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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.

E.ON customers save more than £2mn by not using peak time power. Published on 12 August 2026 The Eco Experts may receive a fee from trusted installers when you request a quote, or a commission when you buy through links on its site. This helps The Eco Experts keep its content independent, well-researched and up to date - Learn more * Customers can save huge amounts by not using electricity at leak times * About half don't know what off-peak means * Running your dishwasher off peak is much cheaper Households with E.ON Next have saved roughly £2.3mn by moving their electricity usage away from 4pm-7pm, however, many more are missing out because they simply don't understand what 'off-peak' means. According to the energy giant, only 50% of customers understand what it means to use electricity 'off-peak', while more than a third (34%) of people don't know they could pay less by using electricity at different times. Energy flexibility is a fantastic weapon against rising bills and price instability. Fellow energy giant Octopus Energy recently described it as one of Britain's "great untapped energy resources". E.ON says its Next Smart Saver tariff helps customers take control over their energy usage by "rewarding those who can shift some electricity consumption away from peak periods". The Next Smart Saver is a 12-month or 24-month fixed term tariff that offers off-peak electricity rates from 5am-4pm and 7pm-2am. While such tariffs are often associated EVs, home batteries and heat pumps, E.ON says customers can save money by making simple changes, such as running washing machines and dishwashers during cheaper, off-peak hours. Steve Davies, director of strategy and commercial at E.ON Next, said: "During the summer months, longer daylight hours often mean people are awake and active at home later, creating more opportunities to shift electricity use into lower-cost off-peak periods. "Customers on Next Smart Saver have already collectively saved £2.3 million by moving electricity use away from peak times, and our new two-year tariff gives households the certainty of fixed off-peak rates until 2028." Maximilian Schwerdtfeger Deputy editor Max joined The Eco Experts as content manager in February 2024 and became deputy editor in 2025. He has written about sustainability issues across numerous industries, including maritime, supply chain, finance, mining, and retail. He has also written extensively for consumer titles like City AM, The Morning Star, and The Daily Express. He has represented The Eco Experts on national television several times, including the BBC's Sunday Morning Live and ITV Tonight. In 2020, he covered in detail the International Maritime Organisation's (IMO) legislation on sulphur emissions and its effects on the global container shipping market as online editor of Port Technology International. He also explored the initiatives major container ports and terminals have launched in order to ship vital goods across the world without polluting the environment. Since then, he has reported heavily on the impact made by environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices on the supply chain of minerals, with a particular focus on rare earth mining in Africa. As part of this, in 2022 Max visited mines and ports in Angola to hone in on the challenges being faced by one of the world's biggest producers of rare earth minerals. His most recent sustainability-related work came much closer to home, as he investigated the eco-challenges faced by independent retailers in the UK, specifically looking at how they can cut emissions and continue to thrive. Max lives in South London and is an avid reader of books on modern history. He has also recently learned to play the game Mahjong and takes every opportunity to do so. He is also yet to find a sport he doesn't enjoy watching. Popular topics