79% of respondents cited reducing their electricity costs as a reason for getting solar, with 60% saying it’s the main reason. Electricity prices have been rising faster than inflation in 2025 with many consumers facing price rises greater than 10%.

70% of respondents cited high levels of concern about rising electricity prices, with 58% of this group saying further price rises would make them more likely to consider solar.

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As Westpac NZ managing product, sustainability and marketing director Sarah Hearn told RNZ:

"Solar is environmentally friendly, widely available, can add value to a property, is getting cheaper to install and can lead to significant cost savings on energy bills over time. However, installing solar panels can be a significant upfront cost. Nearly half of those surveyed who weren't planning to get solar cited cost as a reason. A quarter of respondents who do plan to get solar are putting it off for at least a year, which speaks to the cost pressures many are still facing."

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