Latest news with #PhilSquire
Techday NZ
a day ago
- Business
- Techday NZ
Toast Electric expands to help families facing winter hardship
Toast Electric has announced its expansion into Horowhenua and Wairarapa as many New Zealand families enter winter unable to afford adequate heating for their homes. The community enterprise, which is currently serving 1,100 homes and supporting over 250 families through its Energy Wellbeing programme, was launched by Sustainability Trust in 2022. It uses a model where every four paying households or small businesses switching to Toast supports one household experiencing energy hardship. Phil Squire, Head of Toast and a national expert in healthy homes assessments, stated that current compliance measures are insufficient to ensure the wellbeing of families. Squire commented, "Too many New Zealanders are being failed by a system that confuses compliance with care. This winter, we're seeing families who are in homes that are technically 'compliant' with the rental Healthy Homes Standards but still living in freezing conditions, making impossible trade-offs between heating and food. Compliance doesn't guarantee wellbeing and it's time we stopped pretending it does." The Energy Wellbeing programme offers a mix of assistance, including affordable electricity pricing with a 30% discount during winter, reconnection services for families cut off from power, and in-home energy advice from trained assessors. Squire described the model: "It's not just a bill reduction - it's a full-circle model that focuses on what truly makes a home healthy and liveable." Households join Toast through a network of financial mentors and social service agencies that offer financial advice and broader support prior to referral. Data from Consumer NZ and the University of Otago indicates more than 360,000 households in New Zealand experience energy hardship. In the past year, over 140,000 families have taken out loans to pay energy bills, with more than 40,000 homes at risk of disconnection annually. Squire said, "These are not edge cases - they are the reality for hundreds of thousands of families, many of them renting in poor-quality housing stock that remains difficult or outright unaffordable to heat." Issues with compliance The Healthy Homes Standards were designed to improve rental housing quality, yet Squire highlighted limitations in enforcement and actual measurement of outcomes. He noted, "The current system allows landlords to self-certify compliance and take advantage of multiple exemptions, meaning many rental homes may appear up to standard on paper but remain cold, damp and unhealthy in practice." Toast is calling for a national Home Energy Warrant of Fitness (WOF), similar to systems in place in Europe and the UK. The Home Energy WOF would require independent, licensed assessors to verify whether homes are safe, warm, and energy-efficient. Squire posed the question: "We wouldn't let someone certify their own car as why are we doing that with the places people sleep, raise their children and try to stay healthy?" Programme impact The Toast model is underpinned by reinvested revenue and aims to offer not only electricity savings but also improved living conditions. The organisation stresses that support should go beyond asking families to use less power, ensuring homes become healthier and more affordable to run. Story examples from those assisted by Toast illustrate the ongoing need. One Wellington man who had been without electricity for two years was finally reconnected via the Energy Wellbeing programme, and described being able to take a hot shower without using a torch. Others reflected on the relief of being able to turn on heating without fear of an unaffordable bill. Research from the University of Otago has identified broader effects of reducing energy bill-related stress. Dr Kimberley O'Sullivan, who is leading research into Toast Electric's Energy Wellbeing programme, stated, "We've heard from Toast Electric's referral partners, Energy Wellbeing Customers and Regular Customers who all wellbeing and describe how relieving electricity bill stress enables them to feel more comfortable and relaxed at home and better connect with their family, friends and community. Regular customers also feel good about being able to help others in need while paying their electricity bills they would already be paying. Toast Electric's not-for-profit model is working within the market framework to deliver essential electricity and improve wellbeing." Looking ahead Toast's current plans include expanding into Horowhenua and Wairarapa, and doubling its customer base over the next year, in addition to growing its network of referral agencies. The organisation maintains its focus on supporting families and challenging existing systems of compliance and measurement within the energy and housing sectors. "Energy should be a right, not a luxury," says Squire. "And until we make that true for every family in Aotearoa, we're not done."
Scoop
2 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Toast Announces Expansion As Thousands Of Kiwi Families Face Energy Hardship
Toasts Energy Wellbeing programme provides a unique blend of support: affordable electricity pricing (including a 30% discount during winter), reconnection for families who have been cut off and personalised in-home energy advice delivered by trained NZ's only not-for-profit electricity retailer says tick-box compliance alone won't keep families warm this winter. As another bitter winter descends on Aotearoa, thousands of New Zealand families are entering the season in homes they can't afford to heat. Against this backdrop, social enterprise Toast Electric has announced its expansion into Horowhenua and Wairarapa. It currently serves 1100 homes – having grown its Wellington customer base by more than half over the past year – and now supporting over 250 families through its Energy Wellbeing programme. Toast was launched in 2022 by Sustainability Trust with a bold mission: to eliminate energy hardship by reimagining how power is delivered. Through a simple but disruptive model, every four paying households or small businesses who switch to Toast help fund support for one household living in energy hardship. 'Too many New Zealanders are being failed by a system that confuses compliance with care,' comments Phil Squire, Head of Toast and a national expert in healthy homes assessments (with over 20 years' experience leading regional healthy housing programmes). 'This winter, we're seeing families who are in homes that are technically 'compliant' with the rental Healthy Homes Standards but still living in freezing conditions, making impossible trade-offs between heating and food. Compliance doesn't guarantee wellbeing and it's time we stopped pretending it does,' he adds. Toast's Energy Wellbeing programme provides a unique blend of support: affordable electricity pricing (including a 30% discount during winter), reconnection for families who have been cut off and personalised in-home energy advice delivered by trained assessors. 'It's not just a bill reduction – it's a full-circle model that focuses on what truly makes a home healthy and liveable,' comments Squire. Households are onboarded to Toast via a network of financial mentors and social service agencies who also provide financial advice and wrap-around support before referral to Toast. And the need is growing. According to Consumer NZ and University of Otago estimates, more than 360,000 households across New Zealand are in energy hardship. Over 140,000 families took out loans last year just to pay their power bills and more than 40,000 homes are at risk of disconnection each year. 'These are not edge cases – they are the reality for hundreds of thousands of families, many of them renting in poor-quality housing stock that remains difficult or outright unaffordable to heat,' comments Squire. While the government's Healthy Homes Standards were intended to lift the floor for rental housing quality, Squire says that without robust enforcement and real-world measurement, too many families are falling through the cracks. He adds: 'The current system allows landlords to self-certify compliance and take advantage of multiple exemptions, meaning many rental homes may appear up to standard on paper but remain cold, damp and unhealthy in practice.' Toast is now calling for the introduction of a national Home Energy Warrant of Fitness (WOF) – a system already in place in parts of Europe and the UK. Much like the existing vehicle WOF model, it would require independent, licensed assessors to verify whether a home is truly safe, warm and energy-efficient. Toast argues that this is long overdue. 'We wouldn't let someone certify their own car as roadworthy…so why are we doing that with the places people sleep, raise their children and try to stay healthy?' he asks. The team behind Toast believes that practical, community-based solutions like theirs can help fix what legislation alone cannot. Their wraparound model, powered entirely by reinvested revenue, ensures that families aren't just told to 'use less power' but are supported to live in homes that are healthier and cheaper to run. The stories behind the numbers speak for themselves. One Wellington man, who had lived without electricity for two years, was finally reconnected through Toast's programme and told assessors he could now take a hot shower without using a torch – something many take for granted. Others describe the relief of turning on the heater without fear of a bill they simply can't pay. This is what energy wellbeing looks like in action. University of Otago research has confirmed what the Toast team already knows: reducing bill stress leads to better mental health, more stable family dynamics and improved physical wellbeing. The ripple effect is significant – not just for individual households but for the communities they live in. Dr Kimberley O'Sullivan, leading the University of Otago research exploring Toast Electric's Energy Wellbeing programme, says 'We've heard from Toast Electric's referral partners, Energy Wellbeing Customers and Regular Customers who all report…improved wellbeing and describe how relieving electricity bill stress enables them to feel more comfortable and relaxed at home and better connect with their family, friends and community. Regular customers also feel good about being able to help others in need while paying their electricity bills they would already be paying. Toast Electric's not-for-profit model is working within the market framework to deliver essential electricity and improve wellbeing.' With plans to double customer numbers again over the next year, expand into Horowhenua and Wairarapa, and grow its referral network of local agencies, Toast is proving that ethical, equitable electricity retailing is not only possible – it's essential. 'Energy should be a right, not a luxury,' says Squire. 'And until we make that true for every family in Aotearoa, we're not done.'
Scoop
2 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Toast Announces Expansion As Thousands Of Kiwi Families Face Energy Hardship
NZ's only not-for-profit electricity retailer says tick-box compliance alone won't keep families warm this winter. As another bitter winter descends on Aotearoa, thousands of New Zealand families are entering the season in homes they can't afford to heat. Against this backdrop, social enterprise Toast Electric has announced its expansion into Horowhenua and Wairarapa. It currently serves 1100 homes - having grown its Wellington customer base by more than half over the past year - and now supporting over 250 families through its Energy Wellbeing programme. Toast was launched in 2022 by Sustainability Trust with a bold mission: to eliminate energy hardship by reimagining how power is delivered. Through a simple but disruptive model, every four paying households or small businesses who switch to Toast help fund support for one household living in energy hardship. 'Too many New Zealanders are being failed by a system that confuses compliance with care,' comments Phil Squire, Head of Toast and a national expert in healthy homes assessments (with over 20 years' experience leading regional healthy housing programmes). 'This winter, we're seeing families who are in homes that are technically 'compliant' with the rental Healthy Homes Standards but still living in freezing conditions, making impossible trade-offs between heating and food. Compliance doesn't guarantee wellbeing and it's time we stopped pretending it does,' he adds. Toast's Energy Wellbeing programme provides a unique blend of support: affordable electricity pricing (including a 30% discount during winter), reconnection for families who have been cut off and personalised in-home energy advice delivered by trained assessors. 'It's not just a bill reduction - it's a full-circle model that focuses on what truly makes a home healthy and liveable,' comments Squire. Households are onboarded to Toast via a network of financial mentors and social service agencies who also provide financial advice and wrap-around support before referral to Toast. And the need is growing. According to Consumer NZ and University of Otago estimates, more than 360,000 households across New Zealand are in energy hardship. Over 140,000 families took out loans last year just to pay their power bills and more than 40,000 homes are at risk of disconnection each year. 'These are not edge cases - they are the reality for hundreds of thousands of families, many of them renting in poor-quality housing stock that remains difficult or outright unaffordable to heat,' comments Squire. While the government's Healthy Homes Standards were intended to lift the floor for rental housing quality, Squire says that without robust enforcement and real-world measurement, too many families are falling through the cracks. He adds: 'The current system allows landlords to self-certify compliance and take advantage of multiple exemptions, meaning many rental homes may appear up to standard on paper but remain cold, damp and unhealthy in practice.' Toast is now calling for the introduction of a national Home Energy Warrant of Fitness (WOF) - a system already in place in parts of Europe and the UK. Much like the existing vehicle WOF model, it would require independent, licensed assessors to verify whether a home is truly safe, warm and energy-efficient. Toast argues that this is long overdue. 'We wouldn't let someone certify their own car as roadworthy…so why are we doing that with the places people sleep, raise their children and try to stay healthy?' he asks. The team behind Toast believes that practical, community-based solutions like theirs can help fix what legislation alone cannot. Their wraparound model, powered entirely by reinvested revenue, ensures that families aren't just told to 'use less power' but are supported to live in homes that are healthier and cheaper to run. The stories behind the numbers speak for themselves. One Wellington man, who had lived without electricity for two years, was finally reconnected through Toast's programme and told assessors he could now take a hot shower without using a torch - something many take for granted. Others describe the relief of turning on the heater without fear of a bill they simply can't pay. This is what energy wellbeing looks like in action. University of Otago research has confirmed what the Toast team already knows: reducing bill stress leads to better mental health, more stable family dynamics and improved physical wellbeing. The ripple effect is significant - not just for individual households but for the communities they live in. Dr Kimberley O'Sullivan, leading the University of Otago research exploring Toast Electric's Energy Wellbeing programme, says 'We've heard from Toast Electric's referral partners, Energy Wellbeing Customers and Regular Customers who all report…improved wellbeing and describe how relieving electricity bill stress enables them to feel more comfortable and relaxed at home and better connect with their family, friends and community. Regular customers also feel good about being able to help others in need while paying their electricity bills they would already be paying. Toast Electric's not-for-profit model is working within the market framework to deliver essential electricity and improve wellbeing.' With plans to double customer numbers again over the next year, expand into Horowhenua and Wairarapa, and grow its referral network of local agencies, Toast is proving that ethical, equitable electricity retailing is not only possible - it's essential. 'Energy should be a right, not a luxury,' says Squire. 'And until we make that true for every family in Aotearoa, we're not done.'
RNZ News
2 days ago
- Health
- RNZ News
Healthy homes standards in full next month
law housing 25 minutes ago All rentals must meet healthy homes standards from next month, so what do tenants and landlords need to know ahead of the deadline? Healthy homes standards first became law in 2019 and require rental properties to have sufficient heating, insulation, moisture controls and drainage, and draught stopping. Up to now the standards have been staged, with newer tenancies needing to meet the standards earlier, but now all tenancies must meet the standards. The Sustainability Trust is concerned that even with the healthy homes standards coming into force, there are likely still homes that are inefficient, leaving tenants with large power bills to keep them warm. MBIE's head of tenancy is Kat Watson. and Sustainability Trust's Fair Energy Manager is Phil Squire.
