Scottish Power Ltd.
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryElectricity generation, transmission, distribution, retailing
Founded1990
HeadquartersGlasgow, Scotland, UK
ProductsElectricity and natural gas
RevenueIncrease £5,349.7 million (2020)
Decrease £78 million (2020)
Number of employees
5,500 (2020)
ParentIberdrola
Websitewww.scottishpower.com

Scottish Power is a vertically integrated energy company based in Glasgow, Scotland.[1] It is a subsidiary of Spanish utility firm Iberdrola.

ScottishPower is the distribution network operator for Central and Southern Scotland, Merseyside, North Wales and parts of Cheshire and Shropshire.[2] It is also the transmission owner for the south of Scotland.[3] The company also supplies electricity and gas to homes and businesses around the United Kingdom and generates power for supply to the grid. It owned PPM Energy in the United States which has now been folded into Avangrid.

History

Foundation

Original ScottishPower logo

ScottishPower was formed in 1990, in preparation for the privatisation of the previously state-owned Scottish electricity industry the following year.[4] Previously the UK government had privatised the English and Welsh electricity industry by splitting the market into 12 regional electricity companies (RECs) and two power generators. However, in Scotland, the industry was already organised on an integrated generation, distribution, and supply basis, and this integration survived the privatisation to become a model for the rest of the United Kingdom. ScottishPower was largely formed from the larger of the two Scottish electricity boards, the South of Scotland Electricity Board, whilst the other, the North of Scotland Hydro Board, eventually became part of the Scottish & Southern Energy Group (the nuclear power stations in Scotland were spun off into a third company, Scottish Nuclear, which was not sold off with ScottishPower and Scottish Hydro Electric, but was sold later as part of British Energy).

MANWEB and Southern Water

ScottishPower was the larger of the two Scottish energy companies and benefited from being both a generator and supplier of power. In 1995 it acquired the regional electricity company MANWEB, which supplied Merseyside, North Wales and parts of Cheshire.[5] In 1996 the company diversified into the water supply business with the purchase of Southern Water[6] (which was sold again in 2002).[7]

When the supply of energy into British homes was opened up to competition, ScottishPower entered this market, stealing share from the previous gas supply monopoly British Gas and also building new market share in England and Wales.

Thus

ScottishPower established the telecommunications company, Thus (originally known as Scottish Telecom)[8] and then floated it on the London Stock Exchange in 2002.[9]

PacifiCorp

In 2000, ScottishPower completed the acquisition of PacifiCorp, which supplies electricity in the western United States, which operates as Pacific Power (in the regulated energy industries of the states of Oregon, Washington, California), and as Rocky Mountain Power (in the regulated energy industries of the states of Idaho and Utah as well as both and central and eastern Wyoming (former Pacific Power territory), and southwestern Wyoming).[10] In May 2005, ScottishPower announced that it had agreed to sell Pacificorp to MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company, a company controlled by Warren Buffett's company, Berkshire Hathaway, for US$5.1 billion in cash and US$4.3 billion in debt and preferred stock.[11] The successful completion of the deal was announced on 21 March 2006, after securing regulatory approvals. The deal did not include PPM Energy (which, as Pacificorp Power Marketing, was formerly the non-regulated subsidiary of Pacificorp).

Rejected takeover bid from E.ON

Following the announcement, the group's share price rose but was now widely seen as vulnerable to a takeover. It was soon revealed that the German energy group E.ON, who also owns Powergen, was interested in a takeover. On 22 November 2005, the board rejected an offer from E.ON of 570 pence a share, which would have valued the group at £10.7 billion.[12]

Takeover bid from Iberdrola

On 28 November 2006, the board of directors of ScottishPower agreed to an £11.6 billion takeover bid by the Spanish energy firm Iberdrola. The offer was formally approved by shareholders at an EGM on 30 March 2007, effectively creating Europe's third largest utility company.[13]

Extra Energy SoLR Appointment

On 24 November 2018, the British government's energy regulator, the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) appointed Scottish Power as Supplier of Last Resort for the failed domestic and business supplier Extra Energy. Scottish Power acquired all of Extra Energy's 108,000 domestic customers and 21,000 business customers.[14]

Tonik Energy SoLR Appointment

On Friday 9 October 2020, Ofgem appointed Scottish Power as Supplier of Last Resort for the failed domestic supplier Tonik Energy. Scottish Power acquired all of Tonik Energy's 130,000 customers.[15]

Yorkshire Energy SoLR Appointment

On Friday 5 December 2020, Ofgem appointed Scottish Power as Supplier of Last Resort for the failed domestic supplier Yorkshire Energy (also known as Daisy Energy). Scottish Power acquired all 74,000 domestic customers and a small number of non-domestic customers.[16]

Regulatory investigations, harassment, poor customer service, and complaints

In April 2007, the energy regulator Ofgem urged customers of Scottish Power and EDF Energy to switch to a cheaper provider after the firms refused to cut prices in line with the rest of the industry.[17]

In April 2008, Ofgem launched an investigation into allegations that Scottish Power abused their dominant market position relating to the electricity transmission network they own jointly in Scotland.[18] Ofgem said it had launched its inquiry into Scottish Power and SSE under section 18 of the Competition Act, "based on a formal complaint alleging abuse of a dominant position in the electricity generation sector arising from constrained capacity on the transmission network."[19] The energy regulator believes that energy generators manipulate the power market for profit when supplies are tight because network operator National Grid has to pay utilities to turn their plants on or off to balance supply and demand. This resulted in companies deliberately shutting their plants down when supplies are tight in order to receive a higher payment to start up again, increasing the system balancing costs at the expense of consumers. Ofgem was alarmed that the cost of balancing the system increased from £70 million in 2007/08 to an estimated £238 million for 2008/09 and an expected £258 million in 2009/10, with most of the costs incurred in Scotland. In January 2009, Ofgem suspended the investigation, saying it would be more effective to deal with the wider problem than pursuing the specific case further.[20]

The company's new headquarters in central Glasgow (2017)

In November 2012, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) publicly listed ScottishPower as one of a number of companies that it had concerns about due to unsolicited telephone calls for marketing. The concerns were based on complaints. In response, ScottishPower said that it was working with the ICO to address any issues.[21]

In early 2015, Scottish Power was temporarily banned from signing up new customers, due to long-standing and serious concerns regarding poor customer service, overdue bills and failure to implement rulings made by the Energy Ombudsman.[22] The company's failings continued to be highlighted in the press later in the year, with complaints levels 20 times those of their best-performing competitor[23]

In April 2016, Scottish Power released a press release that an £18M agreement had been reached with OFGEM following their investigation into customer service standards.[24]

In 2017, Scottish Power created controversy when they pursued a couple for a £4,300 debt despite the couple not owing Scottish Power any money and, moreover, not being customers of the firm. Scottish Power ignored letters from the couple, instead sending bailiffs to the home of the couple. It later transpired that the couple were in no debt to Scottish Power.[25]

In 2020, The Observer gave Scottish Power an award for the year's "worst customer service" for "its singular pursuit of revenue", including sending bills, debt collectors' letters and the threat of bailiffs to people who did not use its services, then refusing to register their complaints.[26]

In January 2021, the Consumers' Association Which? magazine ranked Scottish Power the worst-performing supplier for customer service and the second worst supplier overall in their annual review of energy suppliers.[27]

Operations

Energy Retail

The Energy Retail division contains ScottishPower Energy Retail Ltd which holds the gas and electricity supply licences.

At the end of September 2020, this division held an 8.9% share of the domestic electricity supply market[28] and 7.6% share of the domestic gas supply market.[29] This represents a slight decline from the previous year and also the lowest market share held by the company since 2004.

Also included in this division is SP Dataserve Ltd which provides a range of metering services including data collection, analysis and revenue protection.[30]

Energy Networks

Scottish Power electricity distribution areas

The Energy Networks business contains three asset owning companies SP Transmission Ltd – holds the transmission licence for central and southern Scotland and owns the part of the Moyle Interconnector with Northern Ireland Electricity, SP Distribution Ltd – holds the distribution licence for central and southern Scotland and SP Manweb Plc – holds the distribution licence for North Wales, Merseyside, and Cheshire. A fourth asset management business SP Power Systems Ltd maintains and repairs the distribution networks on behalf of the owners and acts as the distribution network operator. The operation of the transmission grid is carried out by National Grid plc.

Energy Wholesale

Energy Wholesale contained two companies ScottishPower Generation Ltd which formerly generated 6,200MW of electricity power in the United Kingdom using coal-fired thermal power stations, combined cycle power stations, hydro-electric schemes, pumped storage generation and were acquired by Drax in 2018. In 2006, ScottishPower Renewables (SPR) was granted permission to build Europe's largest on-shore windfarm. The 322 MW / 140 turbine site cost an estimated £300m and covers approximately 55 km2 (21 sq mi) of moorland south of Glasgow. By 2014, SPR had a portfolio of over 1,250 MW of operating windfarms, including the recently expanded Whitelee with a total generation capacity of 539 MW, making it Europe's largest windfarm. Also within this division is ScottishPower Energy Management Ltd which is responsible for buying and selling wholesale energy.

In 2005, the WWF named ScottishPower's Cockenzie power station as the UK's least carbon-efficient power station.[31] It is now closed.

In 2007, the WWF named ScottishPower's Longannet power station as the UK's least carbon-efficient power station out of Europe's top 30 worst polluting power stations in absolute terms.[32] It ceased operation in 2016.[33]

ScottishPower generation portfolio
Station name Generation capacity Installation Fuel
Whitelee Wind Farm 322 MW 140 Siemens wind turbines Wind
Black Law Wind Farm 124 MW 54 Siemens wind turbines Wind

PPM Energy

PPM Energy Inc was previously the competitive arm of Pacificorp but was made a separate business in 2002. It was involved in renewable energy and gas storage, amongst other things, in the US. It is now part of Avangrid Renewables.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Scottish Power Limited – Overview (free company information from Companies House)".
  2. ↑ "Contact Us – SP Energy Networks".
  3. ↑ "Our Transmission Network".
  4. ↑ A whole world sold on sell-offs Guardian, 22 November 2000
  5. ↑ Manweb confirms bid talks Independent, 26 September 1995
  6. ↑ Scottish Water gets $2.35bn offer New York Times, 29 May 1996
  7. ↑ Scottish Power to sell water firm for £2bn BBC News, 8 March 2002
  8. ↑ Thus: About us
  9. ↑ And thus the demerger finally canme to pass Independent, 20 December 2001
  10. ↑ Scottish utility bids for PacificCorp Chicago Sun-Times, 8 December 1998
  11. ↑ Berkshire Unit to acquire PacificCorp for $5.1bn Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine Wall Street Journal, 24 May 2005
  12. ↑ Scottish Power rejects bid move BBC News, 22 November 2005
  13. ↑ Iberdrola to buy Scottish Power for £11.6bn International Herald Tribune, 28 November 2006
  14. ↑ "Ofgem appoints Scottish Power to take on customers of Extra Energy".
  15. ↑ "Scottish Power to supply Tonik Energy customers – Ofgem". Reuters. 9 October 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  16. ↑ "Ofgem appoints Scottish Power to take on customers of Yorkshire Energy".
  17. ↑ Ofgem slams EDF and Scottish Power. Times Online. 24 April 2007. Retrieved 4 June 2009.
  18. ↑ Ofgem inquiry into dominance of Scottish grid. The Guardian. 9 April 2008. Retrieved 4 June 2009.
  19. ↑ Scottish Power to be investigated by Ofgem Archived 4 August 2012 at archive.today. LDP Business. 8 April 2009. Retrieved 4 June 2009.
  20. ↑ Ofgem wants more power to punish market abuse. Reuters. 30 March 2009. Retrieved 4 June 2009.
  21. ↑ Core, Kevin (16 November 2012), Commissioner names firms over 'nuisance' marketing calls, BBC News, retrieved 8 February 2013
  22. ↑ "Scottish Power hit with 12-day sales ban by Ofgem". BBC News. 4 March 2015.
  23. ↑ Shaw, Vicky (28 September 2015). "ScottishPower finish bottom of customer service league table with 20 times more complaints than top-ranked supplier".
  24. ↑ "ScottishPower to pay £18m for customer service failings". 26 April 2016.
  25. ↑ "Firm chases wrong couple for £4k debt". BBC News. 17 March 2017.
  26. ↑ Tims, Anna (27 December 2020). "In the year of Covid, the awards for worst customer service go to..." The Observer. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  27. ↑ Williams, Martin (25 January 2021). "ScottishPower, SSE, Scottish Gas, Outfox & Octopus: Best and worst energy firms for customer satisfaction". The Herald. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  28. ↑ "Electricity supply market shares by company: Domestic (GB)". Ofgem. September 2020. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  29. ↑ "Gas supply market shares by company: Domestic (GB)". Ofgem. September 2020. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  30. ↑ "SP Dataserve Ltd". Association of Meter Operators.
  31. ↑ "Hazelwood tops international list of dirty power stations -- WWF-Australia". Archived from the original on 13 October 2008. Retrieved 2 October 2008.
  32. ↑ "Dirty Thirty – Ranking of the most polluting power stations in Europe" (PDF). WWF. May 2007.
  33. ↑ "Longannet power station chimney blown up". BBC News. 8 December 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
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