E.ON Next rolls out Next Optimise, its new smart service for solar and battery homes, as pilot shows £18 monthly bill savings

E.ON Next is scaling up Next Optimise — a new smart energy service that helps solar and battery households take greater control of their energy use and make better savings on their bills.

Developed using technology proven in 80 thousand Australian homes, Next Optimise connects to wholesale prices and uses smart automation to charge batteries when prices are low and use or export stored energy when prices rise. Because the service follows market-linked rates, customers can benefit directly from price movements.

Piloted under the name Next Solar Max, early findings showed a boost to the savings made by households with similar solar and battery set ups on a standard variable tariff and SEG. Every household saw some level of bill reduction, with the average customers saving around £18 a month, and some achieving savings close to £100. One home saw a saving of £27 in just one week during a period of sharp wholesale price swings. Modelling also indicates households could save close to £300 per year.

To provide customers with even greater value, E.ON Next is waiving any monthly subscription fee on the first version of the product for 12 months. The product marks a UK first by combining half hourly electricity prices with automated battery control and fully integrated system management. This means homes can get more value from their solar and battery system in a way that’s simple, automatic and requires no effort from the customer, or any understanding of wholesale markets.

For customers, this means smarter use of the electricity they generate, store and use, lower bills and less reliance on the grid, without needing to monitor prices or change their daily routine.

Chris Norbury, Chief Executive of E.ON UK, said: “It’s more important than ever that we help people take control of their energy use and lower their bills. Consumers are showing strong interest in solar and battery as a solution, and this product adds to the savings that can be achieved by generating and storing energy at home. Next Optimise gives customers a simpler, smarter way to manage their home energy, and allows them to keep more of the value it creates.

“This is about giving people greater confidence in a changing energy market. By using intelligent automation and clear, market linked price information, we can help more households cut their bills while building a more resilient energy system from the ground up.”

Through its partnership with Amber Electric, E.ON Next is bringing technology widely used in Australian homes to the UK for the first time, giving households access to real‑time market signals normally inaccessible to consumers.

Dan Adams, CEO of Amber Electric, said: “Bringing our technology to UK homes with E.ON Next comes at a vital time for bill payers with solar panels, batteries and EVs. 

“The money-saving potential of our platform has been proven in tens of thousands of households across Australia, consistently reducing energy costs while making better use of renewable energy. Partnering with E.ON Next to bring this capability to UK homes means even more people can unlock the full potential of their solar, batteries and EVs and play an active role in a smarter, more flexible and more resilient energy system.”

Households looking for greater control and peace of mind as wholesale markets react to the conflict in the Middle East appear to be turning to solar. Website analysis shows interest in solar on E.ON Next’s website rose 23% between 23 February and 1 March, and surged a further 63% between 2 and 8 March.

As Next Optimise becomes available to more customers over the coming weeks, households can request to be contacted by registering their interest on E.ON Next’s website: eonnext.com/tariffs/next-optimise.