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On Nine to Noon, Kathryn Ryan looked at the growing issue of homes with piped or bottled gas facing increasing prices and fewer choices, "as complaints about services doubled in the last year. And it's not just households."
Consumer NZ's Paul Fuge spoke about the 'gas death spiral', where the prices for those who are stuck on the network continue to increase as other leave, and unnecessarily high fees for disconnections, while Gas NZ chief executive Jeffrey Clarke said there "is still a future for gas as a fuel out to 2050 and beyond".
We do need gas for some sectors and for some electricity generation, but gas in homes (and most businesses) is dumb, in large part because there is already a cheaper alternative - electric machines run with renewable electricity.
If history is any guide, the price of gas is likely to continue rising much faster than the rate of inflation.
We are already seeing schools, councils and other businesses like vegetable growers that rely on gas feeling the effects of massive price rises and limited choice. So don't get trapped in the spiral.
New South Wales gets the memo about the importance of finance and announces scheme offering zero interest loans to households to upgrade to electric stuff; plug-in solar gets the tick of approval to go on sale in the UK soon and the New York Times says it could 'change America'; EVolocity takes electrification to the streets to gets the kids inspired (and eventually employed); a tour of the amazing recycling business Redwood Materials; Think Solar and BYD give it away now; and a skit that cuts close to the bone for many solar dads.
Read moreDownloadAdvances in technology and falling costs mean customer-owned solar and batteries can play a critical role in New Zealand’s energy infrastructure - improving affordability, resilience and sustainability. Multiple trading relationships (MTR) and peer-to-peer trading would enable this potential by increasing competition, customer choice, and innovation in the electricity market, unlocking greater consumer benefits from customer solar and batteries.
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