Octopus Energy and Wates Residential partnership guarantees no energy bills for 10 years. The guarantee is underpinned by Octopus’s Zero Bills tariff, which promises customers can move into a home equipped with a combination of heat pump, battery and solar panels – with no home energy bills for up to 10 years (excluding EV charging).
The four homes at Willowbrook North, Cardiff, are part of the Cardiff Living programme, a long-standing partnership between Wates Residential and Cardiff Council that delivers sustainable, energy-efficient housing to fight local fuel poverty. The homes are due to be completed by the end of the year.
The move comes as Welsh Government is in the midst of a consultation on Part F and O of the Building Regs, which seeks to make solar panels and low-carbon heating standard in all new homes.
Edward Rees, Regional Managing Director at Wates Residential, said:
This partnership with Octopus Energy is a game-changer for homeowners. As rising energy costs remain a concern for many, our Zero Bills homes offer certainty about bills for residents and deliver a new standard in sustainable living. These homes are smart, efficient and future-ready – combining cutting-edge technology with thoughtful design to provide comfort, value and peace of mind. It’s a proud moment for Cardiff and a blueprint for what’s possible across the UK.”
Octopus Energy aims to deliver 100,000 Zero Bills homes by 2030, and so far, it has approved Zero Bills eligibility for over 5,000 homes through partnerships with developers. These cover a range of properties including affordable and private rent, plus private and shared ownership.
Nigel Banks, Zero Bills Director at Octopus Energy, said:
With Zero Bills we’re proving that it is possible to live comfortably and sustainably without ever worrying about energy bills. We want Zero Bills homes to be the norm everywhere, and delivering these homes with Wates is an exciting next step on that journey.”
Councillor Lynda Thorne, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities at Cardiff Council, said:
Sustainability is at the heart of our housing development programme, and we are proud to see the Cardiff Living scheme delivering innovative solutions not just in our new council homes, but in private homes being delivered via our partnership too. Renewable technologies like solar panels and heat pumps in our new council properties help tackle fuel poverty and reduce carbon emissions, supporting our One Planet Cardiff vision for a net zero city and making sustainable living accessible to even more residents.”
- Octopus Energy Technology Evangelist Phil Steele will be speaking on The Electric Future at elementalLONDON on 19-20 November. For free tickets, visit the registration site.
