[en] Self-consistent energy bands have been calculated for stoichiometric ScH₂ and YH₂ using the KKR method with the Hedin--Lundqvist approximation for exchange and correlation. Earlier results are reviewed which indicated that the partial hydrogen occupation of octahedral sites in YH₂ led to low energy interband transitions. Non-muffin-tin corrections have been included in an additional self-consistent calculation of ScH₂. Comparisons are made with various calculation schemes and with the optical results of Weaver, Rosei, and Peterson. It is shown that including an interstitial sphere at the octahedral site leads to excellent agreement with these optical experiments. A non-self-consistent calculation of YH₂ with 1 octa- and 1 tetrahedral site occupied is presented and mechanisms for the low energy interband transitions are discussed