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An energy hardship researcher at Otago University is suggesting repurposing the winter energy payment and putting that money towards solar subsidies for households. Senior research fellow Kimberley O'Sullivan says because the price of power has increased so much in recent years, the winter payment covers less and less heating. She says switching the half billion dollars the Government spends on the programme to household solar subsidies to put more electricity generation into the system and reduce overall prices. She also speaks about the role on the Ratepayer Assistance Scheme and low-interest, long-term loans for electric upgrades.
Political Power has gone local! Dr Nick Smith, mayor of Nelson and ex-National Party minister, is an early adopter when it comes to electric machines but, through his efforts with the council and his close involvement with the Ratepayer Assistance Scheme, he's also embracing one of Rewiring's core mantras: once you've electrified your own life, electrify someone else's life, too.
Read moreDownloadWhether it's the growing number of electric buses, new electric trains for the lower North Island and City Rail Link, or new electric ferries, we love seeing more electric transport options in our big cities. It's also good to see some of our smaller cities like Palmerston North, Timaru and Nelson going electric and, as is almost always the case, the drivers reckon it's better on electrons. At the Electrify Nelson expo, we spoke with one driver Lee about the city's electric buses. And he definitely wouldn't go back to diesel.
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