The 'Electric Election': energy policies, side by side
As domestic gas supplies dwindle, homes are at risk of exponential cost rises and loss of supply. Financing electric upgrades is the best way to avoid a chaotic transition and is especially important for low-income households.
Welcome to the gas death spiral. No, it's not a heavy metal band or a wrestling move; it's the inevitable decline of the fossil gas network and the steadily increasing costs faced by those who are still stuck on it. �
In an RNZ story by Eloise Gibson, Vector chief executive Simon McKenzie warned that it might need to stop supplying gas to some suburbs due to dwindling supplies. While the decision to buy a gas hot water system or gas cooktop might seem safe now, it could come back to bite you in a few years when you find you can't fuel it - and if you can, the fuel is likely to be prohibitively expensive, as those who went early on hydrogen cars are now finding out.
We can choose to have an orderly transition off gas and help homes (especially low-income homes) finance upgrades to electric machines, or we can have a chaotic transition off gas where supply is occasionally shut off, networks eventually shut down and homeowners may be forced to rip out appliances and are burdened with unplanned costs.
Many countries are realising that they shouldn't be sleepwalking into the death spiral. Even Australia, which is one of the world's largest fossil gas exporters, knows gas has no future in the home for a few good reasons:
💲 It makes no economic sense (and renewable gas makes even less economic sense).
🤧 It is a leading cause of respiratory illness in the home, so we are basically paying extra to get asthma.
🌍 And burning it creates unnecessary emissions that are definitely not compatible with any of our climate targets.Households need to be able to swap fuel for finance if they want to electrify and get off the gas. If you want this transition to be orderly, ask your MP why the right kind of finance isn't being offered.
Find out more about the electric upgrade options and how much you can save in our electrification guides.
'Twas the night before Chris-mas, and all through the house, all the voters were stirring, the pundits showing their nous … the election will soon be over, but the energy crisis won't, so we'll be there to pester whoever is in power about the need to run more of the economy on New Zealand-made energy; can Ethiopia's aggressive push for EVs work and how does New Zealand compare in terms of adoption rates?; a two-way charging trial from Genesis shows promise in Auckland, but there's still a way to go before it's mainstream; small electric vehicles are often overlooked when it comes to electrifying transport, but it's hard to miss this weird French one; a solar-powered cafe (and some electric coffee); and we endorse the political vandalism of Keith of All Trades.
Read moreDownloadPoliticians are being urged to adopt stronger electric vehicle incentives ahead of the election. Climate and energy advocacy group Rewiring Aotearoa is arguing that EVs are one of the most effective long-term solutions for rising transport and energy costs. They're promoting an EV Salary Boost proposal, which would allow workers to access EVs through pre-tax salary arrangements – similarly to already existing schemes in the UK and Australia. Policy and Government Relations Spokesperson Ngaio Neumegen told Kerre Woodham that even with the rising cost of power, it's still cheaper to run an EV than a car running on imported fuel.
A proposal that would let New Zealanders lease an electric car using their before-tax pay has not won a commitment from either National or Labour, with the 7 November election days away. Under the EV Salary Boost, put forward by Rewiring Aotearoa and Drive Electric, an employee would lease a new or used EV for three to five years. The payments would come out of their pay before tax, lowering the cost of running the car. The idea is based on Australia’s novated leasing system, though the groups say they are not proposing a direct copy.
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