The 'Electric Election': energy policies, side by side
With electricity prices on the up, The Spinoff harks back to Mike Casey's opinion piece in Newsroom introducing the idea of the 'electric election' and the need to get behind rooftop solar to help New Zealanders reduce their energy costs.
The fuel crisis has given new force to the arguments of electricity advocates. With petrol prices at record highs and the LNG terminal – the government’s centrepiece response to dry-year risk – now in jeopardy after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz sent LNG prices soaring, the case for rooftop solar has sharpened considerably. For proponents, the combination of an EV and solar power offers a way to decouple from both a captive electricity market and a fossil fuel economy that are simultaneously failing consumers.
Writing in Newsroom, Rewiring Aotearoa’s Mike Casey argues that the gentailers, for all their public commitments to customers, “still fight behind the scenes to maintain their advantage and keep bills high.” He is equally pointed about the government: it “should be looking out for the customer” but is also “the largest shareholder of the existing system”, creating an ongoing structural conflict. The government needs to wrestle away some of the industry’s power and “help New Zealanders take control of their own energy destiny” by throwing its support behind solar, he says.
“Anyone who keeps the price of electricity high for New Zealanders is going against our national interests”, he writes. “So fasten your seatbelt. This electric election is going to be a wild ride.”
'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.
Read moreDownload
