Hundreds of households to get free energy for 'at least 10 years' under major UK housing scheme

Temie Laleye
Thu, 16 Apr 2026 13:29:18 +0000

Hundreds of families could soon enjoy a decade without paying for household energy, offering rare relief as Britain braces for another surge in utility costs.

The announcement comes at a critical moment, with Energy UK chief executive Dhara Vyas warning that price cap increases on 1 July are "inevitable" amid ongoing global instability.

The backdrop is increasingly challenging, with the Resolution Foundation estimating the Iran conflict could leave typical households £480 worse off, as income growth slows from 0.9 per cent to just 0.6 per cent while energy costs rise.

Against this strained outlook, the UK’s biggest energy supplier has partnered with property developer Prosperity Group to launch what they describe as the world’s largest Zero Bills development to date.

The 300-home development in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, is designed to protect residents from rising energy prices by removing household energy bills entirely for at least ten years.

The first homes are expected to be completed in 2028, with people moving in later that year.

The project represents a significant expansion of Octopus Energy's Zero Bills initiative, which has already secured approval for more than 6,000 homes nationwide through various developer partnerships.

These developments come as households seek protection from volatile wholesale markets that continue to buffet British consumers.

The conflict in the Middle East has driven up global oil and gas prices, with forecasts suggesting energy bills will rise further in the coming months.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has indicated that any Government support will be directed towards the most vulnerable households rather than offering universal assistance.

Industry experts maintain that long-term investment in clean power represents the most sustainable solution to shielding consumers from future price shocks.

The Zero Bills tariff, which Octopus Energy introduced in 2022, represents a pioneering approach to residential energy provision.

Properties enrolled in the scheme come equipped with an array of green technologies, including heat pumps, battery storage systems and rooftop solar panels.

This combination allows homes not only to generate their own power but also store excess energy, helping to ease pressure on the wider grid during periods of high solar output.

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That flexibility is becoming increasingly important, with the National Energy System Operator warning it will need to use "more tools, more often" this summer to manage surges in solar generation, including paying households and businesses to use excess electricity.

By enabling homes to operate independently from the grid for extended periods, the scheme offers a potential solution to these challenges while shielding residents from volatile energy prices.

The tariff guarantees residents will pay nothing for their domestic energy consumption for between five and ten years, depending on the specific arrangement.

The Wisbech development follows the introduction of the Future Homes Standard, which mandates that new-build properties incorporate technologies such as heat pumps and solar installations.

Consumer appetite for sustainable home technology has surged dramatically in recent months. Figures from Octopus Energy reveal that heat pump purchases have more than doubled, climbing 103 per cent compared to previous periods.

Solar panel installations have similarly accelerated, with sales rising 78 per cent, while enquiries about electric vehicle charging points have increased by 42 per cent.

The energy supplier attributes this growth to Britons increasingly seeking greater independence from volatile wholesale markets.

Octopus Energy has set an ambitious target of delivering 100,000 Zero Bills properties by the end of the decade, having already expanded the programme to Germany, France and New Zealand alongside its UK operations.

Nigel Banks, Zero Bills Director at Octopus Energy, said: "We're finding ourselves in yet another energy crisis, and households are looking for ways to protect themselves from unpredictable energy prices. Living without a home energy bill is no longer a distant ambition – it's a reality thanks to our Zero Bills tariff."

Joe Billingham, Chairman of Prosperity Group, said: "With increasing regulatory pressure around EPC standards and tighter requirements on the horizon, schemes like this offer a clear route to future-proofing assets from day one, while meeting the growing demand for sustainable, energy-efficient homes."