Octopus Tenant Power: What It Is, How It Works, and Why It Matters
Tenant Power isn’t a marketing slogan — it’s a specific programme designed to tackle a very real problem:
most tenants can’t install solar, even when it’s sitting on their roof.
Octopus Tenant Power exists to change that — or at least, improve it — by making sure tenants actually benefit from solar installed on rented or social housing.
Here’s how it works, where it helps, and where expectations need kept firmly on planet Earth.
The Problem Tenant Power Is Trying to Fix
In traditional setups:
- A landlord installs solar
- The building generates electricity
- Tenants… still buy power from the grid
That’s daft, frankly.
Tenant Power is designed to stop situations where:
- Solar panels are installed “for the asset”
- But tenants see no meaningful bill reduction
- And no one’s quite sure who benefits
It’s an attempt to align generation, usage, and billing so the people living in the home actually see the upside.
What Is Octopus Tenant Power?
At its core, Tenant Power is a billing and tariff structure that allows tenants to:
- Use electricity generated by on-site solar
- Pay a lower rate for that electricity
- Automatically switch to grid power when solar isn’t available
All without:
- Complex contracts
- Prepayment headaches
- Manual switching
- Or expecting tenants to become energy experts
If solar’s producing, tenants use it.
If it’s not, the grid fills the gap.
Simple. Sensible. Long overdue.
How the Solar & Billing Bit Actually Works
This is the key part — and the bit most articles gloss over.
With Tenant Power:
- Solar electricity is generated on the building
- Tenants are billed directly for the solar they use
- That solar electricity is priced below standard grid rates
- Any extra electricity comes from the grid at normal prices
It all happens automatically in the background.
No smart decisions required.
No “use the washing machine at 11:37am” nonsense.
Who Is Tenant Power For?
Tenant Power is designed mainly for:
- Social housing
- Housing associations
- Build-to-rent developments
- Multi-occupancy buildings
It works best where:
- Solar is installed at scale
- There’s a consistent management structure
- Tenants rotate, but the system stays put
It’s not aimed at single private rentals or DIY landlords.
What Tenants Actually Gain
Let’s be clear — Tenant Power won’t make energy bills disappear.
But tenants can benefit through:
- Cheaper electricity when solar is available
- Reduced exposure to peak grid prices
- Simple, transparent billing
- No upfront costs
The savings are modest but real, and — crucially — they arrive without tenants needing to opt in or understand the wiring.
Which matters, because most people just want the lights to work and the bill to make sense.
What Landlords & Housing Associations Get
From a landlord or housing association perspective, Tenant Power helps by:
- Making solar installations more defensible and ethical
- Improving tenant outcomes without direct subsidy
- Supporting fuel poverty reduction
- Aligning with net-zero and ESG targets
It also avoids the awkward situation where:
“Yes, there are panels on the roof, but no, they don’t help you.”
Which is never a great look.
The Limits (Worth Saying Out Loud)
This is important — Tenant Power is not magic.
It does not:
- Guarantee massive savings
- Remove winter energy costs
- Replace insulation or heating upgrades
- Work without well-designed solar systems
Winter output is lower.
Cloudy days are still cloudy days.
Grid electricity is still needed.
Tenant Power improves fairness — it doesn’t rewrite physics.
Why This Matters in Scotland
Scotland has:
- A large social housing sector
- Growing solar deployment
- Serious fuel poverty challenges
Tenant Power fits particularly well where:
- Solar is already being installed
- Tenants are vulnerable to price volatility
- Long-term housing strategies matter
It’s not flashy — but it’s practical, and that’s usually what works here.
Where SunBru Fits Into This (Quietly)
Tenant Power only works properly if:
- Solar systems are sized correctly
- Buildings are suitable
- Financial models are honest
- Expectations are realistic
That’s where independent comparison and proper system design matter — not just for homeowners, but for entire housing portfolios.
Bottling solar energy is one thing.
Making sure it’s shared fairly is another.
The Bottom Line
Octopus Tenant Power is one of the most sensible attempts yet to make solar work for tenants — not just landlords.
It won’t solve fuel poverty on its own.
It won’t turn Scotland into the Algarve.
But it does something quietly important:
It lets the people living under the panels benefit from them.
And in housing, that’s often half the battle.
👉 Exploring Solar for Social or Rental Housing?
If you’re assessing solar for housing stock — or want to understand how programmes like Tenant Power fit into the bigger picture — comparing system design, providers, and outcomes early makes a big difference.
Explore solar options and delivery models — independent, realistic, and no nonsense.
