Building the future: UK’s largest power supplier and biggest housebuilder unite for ‘Zero Bills’ revolution

• Octopus and Vistry sign landmark ‘Zero Bills’ deal to eliminate energy bills
• Hundreds of homes already identified, with many more to come
• Partnership marks big leap towards Octopus’ target of 100,000 ‘Zero Bills’ homes by 2030

London, 3 December 2024 – A groundbreaking ‘Zero Bills’ partnership between Octopus Energy, the UK’s largest power supplier, and Vistry Group, the nation’s biggest housebuilder, is set to revolutionise the housing market by eliminating household energy bills.

The collaboration combines Vistry’s extensive expertise in building high-quality homes with Octopus Energy’s innovative ‘Zero Bills’ initiative, which uses cutting-edge technology and sustainable design to create homes that cost nothing to power.

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 green tech – including a heat pump, a battery and solar panels – with no energy bills guaranteed for 10 years.

Octopus and Vistry have already identified hundreds of homes across a number of developments to be targeted for 'Zero Bills' accreditation. This includes developments in Cambridgeshire, Warwickshire, and Wiltshire, with Vistry actively developing its housing designs to integrate ‘Zero Bills’ technology across its developments nationwide.

Vistry’s partnership model will see affordable, mixed-tenure ‘Zero Bills’ homes made available to its various partners, including Lloyds Living, SNG and Clarion Housing Group – all of which have already delivered ‘Zero Bills’ sites with Octopus.

With Vistry on track to build around 17,500 homes this year, this partnership represents a key step forward in Octopus’ ambition to deliver 100,000 ‘Zero Bills’ homes by 2030.

The announcement comes as the companies team up with leading social housing developer SNG to host a first-of-its-kind Partnership Pavilion at the UK Real Estate Investment & Infrastructure Forum in 2025.

Nigel Banks, Zero Bills Director at Octopus Energy, comments: “This partnership with Vistry marks the best of British innovation coming together to create the future of housing.

“‘Zero Bills’ homes are a win for consumers, a win for housing developers and a win for the environment. And this deal will push us closer to our target of 100,000 ‘Zero Bills homes by 2030.”

Stephen Teagle, CEO, Partnerships and Regeneration, Vistry Group, comments: “Our focus on quality homes, placemaking and innovation is complemented by this partnership with Octopus.

“Reducing energy costs and the energy efficiency of our homes will positively impact thousands of future residents. Today's announcement is another step in the right direction to ensure the communities we create have a lasting legacy that is affordable and future proof.”

John, ‘Zero Bills’ customer, said: “Knowing I’ll never have to worry about energy bills is incredible. Plus, it’s reassuring to know we’re importing energy at the greenest times, making a positive impact on the planet without having to think about it. It’s great to see Octopus rolling this out at scale.”

Octopus Energy has now accredited well over 1,000 ‘Zero Bills’ homes through contracts with a number of prominent developers. Accredited homes span affordable and private rent, as well as private and shared ownership.

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

-ENDS-

Notes to editors:

Press Contacts

Octopus Energy Group

press@octoenergy.com

+44 (0)20 4530 8369

Vistry Group

press.office@vistrygroup.co.uk

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 7.9 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 Vistry Group

Vistry Group is the UK’s leading provider of affordable mixed tenure homes. Our purpose as a responsible developer is to work in partnership to deliver sustainable homes, communities, and social value, leaving a lasting legacy of places people love. Operating across 26 regions, we build homes for those who need them right across the UK. We sell homes on the open market through three respected brands: Bovis Homes, Linden Homes, and Countryside Homes.

We sell a large proportion of the homes we build through our business-to-business brand, Countryside Partnerships. Countryside Partnerships is known as our multi-tenure and regeneration brand. Our Countryside Partnerships brand works with a partner to build homes for all tenures, many of which are classed as affordable homes.