SCOTTISH HYDRO ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION PLC
Company number: SC213461
Reporting period:
1 April 2025 to 30 September 2025
Report filed on:
27 October 2025
Approved by:
Maz Alkirwi
Contracts and payments
Do any of this business's construction contracts with its suppliers include retention clauses? Yes
Payment statistics
Average time taken to pay invoices: 24 days
Total value paid:
- within 30 days: £1,187,979,118 (93%)
- in 31 to 60 days: £80,789,313 (6%)
- in 61 days or more: £6,398,454 (< 1%)
Invoices paid:
- within 30 days: 94%
- in 31 to 60 days: 5%
- in 61 days or more: 1%
Late and disputed:
- total value of payments due in the reporting period which have not been paid within the agreed period: £476,271,097
- payments due in the reporting period which have not been paid within the agreed period: 18%
Payment terms
Shortest standard payment periods
30 days
Longest standard payment period
Answer not provided
Standard payment terms
SSE's standard payment terms are Nett 30 days but buyers are authorised to negotiate alternative terms with individual suppliers where appropriate.
Were there any changes to the standard payment terms in the reporting period?
No
Were suppliers notified or consulted about these changes before they were made?
N/A
Maximum contractual payment period agreed
45 days
No further comment provided
Any other information about payment terms
No further comment provided
Retention clauses
How does this business use retention clauses?
Retention clauses are used in specific circumstances:
NEC3 Engineering & Construction Contracts have the option to utilise Retention. the percentage is generally agreed at 5% with 2.5% release on Completion and then remaining 2.5% released at the end of the Defects period (usually 12 to 36 months).
Does this business only use retention clauses in construction contracts above a specific contract sum?
No
Does this business use a standard percentage rate in retention clauses?
Yes: 5%
Does this business apply retention clause practices that are no more onerous than those applied to it on the same project?
Yes:
Not applicable - as Client there are no retention provisions
Releasing money under a retention clause
Process for releasing money this business has deducted or retained under a retention clause
Progressively throughout the construction phase of the contract and prior to Completion generally 5% is retained throughout the monthly application, certificate, invoice and payment process. Half of the retention is then released on project Completion with the other half released at the end of the Defects period.
Is the money released in stages?
Yes:
At project completion and at the end of the defects period
Amount retained from suppliers in the reporting period
Amount retained stated as a percentage of the money retained from this business by its clients
0%
Amount retained stated as a percentage of the total construction payments made by this business
3%
Dispute resolution process
The Dispute Resolution Process is detailed within the Accounts Payable section at http://sse.com/potential-suppliers/. Alternatively suppliers can also contact the "orderer" directly using the details provided on the Purchase Order
Other payment information
Has this business signed up to a code of conduct or standards on payment practices? If so, which?
For example, signatories to The Fair Payment Code must commit to paying 95% of their invoices within 60 days.
No, this business has not signed up to a code of conduct or standards on payment practices.
Does this business offer e-invoicing in relation to qualifying contracts?
This is where suppliers can electronically submit and track invoices. It's not just allowing suppliers to email them an invoice.
Yes
Does this business offer supply chain finance?
This is where a supplier who has submitted an invoice can be paid by a third-party finance provider earlier than the agreed payment date. The business would then pay the finance provider the invoiced sum.
No
Under its payment practices and policies, can this business deduct sums from payments under qualifying contracts as a charge for remaining on a supplier list?
No
During the reporting period, did the business deduct sums from payments as a charge for remaining on a supplier list?
No