The case for energy loans: read our latest explainer
Marc Daalder reports on Vector's declining gas network and how it is responding to falling customer numbers. As he writes: "Gas in Auckland is formally past its peak in the latest forecasts from Vector, the city’s only gas distribution business, with new connections set to fall to zero in three years ... From 2029, there would be no new residential or commercial connections – with new industrial connections projected to have already ceased this year."
"This particular estimate is more important than usual, because it shows Vector believes its gas network has peaked in size. As disconnections outpace new connections, residential and commercial gas use will ultimately decline."
... Every year, 40,000 gas hot water systems are installed in New Zealand homes, with an expected lifetime of 15 years. A new system installed next year, then, could still be trucking along by the time Vector thinks it might be winding down its network.
We need to make sure there is a managed transition to avoid the gas death spiral, where those who are stuck on the network are burdened with the costs of maintaining it. We laid out this scenario in our explainer, a bad case of gas. And if you're building new or considering an upgrade, don't invest in the wrong tech.
Whether you're looking for an electric fruit picker, a farm workhorse, a high-end golf cart, a food and beverage hauler, a mobility scooter or a fold-up e-bike, Barry Hillyer could be the man you need to talk to. The E-motors showroom in Queenstown is home to an impressive collection of smaller electric machines and, while the big electric stuff like diggers and loaders creates plenty of attention, the small end of town is where the rubber is hitting the road in many other markets, where a lot of the innovation is happening and where the options are increasingly making economic sense.
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