Fossil fuel homes are more expensive, but higher upfront costs of going electric are a big barrier for households.

The proposed Ratepayer Assistance Scheme will offer long-term, low-interest loans for electrification.

It can be done at no ongoing cost for councils, and will be available exclusively to ratepayers in councils that have opted in.

This is likely to have the biggest impact on bills and emissions, so make sure your council is signed up. 

Councils can send powerful signals and encourage those who have the means to electrify and install solar/ batteries to do it now.

For example, Queenstown Lakes District Council is helping to fund the Queenstown Electrification Accelerator, a community initiative to reduce barriers to the adoption of electric machines, solar, and batteries and make Queenstown into the world’s most electric destination.

That’s the kind of vision we need more of.  

Going electric can save homes thousands. And it could save councils millions, especially as the cost of fossil fuels continues to rise.

If you’re still burning gas at the public pools, not putting solar on public buildings, or running a fleet of petrol cars, you’re wasting ratepayer money - and also pumping out invisible waste into the sky. 

Don’t just include information on electrification and renewable energy on your ‘Climate Action’ pages.

Give it to developers and families looking to build new homes and buildings. Push it out to the community through all channels, make sure it’s clear to residents that upgrading to electric machines is likely to have the biggest impact on a household’s emissions, and keep talking about the big economic benefits to homes and the region as a whole.

That’s one of the most powerful drivers, but not everyone knows it.

Locally-run electrification community groups are emerging across the country, actively encouraging and supporting households, businesses and farms to electrify.

Through grants and tailored support, like offering venues and resources in-kind, you can invest directly in these passionate local advocates and they can help reduce bills and emissions in your region. 

Whether it’s social housing, park maintenance or rubbish collection, councils have the power to influence many decisions around the use of fossil fuel versus electric machines.

These decisions about the type of heating or cooktops in homes, or diesel versus electric mowers being purchased to do council work add up to a lot of emissions and operating cost savings.

Councils can make it easier for people to charge EVs, whether through actual chargers, or mechanisms to charge at the curb. And they should be updating plan rules to support more solar on existing rooftops. 

We need more electric public transport and active transport for health and lifestyle benefits.

But we also need more EVs to reduce emissions from car trips that can’t be avoided. These things can be complementary.