Scottish Power out-of-contract rates
Scottish Power out-of-contract electricity is 29.45p per kWh with a 159.28p daily standing charge, effective 1 Oct 2026. Gas is 7.21p per kWh on 100p a day, effective 1 Oct 2026. Full Scottish Power profile.
Out-of-contract energy rates for UK businesses
Out-of-contract rates, also called deemed rates, are the unit price per kWh and daily standing charge a UK energy supplier applies to a business with no fixed contract in place, usually because a fixed term ended without a new one being signed.
Across the 16 suppliers on this page, published out-of-contract electricity runs from 29.45p to 63.98p per kWh, and gas from 7.21p to 19.88p per kWh. Every figure is read from the supplier's own published schedule, and every one is linked.
Every figure below was last checked against the supplier's own published schedule on 3 Nov 2026.
The 16 UK suppliers and their published out-of-contract rates
Listed in published electricity rate order. A low deemed rate is not a reason to choose a supplier: nobody should be picking a supplier on the price they charge for not having a contract. Select a supplier for the full profile and a direct link to the document each figure was read from.
| Supplier | Electricity (p/kWh) | Electricity standing charge (p/day) | Gas (p/kWh) | Gas standing charge (p/day) | Effective from | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 29.45 | 159.28 | 7.21 | 100 | 1 Oct 2026 | Supplier schedulechecked 3 Nov 2026 |
 | 35.47 | 168 | 11.04 | 548 | 1 Jul 2026 | Supplier sitechecked 3 Nov 2026 |
E ENGIE | 37.89 | 528 | 13.32 | 220 | 1 Jun 2026 | Supplier schedulechecked 3 Nov 2026 |
CE Conrad Energy | 38.41 | 123.40 | - | - | 1 Oct 2026 | Supplier sitechecked 3 Nov 2026 |
 | 40.65 | 203.88 | 10.54 | 182.60 | 24 May 2026 | Supplier schedulechecked 3 Nov 2026 |
 | 41.90 | 300 | 13.90 | 175 | 1 Oct 2026 | Supplier schedulechecked 3 Nov 2026 |
 | 42.91 | site specific | 12.98 | 256 | 1 Sept 2026 | Supplier sitechecked 3 Nov 2026 |
 | 44.00 | 450 | 8.50 | 500 | 1 Oct 2026 | Supplier schedulechecked 3 Nov 2026 |
 | 45.00 | 150 | 15.00 | 150 | 1 Mar 2026 | Supplier sitechecked 3 Nov 2026 |
 | 45.94 | 400 | 14.97 | 325 | 1 Nov 2026 | Supplier schedulechecked 3 Nov 2026 |
 | 45.94 | 300 | - | - | 1 Nov 2026 | Supplier sitechecked 3 Nov 2026 |
 | 47.46 | site specific | 15.72 | site specific | 1 Nov 2026 | Supplier schedulechecked 3 Nov 2026 |
 | 50.38 | 241 | 13.95 | 263 | 1 Nov 2026 | Supplier schedulechecked 3 Nov 2026 |
 | 53.31 | 343 | 13.76 | 704 | 1 Nov 2026 | Supplier sitechecked 3 Nov 2026 |
 | 53.38 | 300 | 18.91 | 300 | 1 Aug 2026 | Supplier schedulechecked 3 Nov 2026 |
 | 63.98 | 480 | 19.88 | 750 | 10 Aug 2026 | Supplier schedulechecked 3 Nov 2026 |
Standing charges, effective dates and the source document for each figure are on a wider screen, and in full under out-of-contract rates by supplier.
Electricity figures are the non-half-hourly small business rate (profile class 1 to 4, or the supplier's nearest published equivalent). Gas figures are the small non-daily-metered band (annual quantity under 73,200 kWh, or equivalent). Where a supplier publishes a regional or banded matrix, the figure shown is the median of the published rows, with the full range and the exact published basis on the supplier's own profile page. Verify the figure for your region and meter type before relying on it.
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How much higher are out-of-contract rates than a fixed contract?
The honest answer is that it depends on the supplier and on when the fixed contract was signed, and the spread between suppliers is wider than most businesses expect. The highest published out-of-contract electricity rate on this page is 63.98p per kWh and the lowest is 29.45p, a difference of 34.53p per kWh between two suppliers for the same thing. On 250,000 kWh a year, a spread of that size is the difference between two bills that are thousands of pounds apart before a single unit of consumption changes. Compare the figure you are on against current fixed offers for business electricity rates and business gas rates.
Suppliers tracked
16
Every major UK business energy supplier we track, whether or not we hold contracts with them
Average electricity rate
44.75p/kWh
Mean across published schedules. Range 29.45p to 63.98p
Average gas rate
13.55p/kWh
Mean across published schedules. Range 7.21p to 19.88p
How out-of-contract rates have moved since 2018
We read every price list we could find from 6 suppliers, from their own document libraries and the copies saved by the Wayback Machine. All 6 charge more for out-of-contract electricity today than in the earliest list we found. Each supplier profile has the full table, the archived source for every figure and a CSV download.
| Supplier | Earliest found | Highest | Now | Schedules |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SSE BusinessVariable Business Rates | 19.1p, November 2019 | 84.79p, October 2022 | 45.939p, November 2026 | 17 |
| Scottish PowerStandard Variable tariff | 27.105p, January 2022 | 37.515p, September 2023 | 29.445p, October 2026 | 7 |
| E.ON NextDeemed contract prices | 22.385p, October 2020 | 74.87p, September 2022 | 41.9p, October 2026 | 10 |
| EDFExtended Supply prices | 23.5p, November 2018 | 80.18p, October 2022 | 55.47p, November 2026 | 43 |
| British GasStandard Variable Rates | 20.64p, October 2019 | 124.5p, October 2022 | 27.98p, May 2026 | 10 |
| TotalEnergiesDeemed rates | 20.38p, January 2021 | 107.32p, September 2022 | 42.91p, September 2026 | 21 |
Out-of-contract rates and deemed rates: what is the difference?
Most suppliers use the two terms for two different situations, and price them differently. Deemed rates apply when a business takes supply at a property without ever having agreed a contract, typically a move-in where the previous occupier's contract has ended. Out-of-contract, sometimes called default or variable, applies when a fixed contract ran to its end date and neither side signed a new one.
The distinction matters because some suppliers price the two differently (British Gas, Scottish Power, EDF, SmartestEnergy, Yü Energy and Shell Energy publish a separate list for each), and which one is higher varies by supplier. Where a supplier publishes both, the table above shows the rate for a contract that ended and the supplier profile carries both. For the contractual and regulatory background, see how deemed contracts work.
Out-of-contract rates by supplier
Shell Energy out-of-contract rates
Shell Energy out-of-contract electricity is 35.47p per kWh with a 168p daily standing charge, effective 1 Jul 2026. Gas is 11.04p per kWh on 548p a day, effective 1 Jul 2026. Full Shell Energy profile.
ENGIE out-of-contract rates
ENGIE out-of-contract electricity is 37.89p per kWh with a 528p daily standing charge, effective 1 Jun 2026. Gas is 13.32p per kWh on 220p a day, effective 1 Jun 2026. Full ENGIE profile.
Conrad Energy out-of-contract rates
Conrad Energy out-of-contract electricity is 38.41p per kWh with a 123.40p daily standing charge, effective 1 Oct 2026. Full Conrad Energy profile.
British Gas out-of-contract rates
British Gas out-of-contract electricity is 40.65p per kWh with a 203.88p daily standing charge, effective 24 May 2026. Gas is 10.54p per kWh on 182.60p a day, effective 24 May 2026. Full British Gas profile.
E.ON Next out-of-contract rates
E.ON Next out-of-contract electricity is 41.90p per kWh with a 300p daily standing charge, effective 1 Oct 2026. Gas is 13.90p per kWh on 175p a day, effective 1 Oct 2026. Full E.ON Next profile.
TotalEnergies out-of-contract rates
TotalEnergies out-of-contract electricity is 42.91p per kWh with a site-specific standing charge, effective 1 Sept 2026. Gas is 12.98p per kWh on 256p a day, effective 1 Sept 2026. Full TotalEnergies profile.
SmartestEnergy out-of-contract rates
SmartestEnergy out-of-contract electricity is 44.00p per kWh with a 450p daily standing charge, effective 1 Oct 2026. Gas is 8.50p per kWh on 500p a day, effective 1 Oct 2026. Full SmartestEnergy profile.
Pozitive Energy out-of-contract rates
Pozitive Energy out-of-contract electricity is 45.00p per kWh with a 150p daily standing charge, effective 1 Mar 2026. Gas is 15.00p per kWh on 150p a day, effective 1 Mar 2026. Full Pozitive Energy profile.
SSE Business out-of-contract rates
SSE Business out-of-contract electricity is 45.94p per kWh with a 400p daily standing charge, effective 1 Nov 2026. Gas is 14.97p per kWh on 325p a day, effective 1 Nov 2026. Full SSE Business profile.
Drax out-of-contract rates
Drax out-of-contract electricity is 45.94p per kWh with a 300p daily standing charge, effective 1 Nov 2026. Full Drax profile.
Crown Gas & Power out-of-contract rates
Crown Gas & Power out-of-contract electricity is 47.46p per kWh with a site-specific standing charge, effective 1 Nov 2026. Gas is 15.72p per kWh, effective 1 Nov 2026. Full Crown Gas & Power profile.
SEFE Energy out-of-contract rates
SEFE Energy out-of-contract electricity is 50.38p per kWh with a 241p daily standing charge, effective 1 Nov 2026. Gas is 13.95p per kWh on 263p a day, effective 1 Nov 2026. Full SEFE Energy profile.
Corona Energy out-of-contract rates
Corona Energy out-of-contract electricity is 53.31p per kWh with a 343p daily standing charge, effective 1 Nov 2026. Gas is 13.76p per kWh on 704p a day, effective 1 Nov 2026. Full Corona Energy profile.
EDF out-of-contract rates
EDF out-of-contract electricity is 53.38p per kWh with a 300p daily standing charge, effective 1 Aug 2026. Gas is 18.91p per kWh on 300p a day, effective 1 Aug 2026. Full EDF profile.
Yü Energy out-of-contract rates
Yü Energy out-of-contract electricity is 63.98p per kWh with a 480p daily standing charge, effective 10 Aug 2026. Gas is 19.88p per kWh on 750p a day, effective 10 Aug 2026. Full Yü Energy profile.
Out-of-contract rates: questions answered
How often do suppliers update their out-of-contract rates?
11 of the 16 suppliers on this page started a new schedule in the 90 days before we last checked them on 3 November 2026. EDF, Crown and SEFE republish every month. The oldest schedule on the page is Pozitive Energy's, effective 1 March 2026. Each supplier profile lists the date its current rates started.
Do out-of-contract rates vary by region?
Yes. Most suppliers publish a regional matrix that varies the unit rate and standing charge by Distribution Network Operator (DNO) area: there are 14 electricity distribution areas in Great Britain, and the spread between the cheapest and most expensive is material. The figure in the table is a small-business, non-half-hourly rate, and each supplier profile carries the full published detail.
How do I get out of an out-of-contract supply with my current supplier?
You sign a new fixed contract, either with the same supplier or a different one. Ofgem says that on a variable-rate contract, which includes out-of-contract and deemed rates, you can switch to a new supplier at any time. Citizens Advice says a microbusiness whose fixed term has ended won't pay a fee or need to give notice to switch. Your supplier may object to the switch if you owe it money.
Can my supplier put me on out-of-contract rates without telling me?
If you are a microbusiness, your supplier must give you its renewal prices before your contract ends, and Citizens Advice says it should contact you about three months before the end date. A larger business gets whatever notice its contract promises. In practice the notice often arrives as a line in a bill, which is why so many businesses find out only when the next invoice lands.
Sources and method
- Ofgem energy advice for businesses
- Citizens Advice non-domestic supplier league table
- Ofgem supply licence register
- All UK B2B energy supplier profiles on Purely Energy
- The best business energy brokers in the UK, compared
- How deemed contracts work
Independent compilation by Purely Energy, a UK B2B energy consultancy. We are an independent broker: we do not own any supplier listed on this page, and inclusion is not an endorsement. Every figure is read from the supplier's own published schedule or rate page and carries the date it was last checked. Not a credit recommendation.
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