EV Salary Boost: it's a pay rise you can drive!
As electrification blossoms and homes save money by getting off gas, we need to prepare for more electricity use. That doesn't necessarily mean more expensive upgrades to poles and wires paid for by customers on their bills. It could also be lines companies innovating and ensuring that they make the most of new technology like solar, batteries and two-way charging that can provide generation and reduce the pressure at peak times.
Wellington homeowner Mike Anthony has electrified. “We came off gas cooking about a year and a bit ago. We came off a gas ducted central heating at the beginning of August. And we've actually just finally got off gas completely by replacing our infinity hot water with an electric hot water heat pump at the beginning of this month,” he said.
The family’s household energy bill in August was 36% lower than in August last year, and he expected to save in the region of $1000 to $2000 in the first full year.Karl also said his household was coming off gas.“We are just the kind of home Greg [Skelton] is worried about,” he said.The Karl household had put in solar with a battery, which meant it could operate and charge its EV without adding to the city’s peak demand, reducing the need for investment in the city’s power lines.Sam Cook, owner of Wiretec Electrical in Lower Hutt, said 80% to 90% of solar systems his company installs have batteries.
Along with taxes, education and health, energy is proving to be a big talking point in the run up to the election .. which is now 33 days away. All the political parties have released some energy policies .. and while they're quite varied in their approaches .. the main focus seems to be bringing down the cost of electricity for us consumers. Our first guest would like electric transport to also be part of the conversation .. he's calling for a 'great EV comeback' and has some ideas about how to make it happen. Mike Casey, Rewiring Aotearoa Chief Executive joins Jesse.
The electric election continues apace! National announced its 'Electrify NZ 2.0 plan' last week and Mike Casey joined Andrew Dickens on Newstalk ZB to talk about the potential for peer-to-peer trading of energy, the roll of solar in lowering power prices, data centres needing to bring their own generation, and the likelihood that all this talk will turn into action.
