UK Energy Sector Payment Practices: A Mixed Bag in 2025

The Numbers

• Companies analysed: 169
• Average PaymentCheck Score: 78.4/100
• UK average (all sectors): 50.0/100
• Difference between Energy sector average and UK average: 28.4 points
• Number of companies scoring 100/100: 5
• Lowest PaymentCheck Score: 30.9/100

What Stands Out

The energy sector's average PaymentCheck score of 78.4 is significantly higher than the UK average of 50, suggesting generally healthier payment practices compared to other industries. However, the range of scores, from perfect 100s to a low of 30.9, reveals considerable disparity within the sector. The existence of some poor payers is a drag on the rest of the industry.

Best Payers

1. EASTERN POWER NETWORKS PLC - 100/100
2. LYNN WIND FARM LIMITED - 100/100
3. BRYT ENERGY LIMITED - 100/100
4. INNER DOWSING WIND FARM LIMITED - 100/100
5. CNR INTERNATIONAL (U.K.) DEVELOPMENTS LIMITED - 100/100

Worst Payers

1. DUNLOP OIL & MARINE LIMITED - 30.9/100
2. ENERSYS LTD. - 34.36/100
3. PETROFAC FACILITIES MANAGEMENT LIMITED - 34.4/100
4. CRP SUBSEA LIMITED - 34.5/100
5. WOOD GROUP UK LIMITED - 35.2/100

Regional Patterns

While the data suggests regional variations, the sample sizes are small and should be viewed with caution. Companies in "Unknown" regions lead with an 87.6 average, followed by Northern Ireland (85.7). The South East lags slightly at 80.6, but the difference of 7 points to Unknown is not particularly pronounced and could be impacted by several factors.

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The energy sector, whilst significantly better than the UK average (78.4 vs 50), has clear payment inconsistencies, with Dunlop Oil & Marine lagging far behind top performers like Eastern Power Networks (30.9 vs 100).

2025: The Story

The energy sector experienced a slight dip in payment performance in 2025, with the average score declining by 0.8 points to 78.4/100, alongside a reduction in the number of tracked companies. Amidst this backdrop, EDF ENERGY RENEWABLES HOLDINGS LIMITED delivered an exceptional turnaround, skyrocketing by 33.0 points to achieve a score of 94.8/100, indicating a significant operational shift. NPOWER LIMITED also made impressive strides, improving by 24.4 points to 86.9/100.

However, not all movement was upward. Both SCOTTISHPOWER ENERGY RETAIL LIMITED and SCOTTISHPOWER RENEWABLES (UK) LIMITED saw notable declines, dropping 6.3 points and 5.2 points respectively, suggesting potential challenges across different segments of the ScottishPower group. The year also saw new entrants like CRAMLINGTON RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENTS LIMITED debut with a strong 94.7/100, alongside SEAGREEN WIND ENERGY LIMITED at 89.9/100, underscoring the ongoing dynamism within the renewables sub-sector. With 38 companies exiting the data and new high-performers emerging, suppliers must closely monitor the evolving landscape and specific sub-sector performance.