours are 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. (April to October) and 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. (November to March).

3. What is the cool-off period for ScottishPower?

You have a 14-day cooling-off period to cancel your tariff without penalty. The cooling-off period will expire 14 days after you sign the contract. If you are a new client, the cooling-off period will expire 14 days from the day you sign up with us.

4. How to check off-peak time?

Off-peak hours start at 09:30 Monday through Friday in cities and big towns, and at 09:00 everywhere else. If your train is due to leave after this time, you may use an Off-Peak ticket. Weekends and bank holidays are off-peak throughout the day.

5. What is the cheapest time of day to use electricity?

In the UK, the cheapest time to consume electricity is usually at night, especially between midnight and 6 a.m., when demand is lowest nationwide. This occurs when energy providers purchase power at a cheaper cost, and you may take advantage of these lower prices via specialised time-of-use pricing.  

Final Thoughts

Using Scottish Power's off-peak electricity times is a practical, eco-friendly method to control your energy use and minimise your expenses. Aligning your schedule with off-peak hours is beneficial for both your wallet and the environment, whether you save on weekends or charge your EV overnight.

The change is simpler than ever thanks to smart meters, smart appliances, and battery power stations like the Jackery Explorer 3000 v2 or 2000 v2. As energy prices and infrastructure change in 2025, switching to off-peak use is not only cost-effective, it's also critical. Now is the time to reassess your routines and adopt a healthier approach to managing your energy.