Don't listen to Old Man Gas. Ditch LNG. Support New Zealand-made energy!
Following stories in the media of solar customers who are not getting the promised bill reductions from solar, Rewiring Aotearoa CEO Mike Casey joined Jesse Mulligan to talk about what to look out for, how to ensure you get a quality install and why the vast majority of people are very satisfied with their solar.
Like any tradesperson doing work on your property, there is an element of trust involved and a risk that an install won't be done well. But satisfaction rates among solar customers are around 90% overseas and we have heard a huge number of positive solar stories from New Zealanders who have invested and significantly reduced their bills. Reputation is everything in the trades, so the best advice is to talk to someone who already has solar and had a good experience.
Some installers may charge more but might offer ongoing assistance to help with any issues. The lowest price may not always be the best option.
This stuff can be complex and there's a lot of learning to be done. It's often a big step on the way to becoming more energy literate, but if something doesn't feel right - and having to import electricity from the grid in the middle of a sunny day is definitely not right - then make sure it's remedied.
Judging from these stories, the issues are all fairly easy to remedy, so it's not a problem with the tech, as over four million Aussies can attest. In New Zealand, installs are growing at record levels, so it's not surprising to see a few more complaints being lodged with Utilities Disputes.
The Queenstown Electrification Accelerator has created a solar quote comparison tool, which you can check out here.
Political Power has gone local! Dr Nick Smith, mayor of Nelson and ex-National Party minister, is an early adopter when it comes to electric machines but, through his efforts with the council and his close involvement with the Ratepayer Assistance Scheme, he's also embracing one of Rewiring's core mantras: once you've electrified your own life, electrify someone else's life, too.
Read moreDownloadWhether it's the growing number of electric buses, new electric trains for the lower North Island and City Rail Link, or new electric ferries, we love seeing more electric transport options in our big cities. It's also good to see some of our smaller cities like Palmerston North, Timaru and Nelson going electric and, as is almost always the case, the drivers reckon it's better on electrons. At the Electrify Nelson expo, we spoke with one driver Lee about the city's electric buses. And he definitely wouldn't go back to diesel.
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