A first-of-its-kind trial is set to save participating households nearly £100,000 in energy bills this winter. The trial – Energy Sure, launched by smart energy company ivie – is set to demonstrate how innovative energy tariffs are needed to revolutionise the energy market as we switch to more electrified, low-carbon technologies, such as heat pumps and electric vehicles (EVs).
As the UK enters winter, households are expected to see a 36% increase in energy usage compared to summer months. Nearly 50% of all UK households will have to turn down, or turn off their heating or water as a result, according to research by Citizens Advice. But while consumer pressure to adopt low-carbon technologies continues to grow, the classic energy tariffs on offer are no longer fit for purpose.
The trial – backed by the UK government’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero – enables homes with low-carbon technologies to test a subscription-style, flat-rate energy tariff that is not dependent on usage. Instead, homes with compatible heat pumps and/or electric vehicle chargers will choose a specific ‘bundle’ of energy use that suits them, such as heating up to and including a specific temperature and energy equivalent to a set number of EV miles, for a set cost each month.
ivie and its partners have forecasted savings of 27% for heat pump running costs, and a huge 60% for EV charging costs for this new style of tariff compared to regular tariffs on the current price cap. For homes with both heating and EV charging, the savings are set to average an impressive £294.37 from November to March 2025. With 500 trial homes being recruited across three groups (heat pump only, EV only, and both), the projected energy savings total £98,319.77 over the winter months.
Following the October price cap increase, rising from £1,558 in July to £1,717 from 1st October, homes across the UK are grappling with continued economic pressures as we head into winter. However, unlike most current energy tariffs, the Energy Sure tariff’s prices will remain fixed below this cap through to the end of March, to help participants make additional savings on top of those predicted from the all-in energy usage tariff style.
Electricity’s price volatility remains a critical barrier to the adoption of low-carbon technologies. Existing tariffs, such as time of use, are not fully meeting the changing needs of households, with insufficient cost savings and the consistently high cost of electricity over gas continuing to prevent further adoption. Energy Sure addresses this challenge head-on, by providing households with a simple, subscription-style energy tariff, that removes complexities and enhances the affordability of low-carbon technology adoption.
In a recent survey of homeowners interested in ivie Energy Sure, 65% of study participants cited competitive pricing as one of the main reasons for choosing their supplier, supporting the project’s hypothesis of a simple, competitively priced tariff.
ivie and its coalition of partners – including Tomato Energy supplying the energy tariff, Homely optimising heat pump usage, research support from Energy Systems Catapult, and analysis and data modelling from Cornwall Insight and Passiv – propose that making future energy tariffs as simple and streamlined as possible with all-in pricing like this project will encourage the necessary uptake of low-carbon, electrified technologies for the UK to reach its Net Zero targets.
Stephane Lee-Favier, Managing Director of ivie – “The intelligent management of low-carbon technologies can be confusing. Energy Sure solves this challenge by providing clear pricing and savings upfront, and making it easy for consumers to intelligently manage their home’s EV charging and heat pump.”
Farouk Alhassan, CEO of Tomato Energy – “With consumer demand for low-carbon solutions growing, it’s clear that energy tariffs need a complete rethink to meet the evolving needs of households. That’s why we’re thrilled to supply the Energy Sure tariff, a first-of-its-kind, that proves how clear and simplified pricing can help transform the market, while supporting customers in their transition to more electrified, low-carbon technologies like heat pumps and electric vehicles.”
Chris Williams-Hall, Project Manager at Homely – “We are excited to introduce a new innovative heat-as-a-service tariff, designed to simplify home heating for customers by offering a fixed, predictable cost. By removing the complexity of fluctuating bills, we allow users to focus on what truly matters—staying warm and comfortable.”
Energy Sure is ivie’s most ambitious project to date, supplementing existing efforts to ease the strain of unstable energy costs since the brand’s launch in 2022.
The trial is currently recruiting homes with compatible EV chargers and heat pumps until 16th December, with the first homes set to officially start the new tariff on 1st November. Homeowners can check eligibility and register now at ivie.co.uk/energy-sure.
