Heat pump running cost in Scotland
Most Scottish homes, including Glasgow and Edinburgh, sit in the South Scotland supply region run by SP Energy Networks; prices for southern and northern Scotland differ slightly, so Highland and Aberdeenshire homes should check the North Scotland figures. In Scotland, electricity is capped at about 26.11p/kWh and gas at about 7.87p/kWh (Ofgem cap, Oct-Dec 2026). A typical 3-bedroom semi (around 12,000 kWh of heat a year) would cost roughly £895/yr to run an air source heat pump (SCOP 3.5), versus about £1,158/yr on gas. That is about £262 saved a year. Enter your own home below to see your figure.
Grants in Scotland
In Scotland the Boiler Upgrade Scheme does not apply. Home Energy Scotland offers grant funding of up to £7,500 for a heat pump, an extra £1,500 for rural and island homes, and an optional interest-free loan of up to £7,500.
Your standard rate. The tariff scenario is shown separately.
Efficiency. 3.5 is typical.
On a standard tariff (price cap)
electricity at 26.11p/kWh
£262 /yr saved
Heat pump £895/yr · payback 14.3 yrs
On a heat pump tariff (~15p/kWh)
cheap-rate electricity
£643 /yr saved
Heat pump £514/yr · payback 5.8 yrs
Heat pump tariffs (Octopus Cosy, EDF, Scottish Power) offered off-peak rates of about 14p to 15p/kWh in June 2026. The ~15p scenario assumes most heating runs in the cheap hours.
- Now: mains gas heating
- £1,158/yr
- Gas standing charge saved
- £108/yr
- Heat pump electricity use
- 3,429 kWh/yr (~286/month)
- Indicative system size
- ~6kW
- Install after grant
- £3,750
- CO₂ saved
- 1,730 kg/yr
If you buy through links on this site we may earn a commission. It never changes the price you pay.
Estimate only. Real figures depend on your home, install and tariff. Prices: Ofgem cap, Oct-Dec 2026.
Heat pump running cost in Scotland by home type
Typical yearly cost at Southern Scotland supply region prices (Oct-Dec 2026), for homes with good insulation.
| Home | Heat kWh/yr | Heat pump £/yr (cap) | Heat pump £/yr (HP tariff) | Gas boiler £/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-bedroom flat | 4,500 | £336 | £193 | £502 |
| 3-bedroom flat | 9,000 | £671 | £386 | £895 |
| 2-bedroom terraced house | 8,000 | £597 | £343 | £808 |
| 3-bedroom semi-detached house | 12,000 | £895 | £514 | £1,158 |
| 2-bedroom bungalow | 9,500 | £709 | £407 | £939 |
| 3-bedroom bungalow | 12,500 | £933 | £536 | £1,201 |
| 4-bedroom detached house | 19,250 | £1,436 | £825 | £1,792 |
The tariff you are on matters more than the house
Every figure above uses the 26.32p/kWh price cap. A dedicated heat pump tariff runs nearer 15p in its cheap windows, roughly 43 percent off the unit rate, which moves the running cost further than any change to the property itself.