The 'Electric Election': energy policies, side by side
Mike Casey: "They're going with the cheaper option and ultimately then outgrowing that solar system very, very quickly … they'll get a solar installer who will ask for their power bills over the last few months and they'll design a solar system that's optimised for return for that particular movement in time but then you add more electricity demand."
Mike Casey, chief executive at Rewiring Aotearoa, said some people were not installing big enough systems because their demand for power was likely to increase over time.
"They're going with the cheaper option and ultimately then outgrowing that solar system very, very quickly … they'll get a solar installer who will ask for their power bills over the last few months and they'll design a solar system that's optimised for return for that particular movement in time but then you add more electricity demand.
"Another way of explaining it is the most savings that you're going to get comes from avoiding buying electricity from the grid at 40 cents… the way to maximise your return on investment is potentially to look at a smaller system where you're using almost all of the generation immediately in your hot water, in your fridge and freezer and EV or whatever it might be.
"But actually that's not practical because as your electricity consumption grows, your solar install needs to grow as well. And the most expensive thing isn't the panels, the most expensive thing is getting the bloke on your roof to drill the roof. So really you should be overbuilding your solar system."
'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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