A family in West Sussex has achieved the remarkable feat of reducing their household energy costs to absolutely nothing, thanks to an innovative scheme from Octopus Energy.
The Path to Zero Bills
Steve Hunt and his partner purchased a three-bedroom detached house in Burgess Hill, West Sussex, for £565,000 in January. The property, built by Thakeham, came pre-installed with a cutting-edge combination of 24 solar panels and an air source heat pump. This was all part of the Octopus Energy zero-bill scheme, designed to liberate homeowners from traditional energy costs.
"Our decision was largely driven by the potential for saving money," Hunt explained. He also highlighted the significant comfort of being able to heat his home in winter without the accompanying worry of a soaring bill. The scheme operates with a generous ‘fair use’ limit of 10MWh per year, which Octopus states is approximately double the energy consumption of an average new-build home.
Long-Term Value and Industry Insight
Even beyond the immediate financial benefit, Hunt sees long-term value. "At the end of the agreement, you still own the equipment, which adds value to the property," he noted. He added that even without the special tariff, their energy costs would be minimal due to the sheer amount of electricity they generate themselves.
This initiative is part of a broader shift in the energy sector. Energy economist Ben Watts commented on the trend, stating, "Suppliers have been experimenting with time-of-use tariffs, but what better way to ensure customers shift their usage than by directly controlling flexible devices like heat pumps, batteries, and EV chargers in their homes?"
A Scalable Future for Home Energy
The ambition is to make this model widely available. Oliver Novakovic, a director at Barratt Redrow, emphasised the goal, saying, "It could be no bills or low bills, but we want our offer to be truly scalable." The commercial viability is also clear. Nigel Banks, the Octopus director overseeing the scheme, clarified that the company is not seeking huge profits from these homes but aims to recover costs and a standard margin.
The key to the scheme's success is its simplicity for the consumer. "You don't need to be an energy geek," Banks assured. "We're turning complex technology into a simple and fantastic consumer proposition."
For those considering a similar path, the installation specifics are crucial. Chris Brown, founder of Future Fit Homes, advised that while insulation is less critical in a terraced house, maximising solar panel capacity is essential to reach a zero-bill outcome, noting that features like dormer windows can impact the potential for total energy generation.
