Delivering homegrown energy and electrifying energy use will cut bills and boost UK competitiveness

7/7/2026 11:00:00 AM

Electrification could cut bills by 35% while a shift to more UK-generated clean electricity at the same time will boost UK energy security and protect against price spikes.

Accelerating UK‑generated clean power and helping homes, businesses and industry to use more electricity instead of alternatives can cut energy bills by 35%, while boosting global competitiveness, according to a report by electricity infrastructure leader SSE.

In a new report published today, combining in-depth public opinion polling with data analysis, SSE finds that building homegrown electricity infrastructure and then using more of that electricity to power homes, businesses and industry will drive down energy bills while ensuring consumers are protected from price spikes caused by global events.

The report finds:

Around 70% of the increase in domestic energy bills since 2017 has been driven by global commodity prices and inflation, underlining the UK’s continued exposure to volatile international gas markets and the case for accelerating the transition to UK-generated clean energy.
Switching to an electric vehicle could cut a family’s overall energy costs by around 30%, with a further 5% saving from a heat pump.
Changing how policy costs and levies are added to bills, so they no longer make electricity artificially expensive, would deliver immediate savings.
Extending targeted support to SMEs, alongside reforms to policies such as the Climate Change Levy and how costs are shared, could save a typical pub or restaurant around £1,000 a year.
Eight in ten people support producing more energy in the UK to reduce reliance on other countries. When asked to choose, a majority believe that moving away from fossil fuels towards other energy sources is the best way to achieve that.
The ‘cost of living’ remains the public’s top concern – ahead of immigration and asylum, the economy and health. Across voting intentions, expanding clean energy is among the most widely supported ways to bring down costs, with strong support for more solar (74%) and wind (67%).

Martin Pibworth, Chief Executive of SSE plc, said:

“The single biggest lever the next Prime Minister has to cut energy bills is to make more use of the clean power we generate here in the UK. Right now, too many homes and businesses are still exposed to volatile global gas prices they can’t control. By generating more clean energy here at home and upgrading the grid, we can build a more affordable, secure energy system that brings down bills over time.

“The benefits could be even greater if we stop making electricity artificially expensive by removing levies and other costs from the electricity bill. The UK has led the world in areas like offshore wind and can do so again by winning the electrification race - saving customers money while driving growth and competitiveness not just nationally but across all regions of the country.”