Octopus Energy has announced a significant financial boost to its customer support programme, revealing that £116,500 has been added to its assistance fund ahead of the challenging winter months.
Customer Generosity Fuels Support Fund
The energy supplier confirmed that more than 30,000 customers chose to donate their energy credits to help others, raising an impressive £66,500 through collective action. Octopus Energy matched this community effort with £50,000 of its own funding, creating a substantial support package for households struggling with energy costs.
In a social media announcement, the company stated: "Over 30k of you chose to donate your credits, raising £66.5k! We matched £50k, meaning £116,500 is now helping customers stay warm through Octo Assist, our £40m bill support fund."
Comprehensive Support Through Octo Assist
The Octo Assist programme represents a comprehensive £40 million customer help fund designed specifically to support vulnerable customers during the energy crisis. This initiative provides multiple forms of assistance to help households manage their energy usage and maintain warmth throughout winter without financial distress.
Available support includes free electric blankets, standing charge waivers, and various other measures tailored to individual circumstances. The programme aims to ensure that those most affected by rising energy costs can remain comfortable in their homes while managing their budgets effectively.
Global Renewable Energy Expansion
Alongside its domestic customer support initiatives, Octopus Energy has joined a major international renewable energy campaign. The company has partnered with the European Commission, the Republic of South Africa, and Global Citizen's Scaling Up Renewables in Africa campaign.
This global initiative announced during the G20 Leaders' Summit in Johannesburg that it had secured $17.8 billion (€15.5bn) in public and private sector contributions. Octopus Energy stands as the only British business contributing to this ambitious international effort.
Through its Power Africa Initiative, Octopus is leveraging $450 million to catalyse renewable energy development across the continent. This represents the largest coordinated effort ever undertaken to expand renewable energy and grid infrastructure throughout Africa.
Zoisa North-Bond, CEO of Octopus Energy Generation, emphasised the significance of this investment: "Africa's renewables story goes beyond energy access – it's also about investing smartly to unleash prosperity. With 60% of the world's solar potential, Africa sees only 2% of global renewables investment."
She added: "We're changing this: unlocking up to $450 million through our Power Africa Initiative to power 1.1 million people and helping to convert the continent's abundant clean energy potential into shared economic prosperity."
Michael Sheldrick from Global Citizen praised the collaborative approach: "Despite extremely difficult geopolitical conditions, the Scaling Up Renewables in Africa campaign has shown that international cooperation remains possible when countries take responsibility. This partnership demonstrates how governments, business and civil society can work together to accelerate renewable energy."
