E.ON ramps up home battery investment to cut energy bills and support Britain's electricity grid. Posted by: electime 23rd September 2026 E.ON is investing £4 million in 1,000 home batteries to tackle two connected challenges: helping customers secure lasting savings on their energy bills and supporting a more resilient electricity grid as Britain connects growing volumes of renewable generation. The investment will help develop E.ON's 'Flex Fleet' model: a network of strategically clustered home batteries that can work together as a 'virtual power plant'. By managing the energy stored across hundreds or even thousands of homes, the model can lower bills by hundreds of pounds per year, supply energy when it is most valuable and reduce strain on electricity networks. By charging when electricity is cheaper and demand is lower, batteries can provide lower-cost energy for customers to use at more expensive times, while also giving local networks flexibility to manage peaks in demand and reducing the need for costly network reinforcement - turning home battery technology into practical infrastructure that makes new energy work for everyone. E.ON's previous affordability projects, designed to support vulnerable customers, show the savings already being achieved. In Coventry, customers saved an average of more than £255 a year when a battery was combined with a time-of-use tariff. A project with Northern Powergrid tested fully funded batteries in Crowle and Starbeck, delivering savings above those predicted while helping to address local network constraints. New research for E.ON Next shows that customers want affordable ways to take greater control of their energy costs. Of those surveyed, 59% preferred longer-term control over costs to short-term or one-off support, while 66% would be interested in a battery offer requiring no upfront payment. Yet 73% did not know a home battery can work without being connected to solar panels. E.ON believes removing upfront barriers and allowing more households to benefit from flexible energy technology will contribute to a cleaner, more secure and affordable electricity system. Chris Norbury, Chief Executive, E.ON UK, said: "We are investing in battery technology that can make a practical difference for customers and the wider energy system. Our projects around the country have shown that batteries can deliver meaningful, lasting savings without asking customers to change the way they live. Crucially, households do not need solar panels to benefit." "By connecting batteries and managing them intelligently, we can lower bills for customers and help the grid respond to changing demand and growing renewable generation. E.ON modelling shows that, with the right energy market conditions, greater consumer flexibility could provide around £150 million a year in direct bill savings. That is how we can make new energy work for everyone while building a cleaner, more resilient and affordable energy system." With the right energy market conditions, E.ON modelling indicates that a greater focus on consumer flexibility could provide approximately £150 million a year in direct bill savings. Involving around 615,000 households, this approach could also address 98% of a potential 3.74GW of grid constraint by 2035.

E.ON Next and Allume bring shared solar-plus-battery system to UK social housing. Posted by: electime 8th September 2026 E.ON Next and Allume Energy have deployed a UK-first shared solar, battery and grid-flexibility system - FlatSave - designed for flats and social housing, where conventional single-meter solar and storage installations aren't viable. More than five million households in England and Wales live in flats, including nearly half of all social housing. Multi-occupancy buildings have historically been excluded from rooftop solar and battery benefits because standard systems can't split generation and storage fairly across separate meters. FlatSave addresses this using Allume's SolShare technology, which allocates solar generation and battery capacity across multiple homes from a single array. How it works The system pairs shared solar generation with a communal battery that charges from the grid during off-peak periods and discharges to support the grid at peak demand, reducing local network strain. It operates behind the meter - generation and consumption occur on-site - so no changes are required from suppliers or network operators, and residents can remain with their existing energy provider regardless of supplier. E.ON says the solar-and-battery combination has cut typical household electricity costs by 30-60%. Providing flexibility services to the grid via the battery adds a further financial benefit: E.ON Next customers on FlatSave can earn up to £160 a year in flexibility payments, while residents with other suppliers can earn up to £80 a year. First UK installation: Harper Court, Stevenage The first FlatSave installation has been completed at Harper Court in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, in partnership with Peabody Housing, serving six homes. The system comprises a 15kW solar array and an 18kWh battery, sharing generated electricity across the six properties and exporting surplus to the local grid when required. All six households receive free electricity from the solar generation; residents can opt in separately to the battery flexibility programme. Further installations are planned at housing association properties across the country later this year. Ramona Vlasiu, Chief Operating Officer at E.ON Next, said the partnership with Allume aims to remove technical barriers that have excluded flats and social housing from the energy transition, turning building-level generation and storage into a shared financial and operational asset. Cameron Knox, Chief Executive of Allume Energy, said flats have typically been considered hard to decarbonise because rooftop solar wasn't designed to share output fairly across multiple meters - a gap SolShare has targeted at scale, with the technology deployed across more than 10,000 homes globally and more than half of Allume's UK installations delivered for social landlords, producing 25GWh of electricity to date. Market context E.ON polling found over 80% of respondents want solar panels and batteries, but 22% say the technology isn't suitable for their home type, and 70% consider it unfair that some households can reduce bills through self-generation while others can't - underlining the addressable gap FlatSave and similar shared-asset models are aimed at. E.ON's Green Funding Solutions team is working with housing providers and local authorities on rollout, and offers support from design through installation and handover, alongside retrofit programmes covering SolShare, battery storage, low-carbon heating and efficiency upgrades. Housing providers interested in FlatSave can contact [email protected].

E.ON Next cuts overnight EV charging to less than 7p. E.ON Next has announced significant reductions to its overnight electric vehicle (EV) charging tariffs, positioning itself as a competitive option for UK drivers. The Next Drive Smart tariff now offers an off-peak rate of 6.9p/kWh between 12am and 6am, while the Next Drive Fixed tariff is available at 8.5p/kWh1. These new rates are projected to deliver substantial annual savings for customers compared to the current energy price cap. Looking to upgrade your home setup? Fuse Energy installs the Easee One smart home EV charger for a flat £899 including full installation, up to 15m of cabling, surge protection, and a 3-year warranty. Tap the quote button below to get started. E.ON Next's new EV charging tariffs. The Drive for affordable electric vehicle charging. The shift to electric vehicles in the UK has highlighted the importance of affordable and convenient home charging solutions. For many EV owners, the ability to charge their vehicle overnight at a low cost is a key factor in managing overall running expenses. This demand has led energy suppliers to develop specialised tariffs designed to make EV ownership more accessible. E.ON Next's commitment to EV drivers. E.ON Next has responded to this need by enhancing its EV charging offerings. Gráinne Regan, Propositions Director at E.ON Next, emphasised the company's goal: "As more households switch to electric, we want charging at home to be simple, affordable and something drivers don't have to think twice about." She added that "Next Drive Smart makes charging an EV one of the cheapest habits a household can have." Next Drive smart: the 6.9p/kWh offer. E.ON Next's flagship offering, Next Drive Smart, provides an off-peak electricity rate of 6.9p/kWh. This rate is available daily between 12am and 6am, making it an attractive option for EV owners who can schedule their charging during these hours. Next Drive Fixed: an alternative for EV owners. For those seeking a more consistent rate, the Next Drive Fixed tariff offers electricity at 8.5p/kWh. This tariff provides predictability in charging costs, which can be beneficial for drivers who prefer a stable rate over variable off-peak windows. Projected savings for EV drivers. These new tariffs are designed to offer significant financial benefits. Customers on the Next Drive Smart tariff are projected to save an average of £462 annually, while those on Next Drive Fixed could save around £423 per year. These savings are calculated against the current energy price cap. Eligibility and key features of E.ON Next EV tariffs. Smart meter requirement. To access E.ON Next's specialised EV tariffs, a smart meter is typically required. Smart meters enable the accurate measurement of electricity consumption at different times of the day, which is crucial for dual-rate tariffs that offer varied pricing for peak and off-peak usage. Why is a smart meter needed for EV tariffs? A smart meter is essential for most specialised EV tariffs because it accurately records electricity usage throughout the day. This allows energy suppliers to apply different rates for peak and off-peak periods, ensuring customers are billed correctly for their cheaper overnight EV charging. Without a smart meter, it is difficult to differentiate between energy used for charging and general household consumption. Additional benefits: Zoom EV and Woodland Trust. Beyond the competitive rates, E.ON Next's EV tariffs come with several added perks. These include a free 1-year subscription to Zoom EV, which offers various benefits for electric vehicle owners. Additionally, E.ON Next makes a donation to the Woodland Trust for every customer on these tariffs, supporting environmental conservation efforts. The UK EV charging landscape and energy price cap. Understanding the energy price cap. The energy price cap, regulated by Ofgem, sets a maximum price that energy suppliers can charge for each unit of electricity and gas. For the period of 1 July to 30 September 2026, Ofgem states the average annual bill for a typical household is £1,862. The electricity unit rate under this cap is approximately 26.11p/kWh. This cap provides a benchmark for standard electricity costs, against which specialised tariffs like E.ON Next's EV offerings can demonstrate their value. Comparing E.ON Next with market averages. E.ON Next's off-peak rate of 6.9p/kWh for Next Drive Smart and 8.5p/kWh for Next Drive Fixed stand significantly below the energy price cap's electricity unit rate of 26.11p/kWh. This substantial difference highlights the potential for considerable savings for EV drivers who optimise their charging schedules. Beyond tariffs: the role of smart home EV charging. Optimising charging with smart technology. While competitive tariffs are a crucial component of affordable EV ownership, smart charging technology plays an equally vital role. Smart chargers allow drivers to schedule charging sessions to coincide with off-peak electricity rates, ensuring they always benefit from the lowest possible costs. These systems can also integrate with other home energy management solutions, providing greater control and efficiency. Integrating EV charging into home energy management. For many EV owners, charging is just one part of a broader home energy picture. Integrating EV charging with overall home energy management means optimising usage across all appliances, potentially incorporating renewable sources like solar panels, and even utilising home battery storage. This holistic approach moves beyond simply finding the cheapest unit rate to achieving comprehensive energy control and abundance. Fuse Energy: enabling your home energy power play. Fuse Energy believes in a future with "power to play with," where energy is abundant and controllable. While Fuse does not currently offer a dedicated EV energy tariff, it focuses on providing the infrastructure and control necessary to help customers make the most of competitive tariffs, including those from E.ON Next. Smart home energy management for total control. Fuse Energy empowers you with smart home energy management, a foundational component for intelligent home energy control. This approach provides granular control over your energy usage, allowing you to schedule charging times, monitor energy consumption, and integrate with other smart home devices. It is about giving you the capability to manage your energy usage effectively, regardless of your chosen tariff. Achieving energy abundance for EV owners. By focusing on robust infrastructure and transparent control through its app, Fuse Energy empowers EV owners to make a true "power play." This means moving beyond just securing a low unit rate to achieving total home energy mastery. With the right charging solution and comprehensive energy management, EV drivers can enjoy abundant, controllable energy, making electric vehicle ownership a truly economical and sustainable choice. Looking to upgrade your home setup? Fuse Energy installs the Easee One smart home EV charger for a flat £899 including full installation, up to 15m of cabling, surge protection, and a 3-year warranty. Tap the quote button below to get started. References. Published on 21 Aug 2026 Disclaimer. For the avoidance of doubt, this article is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal or financial advice. The author and/or Fuse Energy shall not be responsible for any losses arising out of any reliance on the information contained herein.