The average UK household paid £1,738 for gas and electricity in 2024, about 11% of median disposable income. In Greater Manchester, the figure is closer to £1,810. So when Greg Jackson, founder of Octopus Energy, says Metro Mayor Andy Burnham could slash that by £200 a year, it is worth reading the small print.
Jackson outlined his proposals in an interview with The Independent, arguing that metro mayors, not just Whitehall, should have power over heat networks, local grid upgrades, and building standards. His claim: the right policies could cut a typical household bill by £200 annually, without hitting the Treasury.
Where the £200 saving comes from
Jackson broke the figure into three chunks. About £60 comes from heat network zoning, forcing large public buildings and new housing estates to connect to a shared heat system, rather than each installing a separate gas boiler or heat pump. Another £80 comes from mandating rooftop solar on all new homes and large commercial roofs in the region, feeding cheap power into the local grid. The final £60 comes from community battery storage, letting neighbourhoods store cheap off-peak electricity and use it when prices spike.
None of these are new ideas. The UK’s Heat Networks Market Framework, passed in 2023, already gives local authorities powers to designate heat zones, but only two have been created so far. Solar mandates on new builds exist in Scotland and Wales but not in England. Community batteries are common in Germany and Australia but rare here. The gap between what is possible and what is done is, in Jackson’s view, a political choice.
Who qualifies, and who doesn’t
If implemented, these policies would apply to Greater Manchester’s 2.8 million households. But the £200 figure assumes a typical semi-detached home with average energy use, about 12,000 kWh of gas and 2,900 kWh of electricity per year. Flats and smaller terraces would see less, perhaps £100–£130. Large detached homes with high consumption could save more, possibly £300–£350.
The catch: none of this helps the 40% of households who rent. Landlords have little incentive to install solar or connect to heat networks unless regulations force them. And heat network zoning can take years, the first designated zones in London are not expected to be operational until 2027 at the earliest.
What it means for your EPC and your bill today
For homeowners reading this outside the north-west, the Jackson-Burnham plan is a signal, not a solution. The underlying logic, that localising energy generation and distribution cuts costs, applies everywhere. The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing. Both improve EPC ratings and reduce bills, typically by £200–£400 a year depending on the property.
EPC impact matters because from 2028, private landlords face a minimum C rating on new tenancies. Solar panels alone can lift a D-rated property to C. A heat pump plus good insulation can push a C to B. For owner-occupiers, a higher EPC adds roughly 5–10% to resale value, according to Nationwide data.
Yet the bigger prize, the £200 local saving, depends on powers that metro mayors do not yet have. Jackson’s intervention is timely: the government’s Local Power Plan, expected in late 2025, may devolve grid and heat network decisions to combined authorities. If it does, Burnham and other mayors could move fast. If it does not, the £200 stays theoretical.
What to do by when
Households in Greater Manchester can write to their local councillor or the Mayor’s office to support heat network zoning and solar mandates, public pressure matters in policy. The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing. Applications take ten minutes on the gov.uk website. A loft top-up or cavity fill typically costs £0–£500 depending on income and saves £150–£300 a year.
The Jackson-Burnham proposal is a glimpse of what could be. The real question is whether Whitehall will let local leaders try.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not entirely. Some measures, like heat network zoning and solar mandates on new builds, require changes to national planning and energy laws. However, metro mayors can use existing powers to pilot community batteries and push for local grid upgrades. The £200 figure assumes those national changes happen, it is not a guarantee from the Mayor alone.
Indirectly, yes. If your home connects to a heat network or you install solar panels through a local scheme, your EPC could rise by one or two bands. A heat network connection typically improves efficiency from 75% (gas boiler) to 90%+, which is worth roughly 10–15 EPC points depending on your current insulation.
