Yahoo News Octopus Energy to give '£0 bills' to 100,000 homes by 2030
Thousands of Brits may be eligible for a new scheme that seeks to supply energy for free over a guaranteed minimum of five years. The initiative, dubbed 'Zero Bills' by Octopus Energy, comes as Ofgem's energy price cap jumped by around 10% on October 1.
Typical households may now see their electricity and gas bills skyrocket to an eye-watering £1,717 per year, with the cap set in place until December 31. But Octopus asserts that it's not 'far-fetched' to hope for a future with no energy costs at all, claiming that Zero Bills is a 'first-of-its-kind' tariff.
Right now, the five-year £0 perk is available to homes with the 'right combination' of 'solar panels, home battery and heat pump', as clean energy is also at the heart of its motivations. Though, by 2030, the firm hopes to build an impressive 100,000 Zero Bills homes, while working in partnership with some of the UK's biggest housebuilders.
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"Since our founding in 2016, we’ve worked relentlessly to drive the green energy revolution while bringing costs down for our customers," the firm explains. "Now, we’re making it possible to give up energy bills – and carbon emissions – altogether.
"Enter Octopus Zero Bills: a first-of-its-kind energy tariff providing zero bills for at least five years, guaranteed. At the moment, we're focusing on new homes - working with housing developers to do so.
"But down the line, if homes meet our Zero spec – including battery storage, solar panels, and electric heating – we’ll then use cutting-edge tech to optimise the household’s consumption and energy export in exchange for a zero bill."
Michael Cottrell, leading Zero Bills homes at Octopus Energy, also previously told the Mirror: "Zero Bills is a complete game changer, and having one of the UK's largest housebuilders on board to develop their first Zero Bills homes is a momentous occasion for sustainable living."
Zero Bills also follows the firm's plans to distribute 20,000 electric blankets to its most at-risk customers amid rising costs this winter. These blankets often cost as little as '3p an hour', according to the firm.
"Our electric blankets scheme is there to support customers most in need, particularly for people with really specific vulnerabilities and medical needs," Octopus Energy explains. "To make sure the blankets are getting into the right hands, we’ll be prioritising those customers. Customers who apply for our Octo Assist will be assessed and offered the support that’ll be most appropriate for them.
"To start the process, create a Paylink budget to see what support is available, and to see if you qualify for financial assistance."
