The 'Electric Election': energy policies, side by side
"When you look at how much people are paying now, and the fact grid electricity keeps going up, it’s very hard to argue a solar installation isn’t economic.”
Rewiring Aotearoa's CEO Mike Casey talks to The Press' Blayne Slabbert about the benefits, costs and considerations of getting solar and it's a thorough rundown for anyone thinking about investing.
As he says, a typical household should expect to pay about $2000 per kilowatt for a fully installed solar system, including GST.
“The average system size in New Zealand has been around six or seven kilowatts,” he said.
Zac Le Heux, co-founder of Garden City Solar, says his "rough payback guide is six to eight years for solar only, assuming the family can use a good chunk of the solar power in the middle of the day.
“If you add a battery you’re more in that 10 to 12 year range,” he said.
'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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