How much does it cost to charge an EV in North Scotland?
Standard-tariff electricity in North Scotland currently costs 27.9p/kWh — 6.8% above the July 2026 GB-average Ofgem price cap of 26.11p/kWh. A full home charge of a Tesla Model Y here costs about £23.77.
Prices based on the Ofgem price cap of 26.11 p/kWh, effective 1 July 2026.Source: Ofgem
Standard rate here
27.9p/kWh
live Octopus standard variable rate
vs GB average
+6.8%
Ofgem cap average: 26.11p/kWh
Octopus Go off-peak here
9.5p/kWh
EV tariff overnight window
What that means for real EVs in North Scotland
| Model | Full charge (standard rate) | Per mile | Full charge (Go off-peak) |
|---|---|---|---|
| MG MG4 EV50.8 kWh usable | £16.10 | 7.4p | £5.48 |
| Tesla Model Y75 kWh usable | £23.77 | 6.1p | £8.10 |
| Kia EV674 kWh usable | £23.45 | 7.2p | £7.99 |
Includes ~12% AC charging losses. Off-peak assumes all charging inside the cheap window.
Who runs the network in North Scotland
The wires in this region (The Highlands, Aberdeenshire, Tayside and the Scottish islands) are operated by SSEN Distribution. Network costs are set per region and passed through to every electricity tariff — they are the main reason the same kWh costs a different amount here than elsewhere in Great Britain, and why the Ofgem price cap itself is set regionally.
North Scotland charging questions
Is electricity more expensive in North Scotland than the rest of the UK?
Yes - the standard rate here is about 6.8% above the GB-average price cap of 26.11p/kWh, because SSEN Distribution's network charges are higher than the GB average.
What does a full charge cost in North Scotland?
On the region’s standard rate, a Tesla Model Y (75 kWh) costs about £23.77 from empty to full, or about £8.10 on Octopus Go's overnight rate. Smaller-battery cars cost proportionally less — see the table above.
Do EV tariffs change by region too?
Yes — off-peak EV tariff rates are also set per region; in North Scotland the Octopus Go overnight rate is currently 9.5p/kWh. Whatever your region, the overnight window remains far cheaper than the standard rate, so tariff choice matters more than geography.