Bye-bye (b)oiler! Heat pump demand soars as thousands of Brits switch to cleaner, cheaper heating

London, 21 July 2026 – Heat pumps are flying off the shelves, with thousands of Brits switching away from volatile energy prices and cashing in on cleaner, cheaper heating.

Octopus has seen almost three times as many customers swap their oil and LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) boilers for heat pumps since the Government announced in April that it would increase the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant to £9,000.*

While the increased grant officially becomes available today, Octopus customers didn’t have to wait. Anyone who got in touch after the uplift was announced had the full grant knocked straight off their bill.

In the last year, over 550,000 Brits enquired about a heat pump from Octopus – enquiries from oil and LPG boiler customers jumped 330% in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period the year before.

According to government sources, oil and LPG are amongst the most expensive ways to heat a home.** Nearly 1.7 million households in Britain rely on these fuels, leaving them highly exposed to global supply shocks and price spikes.

Plus, 9 in 10 households already have the insulation and electrical capacity needed to switch to a heat pump without major additional work – with a typical oil boiler household saving around £650 a year on running costs.***

Lucy from Shropshire, who made the switch from oil heating a year ago, said: “I’ve been really impressed with our heat pump. It’s great value for money, and the whole system works brilliantly with our existing radiators. We’ve already recommended it to several friends; it really has been a game-changer for our heating costs.”

Mark, a heat pump owner from Suffolk, said: “Making the switch away from oil was simple and felt like an easy choice. When you’re paying more than you’d like for heating your home, finding a cleaner, more affordable alternative just makes sense.”

TJ Root, Heat Pump Programme Director at Octopus Energy, said: "Heat pumps are the single most efficient way to heat a home. With demand from oil and LPG customers up over 300%, it's clear households are choosing a cheaper, cleaner alternative over unpredictable oil price spikes.”

As the country’s largest heat pump installer, Octopus is also ramping up the rollout of its award-winning ‘Cosy’ heat pump. 

Designed and manufactured in the UK, Cosy is packed with technology and gets smarter over time. Connected to WiFi, it receives automatic software updates just like a smartphone, while the Octopus app gives customers complete control of their heating from wherever they are.

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Notes to editors:

* Based on Octopus sales to customers switching from oil or LPG to a heat pump. This compares the 12 weeks before and after the Government announced it would increase the grant to £9,000 on 21 April.

** Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), How to ensure a successful transition to heat pumps for households at risk of fuel poverty (Report for the Committee on Fuel Poverty), March 2026

*** Nesta, April 2026

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Octopus Energy Group

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About Octopus Energy Group

Octopus Energy is a global clean energy and technology 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 11 million households globally.

The company is driving the electrification of heat and transport through smart tariffs and innovative clean tech, with operations spanning 27 countries and the entire energy value chain. It operates a £7 billion renewables portfolio as well as thriving EV leasing, heat pump, and solar businesses.

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.