EV charging cost calculator — Northern Scotland
Pick how you drive, pick your tariff, and we'll work out today's cost per charge and your annual running cost using the live Octopus prices for the SSEN (Northern Scotland) region. Compare Go, Intelligent Go and Agile against a standard variable tariff — Highland and Perthshire rates aren't the same as Central Belt rates, so this matters more than most calculators let on.
Built for drivers in Perth, Auchterarder, Crieff, Pitlochry, Aberfeldy and the wider Perthshire region.
EV charging cost · Northern Scotland
What does charging cost today?
How would you like to estimate your charging?
Pick whichever you find easier — we'll do the math.
Live data for Northern Scotland · refreshed hourly from the Octopus public API
Live, not stale
Rates come straight from the Octopus public API for SSEN (Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks) every hour. No outdated tables.
Built for your region
Northern Scotland (SSEN, region letter P) covers Perth, Crieff, Pitlochry and everything northwards. Rates and standing charges in this region differ from Southern Scotland — most national calculators ignore that, this one doesn't.
Install ready
Mackie are OZEV-approved installers fitting Zappi, Ohme, Hypervolt and Tesla Wall Connector chargers across Central Scotland.
Today's live Octopus rates for Northern Scotland
Full breakdown of every Octopus tariff in the SSEN (Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks) region — Flux, Go, Intelligent Go, Outgoing and the next 4-hour Agile window. Updated every hour.
Octopus Flux — import
Buy from the grid. Charge in the cheap window, avoid the peak.
| Time band (UK) | Window | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Cheap window | 02:00–05:00 | 15.36p/kWh |
| Standard | 05:00–16:00 | 25.59p/kWh |
| Peak window | 16:00–19:00 | 35.83p/kWh |
| Standard | 19:00–02:00 | 25.59p/kWh |
| Standing charge | Daily | 56.29p/day |
Octopus Flux — export
Sell to the grid. Peak export pays nearly 3× the standard rate.
| Time band (UK) | Window | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Low window | 02:00–05:00 | 4.73p/kWh |
| Standard | 05:00–16:00 | 9.98p/kWh |
| Peak export | 16:00–19:00 | 28.73p/kWh |
| Standard | 19:00–02:00 | 9.98p/kWh |
Outgoing Octopus — flat export
Simple flat-rate SEG. Used as a baseline against Flux and Agile Outgoing.
| Time band (UK) | Window | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Flat rate | 00:00–24:00 | 12.00p/kWh |
Octopus Go — EV import
Five-hour cheap overnight window for EV charging, flat day rate.
| Time band (UK) | Window | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Cheap window | 00:30–05:30 | 9.50p/kWh |
| Peak window | 05:30–00:30 | 33.49p/kWh |
| Standing charge | Daily | 56.29p/day |
Intelligent Octopus Go — EV import
Smart-charged variant with a core overnight cheap window and possible extra smart slots.
| Time band (UK) | Window | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Peak window | 05:30–23:30 | 33.49p/kWh |
| Cheap window | 23:30–05:30 | 8.00p/kWh |
| Standing charge | Daily | 56.29p/day |
Octopus Agile — half-hourly
Live · Northern ScotlandPrices change every 30 minutes. Tomorrow's slots publish around 16:00 UK.
Last refreshed: 15 May 2026, 13:40. Live data straight from Octopus Energy. Always confirm in your Octopus app before switching tariffs.
On the other side of Scotland?
EV charging cost · Southern Scotland
Same calculator, different DNO rates.
Got solar (or planning it)?
Battery savings calculator
Today's Flux import vs export spread for Northern Scotland.
Frequently asked questions
Why are EV charging costs different in Northern Scotland?
Every UK postcode sits in one of 14 distribution regions. Perth, Crieff, Pitlochry and the Highland postcodes are on SSEN North (region letter P), while Stirling and the Central Belt are on SP Energy Networks (region N). The unit prices and standing charges differ between regions — sometimes by 2–3p/kWh and a few pence per day on standing charges. This calculator uses the live figures for your specific region, not a national average.
Is Octopus Go available everywhere in the Highlands?
Octopus Go is generally available across Northern Scotland on SSEN North, but availability can vary by postcode and by whether you've got a working smart meter. Some rural postcodes on older meters need a meter exchange first. We confirm eligibility for you as part of the survey for any EV charger install in Perth, Auchterarder or further north.
Should I switch to Octopus Agile in rural Perthshire?
Agile prices reflect the wholesale market half-hour by half-hour. In Northern Scotland that often means very cheap (and sometimes negative) prices when there's surplus wind generation, which is frequent. If you can schedule your charging through your charger app, Agile often beats Go for typical Perthshire daily mileage. Smart meter is required — and if your home connection is single-phase with capacity limits, the cheapest window might be limited by your charger's draw, not the rate.
Does Mackie install EV chargers in Perth and Perthshire?
Yes — our OZEV-approved team installs across Perth, Auchterarder, Crieff and the wider Perthshire region. We handle the DNO notification with SSEN where required, and configure your charger and tariff together. Travel from our Kinlochard base into Perthshire is routine and doesn't carry extra charges.
Can I use this calculator if I'm in Inverness or Aberdeen?
Aberdeen sits on a different region (Northern Scotland West, P) — so yes, the figures here are accurate for you. Inverness is also on the same SSEN North region and uses these same rates. Mackie's installation coverage is centred on Central Scotland and Perthshire — for an install north of Inverness please call to confirm we can travel, but the calculator's numbers are correct for your tariff.
Need a charger installed in Northern Scotland?
Mackie's in-house OZEV-approved team handles every step — site survey, DNO notification, installation and tariff setup. No outsourced labour.