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A finance scheme that would let homeowners spread the cost of rates and capital costs like solar panels over up to 30 years, could be in place by early next year.
The work is being led by Local Government New Zealand - which with several councils and the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority - is working on putting into place towards the end of the year a Ratepayer Assistance Scheme.
The scheme would be funded by central and local government support and offer loans at lower interest rates than commercial banks.
While at the same time it would be kept off council balance sheets to protect debt limits, while still allowing more housing growth as development levies could also be financed.
The project has also been supported by electrification advocates Rewiring Aotearoa for finance to cover conversions to electric appliances and household renewable energy - such as solar panels.
Scott Necklen is chief executive at LGNZ and is leading this work.
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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