Scottish Power Utilita Energy (September 2026)
Scottish Power vs Utilita Energy
Scottish Power wins with stronger app ratings and a higher Citizens Advice score, though Utilita Energy performs better in Which? scoring.
Scottish Power places first in this comparison due to stronger app ratings and a higher overall Citizens Advice score. However, Utilita Energy performs better in Which? customer satisfaction surveys. While their variable tariffs cost the same under our assumptions, Scottish Power provides fixed-term options.
About Scottish Power and Utilita Energy
Who is Scottish Power?
Set up in 1990, Scottish Power is owned by the Spanish energy group Iberdrola and is one of the UK's largest domestic suppliers. It offers standard and fixed-term energy deals, alongside home technology like solar panels, home batteries, electric vehicle chargers and boiler care. A key feature is its long-running partnership with Cancer Research UK, raising money through specific charity tariffs. It also offers a Power Saver scheme for half-price electricity and is the first energy provider to get Plain Numbers approval for easy-to-read bills.
Products & services
Awards & recognition
Who is Utilita Energy?
Started in 2003 and owned by the Luxion Group, Utilita Energy is one of the UK's largest independent suppliers. It focuses on smart meters and pay-as-you-go energy, running its service through the My Utilita app to help customers track their use and top up. A key feature is its financial safety net for prepayment customers, which includes emergency credit and Friendly Credit Hours to stop meters cutting off overnight or at weekends. Customers can also get face-to-face help at high street Energy Hub shops and win prizes through the Utilita Extra scheme.
Products & services
Awards & recognition
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Tariffs and pricing
Under our assumptions, the most affordable options from both suppliers cost £1,611 a year. Scottish Power achieves this with its variable Standard deal, while Utilita Energy matches it with its Smart Energy variable tariff.
Neither of these variable tariffs requires a fixed term, and both allow customers to leave without paying exit fees.
Households looking to lock in their rates can choose Scottish Power's 12-month fixed deal, the Exclusive Help Beat Cancer Fixed Sep 2027 SM2, priced at £1,830 a year with no exit fee. In contrast, our current pricing data shows no fixed-term tariffs available from Utilita Energy.
| Metric | Scottish Power | Utilita Energy |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest tariff exit fee | £0 | £0 |
| Cheapest fixed tariff exit fee | £0 | N/A |
Scottish Power and Utilita Energy: Tariff Options
Scottish Power
Scottish Power offers a range of standard variable and fixed-term tariffs, alongside specialist options for electric vehicle owners and those wanting renewable energy or tracker rates.
Utilita Energy
Utilita keeps its energy range simple, focusing on standard variable options for smart meter users rather than fixed-term deals, tracker tariffs or specific electric vehicle tariffs.
Customer reviews
On Trustpilot, Scottish Power holds a score of 4.4 out of 5 across 203,838 reviews, narrowly ahead of Utilita Energy's 4.3 from 112,483 reviews. However, Utilita maintains a higher proportion of five-star ratings at 72%, compared to 60% for Scottish Power. Both companies respond to negative feedback within 24 hours.
Feedback from Scottish Power customers frequently highlights helpful staff and straightforward online account management, although a portion of users report unexpected costs and difficulties contacting support. Meanwhile, Utilita Energy reviewers often note the compassionate approach of its customer service agents, particularly when assisting anxious callers.
Utilita Energy leads in the annual Which? survey with a score of 68, outperforming Scottish Power's 56. Utilita secures a perfect 10 out of 10 for both its smart meters and help for those who need it, whereas Scottish Power receives 4 out of 10 and 7 out of 10 in those respective categories. Both suppliers receive 2 out of 5 for overall customer service and value for money.
App quality and features
Scottish Power holds higher ratings across both major mobile platforms. Its iOS app achieves 4.8 out of 5 from 87,000 ratings, and the Android version scores 4.7 from 96,905 ratings. Utilita Energy's software scores 4.4 on iOS based on 27,000 ratings, and 4.1 on Android from 61,566 ratings.
Each supplier has recorded over 1,000,000 installs on the Google Play store, and both maintain their software with very recent updates.
Despite its high overall score, recent iOS feedback for Scottish Power points to occasional issues with smart meters and billing. Conversely, a sample of recent Utilita Energy reviews highlights effective support for managing accounts via the app.
Service and support
Average wait: 1.3 min
Hours: Weekdays 9am–5pm, closed Saturday, closed Sunday
Average wait: 1 min
Hours: Weekdays 8am–8pm, open Saturday and Sunday 8am–5pm
Replies: 94% within 2 days
Hours: 24/7
Replies: 98% within 2 days
Hours: 24/7
Average response: ~2 min
Hours: Business hrs
Average response: ~1 min
Hours: Business hrs
In the latest Citizens Advice data, Scottish Power achieves a score of 2.94 out of 5, placing it 10th overall. Utilita Energy ranks 15th with a score of 2.35.
When it comes to contact times, Utilita Energy is faster to answer the phone, averaging a call centre wait time of 1 minute compared to Scottish Power's 1 minute 16 seconds. Utilita is also quicker to reply on social media, taking 1 minute 28 seconds against Scottish Power's 2 minutes 25 seconds.
Email response rates follow a similar pattern: Utilita replies to 98.2% of emails within two days, while Scottish Power manages 94.3%. Both companies maintain formal vulnerability commitments registered with Citizens Advice.
Scottish Power operates its support lines on weekdays from 9am to 5pm. Utilita Energy provides more extensive availability, opening from 8am to 8pm on weekdays and 8am to 5pm on weekends.
| Metric | Scottish Power | Utilita Energy |
|---|---|---|
| Average social media response time | 2 minutes 25 seconds | 1 minute 28 seconds |
Complaints and performance
Complaint figures are shown with each supplier’s reporting period. No winner is declared when periods differ or one figure is missing.
Green Energy Comparison
Scottish Power
Scottish Power's parent company invests heavily in wind farms and renewable generation. However, the electricity it supplies to standard domestic customers is largely fossil fuels, with some renewable, nuclear and other sources. It offers a specific green tariff that provides 100% renewable electricity. The company has set net zero targets and sells solar panels and home batteries to help customers generate their own renewable power at home.
Utilita Energy
Utilita aims to reach net zero across its own operations by 2030. The company campaigns against greenwashing, arguing that suppliers should not claim to offer 100% green energy just by buying certificates. Its own domestic electricity mix is largely fossil fuels, with some nuclear and other sources. To help customers lower their carbon footprint, Utilita offers solar panel and battery storage packages for homes.
Our verdict
| If you care most about | Choose |
|---|---|
| The lowest annual cost on our assumptions | Either |
| Overall customer service | Scottish Power |
| A well-rated mobile app | Scottish Power |
| A greener fuel mix | Scottish Power |
Scottish Power wins with stronger app ratings and a higher Citizens Advice score, though Utilita Energy performs better in Which? scoring.
Scottish Power places higher in this comparison, driven primarily by its stronger mobile app ratings and a better overall Citizens Advice score. However, Utilita Energy may appeal to households prioritising faster phone support and higher Which? customer satisfaction ratings.
Your choice depends on priorities: Scottish Power stands out for app ratings and Citizens Advice performance, while Utilita Energy is stronger on phone response times and Which? scoring.
- Higher overall Citizens Advice score
- Stronger ratings on both iOS and Android apps
- Offers fixed-term tariffs in our comparison data
- Lower Which? customer satisfaction score
- Slower average email and phone response times
- Higher Which? score, including 10 out of 10 for smart meters
- Faster call and social media response times
- Telephone support available on weekends
- Lower overall Citizens Advice score
- Lower app ratings compared to Scottish Power
- No fixed-term tariffs in our current pricing data
Frequently asked questions
Which supplier is better overall?
Scottish Power performs better across the sources we reviewed, with a higher Citizens Advice score and stronger app ratings. However, Utilita Energy has a stronger Which? customer satisfaction score and faster phone support.
Are Scottish Power and Utilita Energy tariffs the same price?
Their standard variable tariffs are effectively identical under our assumptions, both costing £1,611 a year. Scottish Power also offers fixed-term deals, while Utilita Energy focuses on variable pricing for smart meters.
What do customers say about Scottish Power and Utilita Energy?
Both suppliers have strong Trustpilot scores, with Scottish Power at 4.4 and Utilita Energy at 4.3. Utilita has a higher share of five-star reviews and scores better in the annual Which? survey, achieving top marks for its smart meters and help for those who need it.
Which supplier offers a better mobile app?
Scottish Power leads on both platforms, scoring 4.8 on iOS and 4.7 on Android. Utilita Energy also has well-rated apps, scoring 4.4 on iOS and 4.1 on Android, but Scottish Power sits slightly ahead on the data we compared.
How fast do Scottish Power and Utilita Energy answer the phone?
Utilita Energy is slightly faster, with an average call centre wait time of 1 minute compared to 1 minute 16 seconds for Scottish Power. Utilita is also quicker to respond on social media and by email.
Should I choose Scottish Power or Utilita Energy?
If app quality and a higher Citizens Advice score matter most to you, Scottish Power is the better option. If you prefer faster phone support and a supplier with a stronger Which? rating, Utilita Energy may suit you better.
Does Utilita Energy offer fixed tariffs?
There are no fixed-term tariffs for Utilita Energy in our current pricing data. The supplier focuses on standard variable options for pay-as-you-go and smart meter customers.
What are the opening hours for Scottish Power and Utilita Energy?
Scottish Power is open on weekdays from 9am to 5pm and is closed on weekends. Utilita Energy offers longer hours, open on weekdays from 8am to 8pm, and on weekends from 8am to 5pm.
How do Scottish Power and Utilita Energy perform in Which? scoring?
Utilita Energy scores 68 in the Which? survey, outperforming Scottish Power, which scores 56. Utilita achieves a perfect 10 out of 10 for its smart meters and help for those who need it.
Do Scottish Power or Utilita Energy charge exit fees?
Neither supplier charges an exit fee on their cheapest standard variable tariffs. Scottish Power's cheapest 12-month fixed tariff also comes with no exit fee.
What changed this month
This month, Scottish Power's iOS sampled positive reviews rose from 1 to 3, Scottish Power's iOS sampled reviews avg stars rose from 2.33 to 6, and Scottish Power's iOS sampled negative reviews fell from 2 to 0. There were 20 other data changes this month — see the full changelog below for details.
Data changes this month (30)
Scottish Power
- Trustpilot reviews198,589 → 203,838
- Trustpilot negative reviews replied %91 → 92
- iOS app ratings count86,000 → 87,000
- iOS app days since last update26 → 28
- iOS sampled reviews avg stars2.33 → 6
- iOS sampled positive reviews1 → 3
- iOS sampled negative reviews2 → 0
- Play Store rating4.7281113 → 4.731496
- Play Store ratings count95,532 → 96,905
- Play Store days since last update27 → 28
- Play Store positive ratings %94.2 → 94.3
- Play Store neutral ratings %1.3 → 1.2
- Play Store net-positive %89.7 → 89.8
- Cheapest variable tariff£1,804.74 → £1,610.81
- Cheapest fixed tariff£1,990.1 → £1,829.85
- Cheapest tariff£1,804.74 → £1,610.81
Utilita Energy
- Trustpilot reviews112,253 → 112,483
- Trustpilot negative reviews replied %100 → 99
- iOS app days since last update47 → 12
- iOS sampled reviews avg stars2.67 → 4
- iOS sampled negative reviews2 → 0
- Play Store rating4.129011 → 4.1229296
- Play Store ratings count61,547 → 61,566
- Play Store days since last update61 → 12
- Play Store positive ratings %77.7 → 77.5
- Play Store negative ratings %18.7 → 18.9
- Play Store neutral ratings %3.6 → 3.7
- Play Store net-positive %59 → 58.6
- Cheapest variable tariff£1,804.59 → £1,610.67
- Cheapest tariff£1,804.59 → £1,610.67
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Written by
Rob Gibbs
Hi, I'm Rob, and I run Energy-Review.co.uk. I initially started this project in 2018 when I was looking to switch energy suppliers and found there wasn't a website that provided simple, data-backed reviews on all the suppliers available. Since then, I have spent a lot of time (too much, some may say!) looking at all publicly available data about each supplier and writing reviews using this information. These reviews are updated as regularly as possible, and any data is backed up by a source where necessary. I have also started writing guides on various energy-related topics, which hopefully you will find useful. If you find any issues, please use our contact form to let us know.