
RNZ's Kathryn Ryan talked to Rewiring Aotearoa CEO Mike Casey and Electricity Networks Aotearoa's Tracey Kai about the changes proposed by the Energy Competition Taskforce and how they will improve the already impressive return on investment for solar and batteries. As Casey said, the most important thing to remember is that the biggest benefits to households come from using solar as it is the cheapest form of delivered electricity available to New Zealand homes and those with electric machines and cars can save thousands each year on their energy bills. Exporting excess energy is generally a cherry on top and the proposed changes to reward peak export might only represent a small increase for households, but they may be significant for farmers or businesses with more space. More solar and batteries also helps to bring down the cost for everyone on the network, reduces the need for expensive pole and wire upgrades, which are paid for on customers' bills and can also help create more security of supply by keeping water in the dams.
A collection of savvy businesses flipping their fleets and flagging the fuel; countries more reliant on gas for electricity are dealing with higher prices and LNG-loving Japan is looking at a $US3 billion subsidy to help people deal with high costs, which is exactly why we shouldn't get stuck in the gas trap; Australia shows what a solar and batteries strategy can do to change the system, Norway shows what an EV strategy can do to transport and New Zealand shows ... uh, not much, unfortunately; despite gas stoves becoming a culture war prop, lots of Americans will soon experience the joys of induction; and the cruise industry charts some electric waters.
With interest in residential solar skyrocketing, Rewiring Aotearoa's Mike Casey talks to RNZ's Lisa Owen about the role long-term, low-interest loans through the Ratepayer Assistance Scheme could play to ensure more New Zealanders can access the savings it offers.
What do National, Labour, the Greens, New Zealand First, Act, Te Pati Māori and The Opportunity Party have in common? And, no, this is not a joke.
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