ASB And Cogo Launch Online Energy Calculator To Help Customers Save Thousands A Year By Switching To Electric
When homeowners are ready to upgrade, they can use the Better Energy Calculator to view and compare options and energy savings that are specific to their property. By choosing to switch heating, appliances or their vehicle to electric, ASB customers stand to benefit from installation discounts and could borrow up to $80,000 at 1% for up to three years through the 'Better Homes Top Up' for eligible upgrades.
ASB Lend and Protect Tribe Lead, David Jackson says: 'The Cogo team are experts in their field at building technology that has great economic and environmental value. We're thrilled to be leading the way by providing this online tool to our customers and to all Kiwi.
"Based on research conducted by Rewiring Aotearoa, [1] consumers could save up to $3,000 per year in energy costs with changes such as switching to an EV when it's time for a new car and replacing old gas appliances with electricity. It means that customers looking to upgrade, are able to make an informed decision on cost-effective long-term choices that are also sustainable.'
ASB is the first bank in New Zealand to offer Cogo's Home and Vehicle Electrification solution. It's part of an 'electrification ecosystem' on ASB's website, which offers personalised suggestions on changes energy users could make, and the upfront costs and potential savings of these changes.
For example, the Better Energy Calculator shows that for a four-person dwelling in the Auckland suburb of Birkenhead, a homeowner could save $1,400 per year by switching their heating, hot water and cook tops to electric, with upfront costs from $15,500. Adding solar to the home increases potential savings by an additional $1,600 per year, based on upfront costs from $11,000. In fact, if they go electric with their next vehicle (costing $49,990), this homeowner could save another $1,200 per year on car running costs. [2]
With a click of a mouse, people can connect directly with Cogo's trusted installers offering exclusive discounts, and with the ASB team, who can support with financing of upfront costs. The Better Energy Calculator even removes the hard work of research by suggesting EVs most similar to the user's existing vehicle.
Cogo founder and CEO, Ben Gleisner says: 'We share a strong alignment with ASB in our mission to encourage people to take personal action on climate change, and electrifying their homes and cars is a great way to start. Success for us would be thousands of Kiwi making changes that save them money and reduce their carbon footprint.'
The Better Energy Calculator is available now, to anyone, on the ASB website: Get better energy with ASB
[1] Rewiring Aotearoa, Electric Homes Report
[2] Upfront costs represent the initial outlay for the product only and do not include finance or interest rates which vary.
ASB Bank
Helping you get one step ahead.
In 1847, ASB opened as the Auckland Savings Bank with the pledge: 'to serve the community; to grow and to help Kiwis grow'. And that is very much what ASB is about today.
ASB is a leading provider of integrated financial services in New Zealand including retail, business and rural banking, funds management and insurance.
ASB strives to consistently provide its customers with outstanding service and innovative financial solutions. They're dedicated to providing simple financial products that allow their customers to bank with them how and when they want.
We all have our own ways to measure progress, and our own stories about the things that matter to us. Whatever way you choose to measure progress, and whatever your goals, ASB is there to help you get one step ahead.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Otago Daily Times
38 minutes ago
- Otago Daily Times
Majority of southern ratepayers hit hard
More than two-thirds of Otago and Southland's councils hiked rates above the national average for 2025, new data shows. Only the Invercargill City Council (7.11%), the Otago Regional Council (5.50%) and the Southland District Council (7.23%) were below the national average rates increase of 8.39% for 2025. Of the 78 councils across New Zealand, less than half (34) were below the national average rates increase, and now the Taxpayers' Union is calling for ratepayers to sign a petition calling for a cap to be put on rates hikes. Taxpayers' Union local government campaigns manager Sam Warren said the union had created a Rates Dashboard so ratepayers could track and compare their council's annual rates increases with councils across New Zealand. It also showed the average cumulative rates increase over the present three-year council term, which was an ''astonishing'' 34.4% — more than two and a-half times inflation over the same period. ''The dashboard shows that the average Kiwi household now faces a rates bill more than a-third higher than just three years ago. ''These numbers represent real pain being felt by ratepayers, including reports of ratepayers being forced out of their homes. ''They show why United Kingdom or Australian-style rates capping is so urgently needed. ''Councils should be forced to keep rates under the level of inflation unless approved by local referenda.'' He said more than 28,000 New Zealanders had signed the Cap Rates Now petition. However, Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich said Dunedin's 10.70% rates increase this year was necessary, because the city had underinvested in infrastructure over the past two decades. ''Our rates are a bit higher than the national average because we've got more ground to make up with water in particular. ''We are embarking on a programme to bring our water services and infrastructure up to standard. ''We're an older city and we're suffering from a lack of expenditure on pipes and plumbing and the water infrastructure over the last 20 years in particular. ''So we're having to make up that ground, but also we're looking to try to balance the increasing levels of debt of council with rates, and we're looking to maintain the water infrastructure within council ownership.'' He said feedback from residents in the nine-year plan consultation, showed there was ''a definite preference'' for the Dunedin City Council to retain control of its own water infrastructure. ''So what that means is, it will cost us a little bit more in the short term to fund that infrastructure, but in the longer term, we'll save a considerable amount of money over the course of the nine-year plan. ''I think it's $158million that we save by funding the water infrastructure upgrades and renewals ourselves, as opposed to forming a council-controlled organisation.'' He said many councils further north were banding together and forming council-controlled organisations, and as a result, they were loading all of the infrastructure upgrades on to debt. ''And in some cases, that debt is heading towards a maximum of about 500% of revenue. We are well under that. ''Even though some people complain about the level of council debt, we are at a realistic level,'' he said. 2025 rates rises % rise 3-year cumulative rise* Central Otago District Council 12.47% 47.95% Clutha District Council 16.59% 39.85% Dunedin City Council 10.70% 38.53% Environment Southland 8.80% 37.13% Gore District Council 8.82% 46.60% Invercargill City Council 7.11% 24.28% Otago Regional Council 5.50% 45.76% Queenstown Lakes District Council 13.50% 50.23% Southland District Council 7.23% 31.15% Waitaki District Council 9.79% 34.79% *(as of July 10, 2025) Top 10 rates rises in 2025 Clutha District Council - 16.59% Upper Hutt City Council - 15.78% Hamilton City Council - 15.50% Waipa District Council - 15.50% Hastings District Council - 15.00% Selwyn District Council - 14.20% Grey District Council - 13.73% Queenstown Lakes District Council - 13.50% Westland District Council - 13.20% Taranaki Regional Council - 12.90%
Otago Daily Times
2 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Majority of southern ratepayers hit hard: Many rates rises above national average increase
More than two-thirds of Otago and Southland's councils hiked rates above the national average for 2025, new data shows. Only the Invercargill City Council (7.11%), the Otago Regional Council (5.50%) and the Southland District Council (7.23%) were below the national average rates increase of 8.39% for 2025. Of the 78 councils across New Zealand, less than half (34) were below the national average rates increase, and now the Taxpayers' Union is calling for ratepayers to sign a petition calling for a cap to be put on rates hikes. Taxpayers' Union local government campaigns manager Sam Warren said the union had created a Rates Dashboard so ratepayers could track and compare their council's annual rates increases with councils across New Zealand. It also showed the average cumulative rates increase over the present three-year council term, which was an ''astonishing'' 34.4% — more than two and a-half times inflation over the same period. ''The dashboard shows that the average Kiwi household now faces a rates bill more than a-third higher than just three years ago. ''These numbers represent real pain being felt by ratepayers, including reports of ratepayers being forced out of their homes. ''They show why United Kingdom or Australian-style rates capping is so urgently needed. ''Councils should be forced to keep rates under the level of inflation unless approved by local referenda.'' He said more than 28,000 New Zealanders had signed the Cap Rates Now petition. However, Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich said Dunedin's 10.70% rates increase this year was necessary, because the city had underinvested in infrastructure over the past two decades. ''Our rates are a bit higher than the national average because we've got more ground to make up with water in particular. ''We are embarking on a programme to bring our water services and infrastructure up to standard. ''We're an older city and we're suffering from a lack of expenditure on pipes and plumbing and the water infrastructure over the last 20 years in particular. ''So we're having to make up that ground, but also we're looking to try to balance the increasing levels of debt of council with rates, and we're looking to maintain the water infrastructure within council ownership.'' He said feedback from residents in the nine-year plan consultation, showed there was ''a definite preference'' for the Dunedin City Council to retain control of its own water infrastructure. ''So what that means is, it will cost us a little bit more in the short term to fund that infrastructure, but in the longer term, we'll save a considerable amount of money over the course of the nine-year plan. ''I think it's $158million that we save by funding the water infrastructure upgrades and renewals ourselves, as opposed to forming a council-controlled organisation.'' He said many councils further north were banding together and forming council-controlled organisations, and as a result, they were loading all of the infrastructure upgrades on to debt. ''And in some cases, that debt is heading towards a maximum of about 500% of revenue. We are well under that. ''Even though some people complain about the level of council debt, we are at a realistic level,'' he said. 2025 rates rises % rise 3-year cumulative rise* Central Otago District Council 12.47% 47.95% Clutha District Council 16.59% 39.85% Dunedin City Council 10.70% 38.53% Environment Southland 8.80% 37.13% Gore District Council 8.82% 46.60% Invercargill City Council 7.11% 24.28% Otago Regional Council 5.50% 45.76% Queenstown Lakes District Council 13.50% 50.23% Southland District Council 7.23% 31.15% Waitaki District Council 9.79% 34.79% *(as of July 10, 2025) Top 10 rates rises in 2025 Clutha District Council - 16.59% Upper Hutt City Council - 15.78% Hamilton City Council - 15.50% Waipa District Council - 15.50% Hastings District Council - 15.00% Selwyn District Council - 14.20% Grey District Council - 13.73% Queenstown Lakes District Council - 13.50% Westland District Council - 13.20% Taranaki Regional Council - 12.90%
1News
14 hours ago
- 1News
Electricity market concerns outlined in new campaign
A group of industry bodies and independent energy retailers have launched a new campaign calling for an overhaul of the energy market. In response, Energy Minister Simon Watts told 1News a review into the market's affordability and reliability was underway and announcements would come "in due course". In a full-page open letter in Sunday newspapers, the group asserts "our energy market is broken", claiming the existing market structure was hurting Kiwi households and businesses by suppressing competition and delaying investment in new generation. The groups involved include the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, the NZ Manufacturing Alliance, Consumer NZ, the Major Electricity Users group, and independent retailers such as Octopus Energy and Electric Kiwi. Appealing to the Prime Minister, they wrote in the open letter that "the competitive pressures that should attract new investors" and drive fair pricing are "severely diminished" in a market dominated by so-called "gentailers" – power companies that both generate electricity and retail it to customers. ADVERTISEMENT Power lines. (Source: 'Investment in new generation is being delayed, sustaining high prices, and contributing to the energy supply crisis we now face,' said the group, saying this results in lower productivity and international competitiveness, and drives up the cost of living. The four electricity "gentailers" were 51% owned by the Government. Karen Boyes, executive director of the Major Electricity Users Group, outlined her concerns in an interview with Q+A. She said if reforms were not made, New Zealand faced a "risk of deindustrialisation", citing closures of several industrial factories and sawmills during the 2024 winter that was partially attributable to rapid spike in electricity prices. In a worst case scenario, 'some businesses will struggle, particularly those who rely on both electricity and gas — things are getting twice as hard and it's getting very hard to get gas". "I think you'll see some struggle, hopefully we won't see more leave, but we did see last winter Winstone Pulp and Oji [Fibre Solutions] closed some of their facilities, which is really going to hurt those local regions who rely on them." ADVERTISEMENT Boyes also highlighted the opportunity cost currently facing New Zealand if more generation wasn't brought online. 'We'll lose opportunities as well. We've got some great opportunities with data centres who could come here and make the most of our abundant energy — if we can get it abundant — who can set us up to compete internationally and grow the economy.' Minister for Energy Simon Watts. (Source: Q+A/Irra Lee) Market performance review ongoing, announcements 'in due course' — Watts Energy Minister Simon Watts told 1News ensuring the security and affordability of the country's energy system was his "bottom line". New Zealand had both an energy shortage, with a low wind generation and faster than expected falls in gas production, and an electricity market "not functioning as well as it should", he said. "New Zealanders need to have confidence that the electricity market is doing its part to deliver on the long-term interests of Kiwis, and that there is enough competition to deliver the affordable prices we need." ADVERTISEMENT Watts said the Government initiated a review of the market's performance last year which looked at how it could be improved to support economic growth and accessibility of reliable and affordable electricity. "The Government will make announcements on this work in due course." For the full interview and story, watch the video above Q+A with Jack Tame is made with the support of New Zealand On Air
