Millions of households are set to receive free plug-in batteries worth £500 under a new initiative by Labour Party Prime Minister Andy Burnham, aimed at reducing energy bills. The devices, which function like power banks, store cheap electricity during low-demand periods and release it when prices are higher, potentially saving users up to £250 per year.
How the Batteries Work
The plug-in batteries allow households to store power when demand is low and electricity is cheaper, then use it during peak times when prices rise. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) plans to bulk-buy the devices and distribute them to low-income homes. A government source confirmed that DESNZ has drawn up the proposal, describing plug-in batteries as “attractive” because “they’re so easy to deploy.”
Political and Practical Fit
A source told the I newspaper that Ed Miliband, the former Energy Secretary replaced in a Cabinet reshuffle by Mr Burnham, “saw a big opportunity” in plug-in batteries. Another industry source noted “huge appetite” in government for the technology. The government source added: “The politics does fit with the Burnham agenda. It also fits with the devolution stuff quite nicely because fundamentally it would be local authorities on the hook for delivering it.”
Potential Savings
Analysis from clean energy experts Regen suggests households could cut their total energy costs by 30% to 34% over ten years by shifting most electricity use to off-peak hours and purchasing a larger battery or several smaller ones. Regen’s Windfall Battery, designed for renters and those living in flats, could save users up to £250 annually.
Government Response
A DESNZ spokesperson stated: “We’ve cut VAT on electricity to give families breathing space. The Energy Secretary’s focus is working to bring bills down for good. And we are rolling out plug-in solar, which will be quickest to reach the market – helping to bring bills down for good.”
