Stable base for ScottishPower

ScottishPower has showed signs of weathering the storm in the UK energy market after revealing no change in customer numbers this year.

The utility, owned by Spain’s Iberdrola, added that half-year earnings were higher despite a sharp drop in demand due to warmer weather.

The base of 5.6 million gas and electricity customers was the same number as a year ago.

Last week rival SSE said it lost 110,000 customers over the last three months, taking its base down to nine million, despite freezing prices.

Iberdrola said UK earnings rose 8.5% to £192m. The generation business made up for a squeeze on margins in the household supply operation.