New-build homes with energy bills that cost the same as the traditional moving-day takeaway

E.ON Next has launched a new product for new-build homes designed to keep monthly energy prices as low as the cost of a takeaway pizza¹. Through a range of flexible energy solutions – solar panels, home battery and smart energy tech – ‘Lower Bills, Built In’ promises electricity bills at a fixed cost of just £25 a month².

The first households to receive Lower Bills, Built In will be those moving into Cotswold Oak Homes’ Avalon Grove development in Badsey, Worcs, where building works are due to begin next month.

The first-of-its-kind partnership between the energy company and developer – the product of a long-established relationship between the two companies – will mean predictable, affordable bills for residents. The homes will come ready-fitted and plugged into a smart energy management system which automatically manages their power needs.

Each home will have:

• Rooftop solar panels generating clean electricity throughout the day
• A home battery that stores excess energy ready to release it when the sun goes down
• A central Home Energy Management System automatically ensure the customers has the energy they need, when they need it, and at a low fixed price
• The E.ON Home app, giving households full visibility of what they are generating, using and storing.

Lower Bills, Built In is designed for the vast majority of new-build house types, from starter homes to luxury builds, opening the door for more housing developments across the UK and allowing people to enjoy more affordable energy bills without the need to actively manage their usage.

 

Solar tops buyers’ wish-lists

Solar panels are the most wanted low‑carbon feature on new‑build homes, new research from E.ON shows. Three‑quarters of people would choose a house with solar as standard, while two‑thirds support making solar mandatory on all new properties. Buyers value long‑term savings and predictable bills, with most willing to pay slightly more upfront for lower running costs.

 

Unlike many premium ‘zero bills’ style developments that rely on large roof areas or expensive  oversized systems, Lower Bills, Built In has been deliberately designed with a modular approach to enable it to be fitted in most new houses.

Chris Norbury, Chief Executive of E.ON UK, said: “This isn’t a niche upgrade for a handful of high-spec homes, it’s a scalable solution that can work for the many, not the few. Homes with low-carbon technologies built in offer a real-world benefit every household can feel, putting pounds back in people’s pockets.

“By turning solar, batteries and other assets into a simple, fixed amount, we can give people more certainty through reliable, predictable and more affordable bills, and we can help developers to future‑proof homes as building standards tighten.”

 

Russell Houghton, Operations Director at Cotswold Oak Homes, added: “We’re proud to be the first developer to bring ‘Lower Bills, Built In’ to life. Avalon Grove is a perfect testbed – these are real homes for real families, with typical plot sizes and layouts. We believe responsible housebuilding means looking beyond the day of completion and thinking about how our homes will perform for families over many years.

“Being able to offer buyers a predictable, fixed cost energy package is a powerful advantage, and we’re excited to work with E.ON Next to shape how LBBI can be applied across future sites.”

The Avalon Grove development offers a mix of typical plot sizes and layouts including two, three and four-bedroom house types, allowing E.ON Next to demonstrate how Lower Bills, Built In works for the different types of homes built across the UK. The technology itself is installed by E.ON’s specialist new-build installer, Eco2Solar, one of the largest installers in the UK.

Avalon Grove has been designed as a ‘Power Only’ development, with electricity bills at a fixed cost of just £25 a month based on the current design. Future options for Lower Bills, Built In also include expanded options for homes taking Heat & Power – with homes featuring solar plus battery and air source heat pump – with an additional EV charging bolt‑on for up to 10,000 driving miles.

E.ON Next and Cotswold Oak Homes will capture detailed operational performance data, customer feedback and technical learning throughout construction and occupation. This evidence led approach will inform the design and delivery of future LBBI schemes already in planning, which are expected to include a wider variety of house types, tenure models and scalable low carbon solutions across multiple sites.

Ahead of the publication of the Future Homes Standard, E.ON is urging the Government to mandate the adequate provision of solar panels for new-build houses, allowing more households to cut their energy bills.

Chris Norbury added: "By mandating solar panels in quantities that deliver sufficient generation for each property, the government has an opportunity to help people significantly cut their energy bills while reducing network pressure, increasing energy security and creating more green jobs.”