Octopus launches global Zero Bills Standard for energy-bill-free living
- New housing framework to act as global benchmark for sustainable living
- Stronger consumer-focused proposition than existing standards by guaranteeing no energy bills for residents
- Comes as Thakeham wins Zero Bills Housebuilder of the Year award at the inaugural Octopus Energy Zero Bills Awards
London, 15th May 2025 - Octopus Energy, the UK’s largest energy supplier, has launched the Zero Bills Standard, a pioneering framework designed to fast-track the decarbonisation of homes while guaranteeing zero energy bills for residents.
This new global benchmark for sustainable housing provides a stronger, consumer-focused proposition than existing frameworks such as the proposed Future Homes Standard and the Passivhaus Standard.
While the Future Homes Standard will require most homes to have improved energy efficiency and low-carbon heating systems, like heat pumps and solar panels, the new Zero Bills Standard goes further by adding battery storage. This ensures homes built to this standard qualify for Octopus’ world-first ‘Zero Bills’ tariff.
Introduced in 2022, Octopus’ ‘Zero Bills’ tariff enables customers to move into homes that 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 5 to 10 years*.
The Zero Bills Standard was announced at the inaugural Zero Bills Awards in London, celebrating the companies already accredited to the new standard and leading the way in low-carbon housebuilding, retrofitting and clean energy innovation.
Nigel Banks, Director of ‘Zero Bills’ at Octopus Energy, said: “The Zero Bills Standard is a game-changer for sustainable living. By going beyond current housing standards, we’re empowering housebuilders, developers and local authorities to create homes that are not only better for the planet, but better for people’s wallets too.”
“Congratulations to all the Zero Bills Awards winners who are already making sustainable and zero-energy-bill living a reality.”
The winners of the Zero Bills Awards were revealed on the night, recognising exceptional work across nine categories in delivering and scaling up sustainable homes:
- ‘Zero Bills’ Housebuilder of the Year - Thakeham
- Housing Association of the Year - Clarion Housing Group
- Large Housebuilder of the Year - Hill Group
- Medium Housebuilder of the Year - Thakeham
- Small Housebuilder of the Year - Verto
- Retrofit Project of the Year - Lloyds Living
- Build-to-Rent Provider of the Year - Packaged Living
- Product Innovation of the Year - gs8
- Supply Chain Partner of the Year - UPOWA
Octopus Energy aims to deliver 100,000 ‘Zero Bills’ homes by 2030, and has already rolled out the initiative in Germany and New Zealand, as well as the UK.
Octopus has already accredited well over 1,200 ‘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 on ‘Zero Bills’ can be found here.
-ENDS-
Notes to editors:
* Please note that Octopus’ ‘Zero Bills’ tariff guarantee does not include EV charging costs. EV charging is billed separately.
Zero Bills Director, Nigel Banks, announcing the Zero Bills Standard
Thakeham winning Zero Bills Housebuilder of the Year
Lloyds Living winning Retrofit Project of the Year
Zero Bills Awards
Press Contacts
Octopus Energy Group
+44 (0)20 4530 8369
Zero Bills Contacts
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 9 million households globally. Its operations span 32 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 60 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.
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