What is a Direct Debit?

A Direct Debit spreads the cost of your energy across the year, helping you pay the same amount each month.

Instead of paying higher bills during winter and lower bills during summer, we estimate your yearly energy costs and divide them into monthly payments.

Your payments are collected automatically from your bank account and are protected by the Direct Debit Guarantee.

Why do energy suppliers use Direct Debit?

Direct Debit helps smooth out seasonal changes in energy use.

Most homes use more gas and electricity during winter. By spreading payments across the year, you can budget more easily and avoid unexpected seasonal bills.

How do you calculate my Direct Debit?

We calculate your Direct Debit using:

Your energy use
Your current account balance
Your energy prices
How much energy we expect you’ll use over the next year

How can I make sure my payments are covering the energy I use?

The more accurate your meter readings are, the more accurate your Direct Debit will be. So, it’s important to provide us with your meter readings  regularly.

If you have a smart meter, we’ll automatically receive regular readings. If you don’t already have a smart meter, find out more and book an installation here.

How is my monthly payment worked out?

Step 1: We calculate your energy costs

We look at:

The energy you’ve already used
The energy you are likely to use over the next year

Step 2: We work out the total amount you need to pay for the year

We combine:

Your account balance as it is at the moment
Your estimated future energy costs

Step 3: We spread the cost across the year

We divide the total amount by 12 to create a monthly payment.

Step 4: We adjust for upcoming payments

If your next Direct Debit is due within the next two weeks, we’ll usually collect it at the current amount.

We’ll then spread any remaining balance across your future monthly payments.

Why has my Direct Debit changed?

Your Direct Debit may increase or decrease if:

Your energy use changes
Energy prices change
You change tariff
You build up debt on your account
You build up more credit than expected
We receive updated meter readings

Video: How Direct Debit works

What happens if we are unable to collect your Direct Debit payment?

If we’re not able to collect your Direct Debit payment, we’ll try again.

Under our Terms and Conditions, if the second collection attempt is unsuccessful, we’ll apply a £5 administration fee.

How do I set up a Direct Debit?

You can set up a Direct Debit through:

Your online account
The ScottishPower App

Once you’ve logged in:

Select Change your tariff
Choose Direct Debit
Follow the on-screen instructions

How often will I receive a bill?

If you pay by Direct Debit, we’ll send you a bill summary at least twice a year.

Your bill shows:

How much energy you’ve used and how much it’s cost
Any account balance
Your current Direct Debit amount

If your bill is based on estimated readings, please send us an up-to-date meter reading so we can make sure you’re paying for the energy you’ve actually used.

How can I make sure my monthly payments are right?

You can use My Energy Tracker in your online account or the ScottishPower App to see whether you’re using more or less energy than we expected. You can then choose to use less energy or change your monthly payment.

Our Direct Debit Manager tool can also help as you can:

Review your payments
See our recommended payment
Change your Direct Debit amount
Change your payment date
Update your bank details

Can I get a refund if I'm in credit?

Yes.

It’s normal to build up credit during the warmer months when many households use less energy. This credit should help cover higher winter energy use. We use any credit on your account to lower your monthly payments.

If you’d like a refund:

Log in to your online account
Submit an up-to-date meter reading
We’ll check whether your account is eligible

If you’re eligible, contact us through webchat and we’ll help you arrange the refund.

Learn more on our refunds support page.