Octopus Energy boss outlines steps to lower UK household energy bills

Octopus Energy founder and chief executive Greg Jackson told This is Money in an interview that a combination of expanding low‑carbon home technologies and smarter pricing could help bring down Britain’s household energy bills.

Jackson, whose company has grown from a challenger supplier into Britain’s largest household gas and electricity provider, discussed the causes of persistently high bills and a range of practical measures households and policymakers can pursue to reduce costs. He addressed solar panels, heat pumps, electric vehicles and so‑called agile energy deals, and said the industry must also consider how to support consumers who do not adopt those technologies.

Jackson told presenter Simon Lambert on the This is Money podcast that greater deployment of distributed renewable generation and flexible demand could lower bills by reducing reliance on volatile wholesale markets and by smoothing peak network loads. He argued that time‑of‑use or agile tariffs, which pass through changing wholesale prices to consumers, can cut costs for households that can shift consumption to cheaper periods.

He described an initiative he has long championed: giving people and businesses closer to renewable generation cheaper — and in some cases free — access to that power. Jackson said locally favourable pricing for generation near the point of use could reduce costs for consumers, support nearby businesses and make the UK a more attractive location for technology firms that value low‑cost, low‑carbon energy.

Jackson acknowledged the challenge of ensuring such changes are inclusive, saying suppliers and policymakers must design mechanisms for those who cannot or do not wish to install solar panels, heat pumps or electric vehicle chargers. He urged practical measures to ensure support for vulnerable households and those in rented accommodation.

Octopus has positioned itself as a market innovator, deploying customer‑facing technology and a variety of tariff structures. In the interview Jackson set out the company’s view that accelerating electrification of heating and transport, combined with smarter pricing, would increase the value of renewables and storage while creating opportunities to shave peak demand and reduce overall system costs.

The interview comes as energy affordability remains a central concern for households and policymakers. Jackson framed his proposals as incremental, technology‑driven changes that could yield lower bills over time if adopted at scale and supported by appropriate regulation and network investment.

The conversation was published on Sept. 12, 2025, on the This is Money podcast. Jackson’s proposals reflect themes Octopus has promoted in recent years as it has expanded its customer base and pushed new pricing models into the UK retail energy market.