Octopus Zero Bills: homes with no energy bills, explained
New-build homes fitted with solar, battery storage and a heat pump — accredited by Octopus to run bill-free. Here’s how the scheme works and what to check before you move in.
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| What it is | Octopus accreditation: qualifying homes pay no energy bills |
| The kit | Rooftop solar + battery storage + heat pump, built to an efficiency spec |
| Who builds them | Developers and housing associations partnering with Octopus (incl. first social-housing Zero Bills homes with SNG) |
| Guarantee | Bill-free living for the guaranteed period, subject to fair-use terms |
| Where | Participating developments across the UK — Octopus publishes a register |
| Can residents leave? | Yes — residents can switch to another tariff or supplier |
How a home gets to zero bills
Zero Bills isn’t a discount — it’s an engineering standard. A qualifying home generates its own power (rooftop solar), stores it (home battery), heats efficiently (heat pump, high insulation), and Octopus’s platform orchestrates the lot — charging the battery when energy is cheap or sunny and exporting when the grid pays most. Model the whole year and the home’s generation and export value covers its consumption: the resident’s energy bill is zero for the guaranteed period, subject to fair-use terms.
Who can get one
Zero Bills applies to accredited properties, mostly new builds from partnered developers — and increasingly social housing, with the first Zero Bills social homes delivered with housing association SNG. You get the tariff by buying or renting an accredited home; Octopus maintains a public register of participating developments. It’s scheme-by-property, not something an existing home can simply apply for — though a retrofit of solar + battery + heat pump gets an ordinary home a long way down the same path.
What to check before you commit
Three things. The guarantee period and fair-use terms — know what happens in year six, and what usage counts as fair. The premium: a Zero Bills home may carry a higher price or rent, so weigh that against roughly £1,500–£2,000 a year of avoided energy costs at today’s prices. And flexibility: residents aren’t locked in and can switch supplier — but leaving the scheme means giving up the bill-free arrangement, so the tariff is only as good as your intention to stay.
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Your questions answered
What is an Octopus Zero Bills home?
A home accredited by Octopus — built with solar, battery storage and a heat pump to an efficiency spec — where the resident pays no energy bills for the guaranteed period, subject to fair-use terms.
How do Zero Bills homes make money work?
The home generates and stores its own power, and Octopus’s platform exports surplus at peak prices. Over the year, generation and export value covers the home’s consumption — netting the bill to zero.
Can I get Zero Bills for my existing house?
Not directly — it’s an accreditation for qualifying (mostly new-build) properties. Octopus publishes a register of participating developments; retrofitting solar, battery and a heat pump achieves similar economics without the formal guarantee.
Are Zero Bills homes really free of energy bills?
Yes, within the guarantee: bill-free living for the stated period subject to fair-use terms. Check the period and terms for the specific development before you buy or rent.
Do Zero Bills residents have to stay with Octopus?
No — residents can switch supplier at any time, though leaving means giving up the zero-bills arrangement.
Product details checked 23 July 2026 from supplier announcements and our live tariff database; rates vary by region — always confirm on a live quote. We may earn a commission when you switch through us — see how we get paid.
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