Customers overlooking offshore wind turbines in England from Grimsby to Skegness have banked savings on their energy bills thanks to Octopus Energy’s first-ever offshore wind tariff.
One year after launching the ‘Fan Club’ in Lincolnshire, customers have saved on average nearly £200 on their annual electricity bills, with the top 5% raking in nearly £400.
The utility said the tariff has a groundbreaking approach – rewarding customers who use energy at times when their local offshore turbines are turning.
When the sea breeze is strong, Octopus triggers a 50% discount on electricity bills.
‘Fan Club’ members are notified through their Octopus Energy app, allowing them to save big by scheduling energy-intensive chores, like laundry, during these times.
To mark this occasion, Octopus ran a competition with customers locally who won the chance to come see the Lincs offshore wind farm up close (pictured).
Octopus also offers this tariff also in three onshore wind locations: Market Weighton and Halifax in Yorkshire and Caerphilly in Wales.
The company has already identified several other potential sites for onshore ‘Fan Clubs’ through its tech platform ‘Winder’ – a tool that matches community support for new wind generation with available land (‘Tinder for wind’).
Since the creation of the tariff, Octopus has received over 36,000 requests from the public, asking to bring the cheap green tariff to their community.
Octopus has stakes in three offshore wind farms in the UK, including Lincs, Hornsea One and Walney Extension, as well as in Germany and the Netherlands. Through its investments in offshore wind developers and tech firms, it is driving the creation of new ones worldwide.
Octopus Energy Generation chief executive Zoisa North-Bond said: “The success of our offshore wind ‘Fan Club’ tariff over the past year shows us what the future of energy can look like.
“By incentivising people to use energy when wind power is abundant locally, we can put money back into customers’ pockets.
“Our offshore ‘Fan Club’ is proof that clean, green energy isn’t just good for the planet, it’s good for your bills too.”