Octopus Energy and Thakeham team up to get rid of energy bills

• Octopus and Thakeham strike landmark deal to deliver future homes as ‘Zero Bills’
• News comes as Octopus targets 100,000 ‘Zero Bills’ homes by 2030
• Deal will help drive the UK towards the government's target of 40% affordable housing in new towns

Liverpool, 23rd September 2024 - In a game-changing move for UK homebuyers, Octopus Energy and Thakeham, one of the leading housebuilders in the south of England, have inked a major deal to deliver all possible future developments as ‘Zero Bills’.

Signed at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, this partnership will accelerate the rollout of Octopus Energy’s target of 100,000 homes by 2030. The deal will also help drive the UK towards the government's target of 40% affordable housing in new towns.

Thakeham first piloted the 'Zero Bills' schemes at its 120-home Templegate development in Burgess Hill this year.

Following the success of the pilot site, this new deal with Octopus will see Thakeham submit plans for a 1,350 ‘Zero Bills’ home development in West Sussex, kicking off a wave of energy-efficient living.

Thakeham currently has a land portfolio of over 45,000 homes, including several entirely new towns and villages that are envisaged to be net zero carbon communities.

Launched in 2022, ‘Zero Bills’ is a world-first energy tariff from Octopus Energy that allows customers to move into homes which are fully kitted out with state-of-the-art clean tech – including a heat pump, a battery and solar panels – with no energy bills guaranteed for at least 5 or 10 years.

‘Zero Bills’ homes are powered by ‘Kraken’ which automatically matches the consumption and green energy generation of the homes in real time – without people living in them having to lift a finger.

Greg Jackson, Founder of Octopus Energy, comments: “This is a huge step forward for us in making ‘Zero Bills’ the new norm. By teaming up with Thakeham, we’re creating homes that cost nothing to run while also making a significant dent in the UK’s carbon footprint. This partnership brings us closer to a future where energy bills are history.”

Rob Boughton, Founder and Chief Executive of Thakeham, comments: “Low carbon living isn’t an aspiration – it can be achieved today. With the government committing to building 1.5 million homes, and half of our housing for 2050 not built yet, we have the opportunity to set a new benchmark for sustainable living.

"Strengthening our partnership with Octopus Energy will move us closer to making energy bills a thing of the past for our communities, while also playing a vital role in addressing the housing supply crisis."

More information about Octopus Energy’s ‘Zero Bills’ can be found here.

-ENDS-

Notes to editors:

Greg Jackson and Rob Boughton sign deal

Greg Jackson and Rob Boughton with energy minister Miatta Fahnbulleh MP

Press Contacts

Octopus Energy Group

press@octoenergy.com

+44 (0)20 4530 8369

Thakeham

Lee Lodge, PR & Communications Manager, lee.lodge@thakeham.com, 07918 611 715

About Octopus Energy Group

Octopus Energy is a global clean energy tech business, driving the affordable, green energy system of the future. Under its own retail brand, Octopus delivers world-class customer service and cutting edge energy products to 8 million households globally. Its operations span 18 countries and the entire energy value chain. The group invests in, builds and flexibly manages renewable energy, operating a £7 billion portfolio of projects.

Octopus has licensed its advanced data and machine learning platform, Kraken, to support over 54 million customer accounts worldwide through licensing deals with companies such as EDF, E.ON and Origin Energy. Kraken enables Octopus to drive the electrification of heat and transport through smart tariffs and innovative cleantech. Backed by pension funds, investors and energy giants, Octopus Energy Group businesses deliver cheaper, greener energy and cutting-edge tech to countries and customers worldwide.

For more information, check out our website.

About Thakeham

Established in 2003 and based in West Sussex, Thakeham delivers sustainable homes and strong communities, providing private residential developments, high-quality, tenure-blind affordable homes and open spaces to infrastructure, facilities and strategic land services.

Thakeham’s industry-leading approach to zero carbon ready homes, biodiversity and the environment, alongside its commitment to people, communities, and creating amazing places to live, put it at the forefront of placemaking in the UK.

It provides homes for all buyers, residents and lifestyles across the South of England, from bungalows inspired by the village vernacular to large family homes in commutable locations and modern apartments. Thakeham is currently marketing a variety of 1-bedroom to 5-bedroom homes across Surrey and Sussex.

Find out more at www.thakeham.com