Making Zero Bill homes the new normal
Octopus Zero Bills is the next generation energy tariff with zero energy bills for the home, for ten years, guaranteed. We're working with housing developers, BTR providers, housing associations, and local authorities across the UK to make Zero Bills the new standard for everyone.
By building homes kitted out with the right combination of solar panels, home battery and heat pump, we can unlock our Zero Bills tariff for the resident, it's as simple as that!
Want to deliver Zero Bills homes?
Partner with Octopus to build the homes that customers value more.
The future of housing
What makes a Zero Bills home?
Since our founding in 2016, we’ve worked relentlessly to drive the green energy revolution while bringing costs down for our customers. Now, we’re making it possible to give up energy bills for the home – and carbon emissions – altogether.
Enter Octopus Zero Bills: a first-of-its-kind energy tariff providing zero bills for the home for at least ten years, guaranteed. And the way we do it? We optimise the renewable technology within the home - heat pump, battery, and solar - to run them more efficiently and as net carbon in operation, providing a zero bill for the home, all year round.
Homes will also be equipped with EV chargers, so residents can benefit from our Intelligent Octopus Go Tariff and there is a fair usage policy, set at approximately double the home's expected electricity use across the year.
Let's build the new standard together
Our Certified Zero Bills Partners
As part of being a Global Standard of housing, we have launched our Certified Partner programme, bringing together industry leaders to help drive the transition to homes that are not only net zero in operation, but also zero in energy bills.
What you get from Octopus
Dedicated account manager to guide you through to the launch of Zero Bills
Octopus assessment of your properties and house types
Design guidance for your hardware spec including heat pumps, solar PV, batteries and metering
Zero Bills accreditation — the Octopus 'stamp’
Frequently asked questions
Developer questions
What is the minimum hardware spec requirement for Zero Bills to apply?
Octopus Energy Zero Bills homes generate more energy than they consume. To achieve this, the house must be off the gas grid (ie use heat pumps), and be kitted out with solar PV and a battery. We will assess, for a given design, the minimum hardware requirements to be eligible for Zero Bills.
How can I assess whether my housing portfolio is eligible for Zero Bills?
Register your interest and we’ll send you a data form to complete, with one row per plot that you would like to assess for eligibility. We will then run our analysis and let you know which plots are eligible, and recommending design changes that would unlock eligibility for others.
Is Zero Bills available on any house type, old or new?
We are happy to assess any housing stock for Octopus Zero compatibility, but practically, the thermal characteristics must be at least as good as current new build regulations. Retrofit that achieves this works just as well as new build for the purposes of the proposition.
Is Zero Bills offered no matter the geographical location of the home? (For example, Scotland is cooler/less sunny than Southern England)
Yes. As long as the design is able to fulfil the requirements, we are happy to offer the Zero Bill. In Scotland, that is likely to mean a larger solar array and better thermal insulation as minimum requirements.
What businesses are you working with to deliver Zero Bills homes?
We work with a number of Certified Partners to deliver Zero Bills across the country. If you'd like to become one, please get in touch.
How can Zero Bills affect the value of a home?
On average, Zero Bills properties receive a higher valuation and sell quicker than their bill-paying counterparts. In a pilot scheme carried out with ilke Homes and Gresham House, Zero Bills homes sold quicker and were valued at 10.7% more than non-Zero Bills homes.
Customer questions
Is there a minimum guaranteed term for which Zero Bills will be offered per home?
We currently offer our Octopus Energy Zero Bills tariff with a 5 or 10 year guarantee depending on the agreement in place with your house builder. Your house builder will confirm which guarantee length your home has.
Is there a fair usage in terms of hot water and heating?
To make it as simple as possible, we have only one Fair Use Allowance – on total electricity across the year. This is set at approximately double the expected usage, so customers should only exceed this if they have very high heating preferences.
What happens if the homeowner exceeds the fair usage?
The customer will be billed at our Flexible Octopus unit rate (still no standing charge) for energy electricity imported above the Fair Use Allowance, with billing done on an annual basis.
What happens if the hardware (ie solar or battery) fails?
If the above conditions are not met, we reserve the right to move the customer to a different tariff (likely Standard Variable Tariff or Smart Export Guarantee). However, we would not do this for the short period while the hardware is fixed.
Can homeowners still benefit from EV charging with Zero Bills?
EV charging is not included within the Zero Bills allowance, but will be billed separately at Intelligent Octopus Go tariff unit rates. The rest of the home’s energy needs remain within the Zero Bills Tariff.
How does a customer sign up to Zero Bills?
Once the developer has obtained the accreditation, activating a Zero Bills home is easy. The resident will receive information from the house builder or housing provider when they move in, including a dedicated Octopus Energy weblink with simple steps to follow online.
Where can I read the customer T&Cs?
You can read the T&Cs for the Zero Bills tariff here.
Want to build or deliver Zero Bills homes?
Get Zero Bills accreditation for your homes
Hey I'm Constantine, welcome to Octopus Energy!
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