In a major move for sustainable living, Octopus Energy has announced a significant expansion of its pioneering 'Zero Bills' scheme in partnership with leading housebuilder Barratt Redrow.
Scaling Up Zero-Bill Living
The collaboration will see the creation of 54 new homes across two initial locations: Wixams in Bedfordshire and Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire. These properties are designed so that residents will not pay a penny for their home energy costs for ten years.
The first of these innovative homes are scheduled for completion in 2026. Both companies are already actively exploring further potential sites to roll out the scheme more widely across the UK.
How the Zero Bills Tariff Works
Launched back in 2022, the Octopus Zero Bills tariff is integrated into new-build homes equipped with a full suite of green technology. This package includes:
- Solar panels
- A heat pump
- A home battery
- An electric vehicle (EV) charger
This combination allows households to generate and store their own renewable energy, effectively eliminating standard energy bills for a guaranteed period of at least five to ten years.
Nigel Banks, Zero Bills Director at Octopus Energy, commented on the scale of the new partnership. "We are now able to showcase what can be achieved with Zero Bills at scale in new housing developments," he said. "Eliminating home energy bills with our game-changing tariff is now a simple, viable and cost-effective upgrade."
A Broader Vision for Affordable Sustainability
Oliver Novakovic, Technical and Innovation Director at Barratt Redrow, emphasised the partnership's dual benefits. "We’re helping buyers to cut their energy costs to zero whilst also lowering their carbon footprint," he stated, highlighting how the initiative merges energy efficiency with long-term affordability.
This latest deal follows a £100 million funding injection from Octopus Capital's Affordable Housing Fund, which is set to unlock over 1,000 Zero Bills homes across England and Scotland.
To date, Octopus Energy has approved plans for more than 5,000 Zero Bills homes through various partnerships with developers. These homes cover a range of tenures, including affordable housing, private rentals, and properties for private or shared ownership.
The company has an ambitious target to deliver 100,000 Zero Bills homes by 2030. The model has already been successfully exported, with initiatives now live in Germany, France, and New Zealand, alongside its ongoing UK expansion.
