The 'Electric Election': energy policies, side by side
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.
'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.
Read moreDownload
