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Octopus Energy helps reduce energy bills for social housing
Its Tenant Power tariff, being rolled out in Aberdeenshire, sees both social housing landlords and tenants share the financial rewards of smart energy tech.
At a glance
Who: Octopus Energy; Grampian Housing Association.
What: The UK energy supplier Octopus Energy is partnering with Grampian to bring its Tenant Power tariff to more than 100 social homes in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
Why: It enables both social housing landlords and tenants to share the financial rewards of smart energy tech.
When: The first phase covers 114 homes, with installations beginning this month and plans to expand to a further 200 homes in the coming months.
UK energy supplier Octopus Energy is partnering with Grampian Housing Association to bring its Tenant Power tariff to more than 100 social homes in Aberdeenshire, which sees both social housing landlords and tenants share the financial rewards of smart energy tech.
This model aims to remove one of the main barriers to green investment in social housing, paving the way for cleaner, fairer and cheaper energy for all.
Investment in green energy
For years, landlords had little incentive to invest in solar panels or batteries – tenants would see the savings while landlords footed the bill. Tenant Power aims to change that.
Buildings equipped with solar panels and a compatible battery system can generate their own renewable energy. Any excess energy is stored in the battery and automatically sold back to the grid at peak times, helping to balance the grid. Octopus claims tenants see their electricity unit rate bills fall by 30 per cent – saving around £200 a year – compared to a standard variable tariff, while landlords earn revenue, making clean tech upgrades a smart long-term investment.
“Solar panels and batteries should be a no‑brainer for social housing – but until now the economics haven’t worked well enough”
The savings figure is based on a 30 per cent discount to the current Octopus SVT unit rate for electricity in the UK as of April 2026. Savings are also based on the tenant remaining on the Tenant Power tariff, allowing Octopus Energy to smart control the solar and battery system.
Adding a heat pump into the mix could help Tenant Power tenants save even more on their energy bills.
Grampian is the first housing association in Scotland to roll out the tariff. The first phase covers 114 homes, with installations beginning this month and plans to expand to a further 200 homes in the coming months.
Read More
The news come as interest in low-carbon tech surges, with households looking to escape energy market volatility driven by the Middle East conflict. New data from Octopus Energy shows heat pump sales are up 103 per cent, solar panel sales up by 78 per cent and EV charger enquiries up 42 per cent, as more people try to boost their energy independence.
Octopus Energy aims to onboard 1,000 customers onto Tenant Power, with a further 10,000 homes committed, by the end of 2026.
“Solar panels and batteries should be a no‑brainer for social housing – but until now the economics haven’t worked well enough,” said Nigel Banks, Zero Bills director at Octopus Energy.
“Tenant Power solves this by cutting tenants’ bills while giving social housing landlords a return for investing in green tech.
“Tenant Power allows us to invest in low carbon technologies like solar panels and batteries in a way that directly benefits our tenants through lower energy bills, while also making long-term financial sense for the organisation”
“By partnering with Grampian Housing Association, we’re delivering more affordable, greener living to social homes in Scotland, making a real impact on communities and people’s pockets.”
Zander Carle, director of asset management at Grampian Housing Association, added: “At Grampian, we are always looking for practical ways to improve our homes and help tenants manage the cost of living.
“Tenant Power allows us to invest in low carbon technologies like solar panels and batteries in a way that directly benefits our tenants through lower energy bills, while also making long-term financial sense for the organisation.
“Being the first housing association in Scotland to roll out this tariff is an exciting step, and we see this as a positive move towards more affordable, sustainable homes for the future.”
Richard, Tenant Power customer, said: “I love that my bills are lower thanks to Octopus’ initiatives – the process was quick and easy and it really makes a huge difference. It’s a bonus knowing I’m making the most of the sunshine with solar panels, and doing something good for the planet too.”
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How does Tenant Power allocate revenue between landlords and tenants?How do solar-plus-battery systems smartly sell excess energy to the grid?What metrics verify the claimed 30% reduction in tenant electricity bills?How would integrating heat pumps increase Tenant Power household savings?What financing models enable landlords to recoup green technology investments?AberdeenBatteriesclimate actionClimate change/ResilienceEnergy & EnvironmenthousingRenewablessolar power
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