Kraken Energy Platform: the OS powering the utility shift

Over the past two years, something big—and quiet—has been happening in retail energy. Many utilities saw their customer bond weakened as home-energy apps tried to “own” the experience. Then came the Kraken Energy Platform, flipping the script by giving utilities a full operating system (OS) that runs the hard stuff behind the scenes while the utility keeps the brand and the relationship up front.

Unlike a simple HEMS app, Kraken is a true energy OS: billing, CRM, meter data, switching, market settlement, and device coordination in one stack. It’s already running 70M+ customer accounts across 30+ countries and managing around 45 GW of assets with 300k+ connected devices. Household names—including E.ON Next, EDF, Origin Energy, and Tokyo Gas—license it to serve homes and businesses with smart tariffs, automated savings, and cleaner choices.

There’s also a corporate twist. Octopus Energy Group plans a demerger of Kraken at an indicated ~£10 billion (≈$14B) valuation, with a public target of 100M accounts by 2027. The move strengthens governance and makes it easier for Octopus’s competitors to adopt the platform without conflict concerns.

Why this isn’t “just another app”

Apps sit on the surface; Kraken lives under the experience layer where compliance is unforgiving—billing has to be exact, switching must be smooth, settlements must close, and data must reconcile. That “regulatory-grade” core is a moat. It means utilities can launch friendly apps or partner with device brands while Kraken quietly handles the heavy lifting.

What utilities get with Kraken

• Speed to market: launch new price plans in weeks, not quarters.

• One source of truth: billing, CRM, and meter data in one place.

• Ready for devices: batteries, EVs, and smart heating can be coordinated for savings and cleaner load shapes.

• Brand first: utilities keep their name on the app while the OS runs in the background.

• Scale and reliability: already proven at tens of millions of accounts and gigawatt-level assets.

Why HEMS/device vendors should integrate (not compete)

The smart play for device makers and HEMS apps is to plug into the OS. Utilities keep trust with customers; vendors gain scale and smoother onboarding. Partnerships with players like Tesla Energy, sonnen, ChargePoint, or Wallbox can thrive when there’s a stable platform coordinating tariffs, usage, and rewards.

Numbers that matter (kept simple)

• Growth runway: as EVs and heat pumps spread, utilities need orchestration—not just notifications.

• Margin mix: platforms typically aim for higher EBITDA because digital services (smart tariffs, automation, battery plans) add recurring revenue.

• Customer stickiness: one app, one bill, and visible savings improve retention far more than scattered third-party tools.

A practical path for utilities

1. Pick a proven core—don’t rebuild the back office.

2. Keep your brand front and center with a clean, helpful app.

3. Integrate key partners (EV, batteries, smart heating) so customers see savings from day one.

4. Measure what counts: time to launch, active users, savings per customer, and churn.

5. Publish simple results so customers—and regulators—see the value.

Bottom line: if you want platform-level margins instead of pipes-only returns, you need two things working together—a regulatory-grade core and a fast, friendly front end. The Kraken Energy Platform is the clearest proof that both can coexist at scale.