Imagine if you didn’t have to pay for power
It might sound impossible but thanks to smart design and clever technology, it’s already happening.
Across the UK, hundreds of households are living in homes that don’t just use less energy - they generate it, store it, and manage it intelligently. The result? No home energy bills*.
These are Octopus Zero Bills homes. First launched in the UK in 2022, and in late 2024 we switched on our very first Zero Bills home here in Aotearoa New Zealand.
We’ll take a look at how our first Zero Bills home is going but first...
How does Zero Bills actually work?
At its core, a Zero Bills home is a well-designed, energy-efficient house.
Each home has:
Excellent insulation to keep temperatures stable
Solar panels to generate energy
A home battery to store power for when it’s needed
These systems work together behind the scenes. Using smart technology, we optimise when energy is generated, stored and used - so customers can live normally, without worrying about power bills.
We carefully size the solar and battery system to match typical household usage. That means comfort is never compromised.
Do the houses have to be new builds?
Not necessarily. Newer homes with strong thermal performance are usually the easiest fit, but we’re happy to assess homes of all ages. In the UK, Octopus successfully retrofitted a Victorian mid-terrace home in London, transforming it into a Zero Bills home and proving older houses can be brought up to modern, energy-smart standards.
If you want to dive deeper, you can explore Zero Bills FAQs and details here: octopusenergy.nz/zerobills
It’s about more than saving money
Not paying an energy bill is a huge win - but Zero Bills homes go further than that.
They:
Help balance the electricity grid
Cut carbon emissions
Show what’s possible when smart tech is built into homes from day one
In the UK, Octopus is working with social housing providers and local councils to make Zero Bills homes accessible to the people who need them most.
So, how is the first NZ Zero Bills home performing?
Our first Zero Bills home has now been running for 9 months. In that time the homeowner has saved $773 on power bills. While Zero Bills is relatively new to the NZ market we’re excited about the possibilities it presents when smart technology and energy efficiency are built in from day one.
When Zero Bills first launched in New Zealand our Chief Operating Officer Margaret Cooney gave journalist Paddy Gower a walkthrough of the home. (Watch it from the 15-minute mark).
The bigger picture
Our goal is simple: to make Zero Bills homes the new normal.
Globally, we're working towards 100,000 Zero Bills homes by 2030 - changing the way homes are powered and proving that energy efficient living can also mean zero bills.
If you’re a developer or housing provider in New Zealand, we’d love to work with you to build homes people truly value. Get in touch: zerobills-support@octopusenergy.nz
*Zero Bills customers receive a personalised Fair Usage Allowance, usage within this will be free. Zero Bills homes in New Zealand are guaranteed for 5 years.
