Recently, Show House’s Digital Editor, Rory Wilkinson, caught up with Nigel Banks, Technical Director and Lead on Zero Bills, at Octopus Energy.
In the interview, Nigel provides more information about Octopus’ innovative Zero Bills initiative, how the company works with housebuilders to deliver Zero Bills schemes and the impact of the impending Future Homes Standard on the industry.
Zero Bills tariff
Octopus Energy’s Zero Bills tariff guarantees no energy bills for homes for ten years. Each Zero Bills home comes with a fair usage policy, set at roughly twice the property’s expected annual electricity consumption.
It provides a 120-month fixed tariff that covers both electricity and export and requires the household to meet criteria for the full period. This includes:
- Living in an Octopus Zero Bills approved home, with an Octopus Energy-approved heat pump, solar PV and battery system that remain operation, turned on and well-maintained throughout the period.
- Having a continuous internet connection to ensure that the solar PV inverter, home battery, heat pump and EV remain connected to it.
- Leaving the settings on all equipment unchanged from how Octopus has remotely programmed it. Heating preferences can be set via the home heating controls or using the app, Octopus will then remotely programme the heat pump to meet residents’ preferences.
- Having a working smart meter that is active and registered with Octopus Energy for both electricity import and export.
- Not having a gas meter, or agreeing to having it removed.
- Having an Octopus Home Mini installed
*Electric vehicle charging is not included in Octopus’ electricity import level and will be charged separately on the Intelligent Octopus Go tariff unit rates.
**Failure to meet the eligibility criteria at any time during the term of the tariff could result in households being placed on an alternative tariff.
